How to identify a first printing
- Independent era (1971–2009): number line on copyright page, first printing shows the full descending line ending in 1; many titles also state 'First Edition' or 'First printing'
- Post-2009: acquired by Crown / Random House (now Penguin Random House); identification follows PRH/Crown conventions — number line ending in 1 plus stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page
- Berkeley, CA, founded 1971 by Phil Wood; cookbooks, reference, humor, the famous 'What Color Is Your Parachute?' annual
- For annual/serially revised titles, edition/year statement matters more than printing
Notable points & cautions
- Ownership change is the key era caveat: pre-2009 = independent Berkeley imprint, 2009+ = Crown/PRH imprint — title page and copyright-page boilerplate change accordingly
- 'What Color Is Your Parachute?' is revised annually; a 'first edition' means little without the year — collect by content year
- Sister imprints Celestial Arts and Tricycle Press (children's) used the same conventional identification
- No idiosyncratic house point of issue
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Ten Speed Press, Lorena Jones Books, Watson-Guptill (acquired), Celestial Arts (former sister imprint), Tricycle Press (former, children's). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Ten Speed Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Independent era (1971–2009): number line on copyright page, first printing shows the full descending line ending in 1; many titles also state 'First Edition' or 'First printing' Post-2009: acquired by Crown / Random House (now Penguin Random House); identification follows PRH/Crown conventions — number line ending in 1 plus stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page
Does Ten Speed Press use a number line?
Post-2009: acquired by Crown / Random House (now Penguin Random House); identification follows PRH/Crown conventions — number line ending in 1 plus stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page
Is a book-club edition a Ten Speed Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Ownership change is the key era caveat: pre-2009 = independent Berkeley imprint, 2009+ = Crown/PRH imprint — title page and copyright-page boilerplate change accordingly
What era does this cover?
This covers Ten Speed Press (1971–present (PRH/Crown-owned 2009–)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.