How to identify a first printing
- UK firsts: a complete descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page (standard British convention), frequently with no explicit 'First edition' statement
- US co-editions (published by Candlewick Press in North America): number line plus a 'First U.S. edition' statement
Notable points & cautions
- UK illustrated/novelty children's house founded in 1978, best known for the Dragonology / 'Ology' series (the series began with Dragonology in 2003), Jonny Duddle's Gigantosaurus titles, and the Amazing Baby novelty range
- Now an imprint of Bonnier Books UK (Templar was acquired by Bonnier Publishing); the copyright-page publisher can change by era, so verify it against the imprint named in the book
- For the 'Ology' titles, condition hinges on the completeness of bound-in novelties and inserts in addition to the first-printing number line
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Templar Books (UK), Templar Books (US, via Candlewick), Big Picture Press. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Templar Publishing / Templar Books book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. UK firsts: a complete descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page (standard British convention), frequently with no explicit 'First edition' statement US co-editions (published by Candlewick Press in North America): number line plus a 'First U.S. edition' statement
Does Templar Publishing / Templar Books use a number line?
US co-editions (published by Candlewick Press in North America): number line plus a 'First U.S. edition' statement
Is a book-club edition a Templar Publishing / Templar Books first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. UK illustrated/novelty children's house founded in 1978, best known for the Dragonology / 'Ology' series (the series began with Dragonology in 2003), Jonny Duddle's Gigantosaurus titles, and the Amazing Baby novelty range
What era does this cover?
This covers Templar Publishing / Templar Books (1978-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.