How to identify a first printing
- States 'First Touchstone edition (Year)' / 'First Edition' on the copyright page; for a first printing the number line descends to 1 (e.g. '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'). Note: S&S-family lines are often interleaved/odd-even split (e.g. '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2') rather than a clean descending run — the rule is that the LOWEST number present indicates the printing, so the presence of 1 = first printing of that Touchstone edition.
- S&S-family convention: the verbose 'First [Imprint] edition' / explicit 'First Edition' wording on the copyright page is the reliable positive signal; absence of any later-printing statement combined with a 1 in the line supports a first printing.
- Many Touchstone titles are trade-paperback editions — confirm whether it is the FIRST appearance of the work or a reprint of an earlier S&S/Scribner/other hardcover. A 'First Touchstone edition' is the first printing of the TOUCHSTONE edition, which is frequently NOT the first edition of the work.
- Caveat that applies to all S&S imprints: a number line beginning/ending in 1 can still sit on a copyright page that explicitly states 'revised edition' or 'second edition' — always read the full copyright/title page, not just the line, before calling it a first.
Notable points & cautions
- Touchstone was Simon & Schuster's trade-paperback imprint, founded in 1970 (NOT 1981) — originally paired as 'Touchstone/Fireside.' The claimed 1981 founding date is incorrect.
- The imprint was discontinued in December 2018 (NOT 'c.2019'); it survives only as a backlist imprint. Minor but worth correcting.
- Because it was largely a paperback line, a 'first Touchstone edition' is often a SECOND (or later) edition of a title already published in S&S/Scribner hardcover — distinguish first edition of the work from first Touchstone printing. (This point is correct.)
- Fireside was the sibling trade-paper imprint (self-help/diet/health/reference); the two were rebranded to just 'Touchstone' in 2010, and 'Fireside' was briefly revived in 2016 for the Ladybird 'Grown-Up Guides' series. Same number-line convention applies. (Correct, with added nuance.)
- Part of Simon & Schuster. (Correct.)
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Fireside (sister, defunct). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Touchstone book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. States 'First Touchstone edition (Year)' / 'First Edition' on the copyright page; for a first printing the number line descends to 1 (e.g. '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'). Note: S&S-family lines are often interleaved/odd-even split (e.g. '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2') rather than a clean descending run — the rule is that the LOWEST number present indicates the printing, so the presence of 1 = first printing of that Touchstone edition. S&S-family convention: the verbose 'First [Imprint] edition' / explicit 'First Edition' wording on the copyright page is the reliable positive signal; absence of any later-printing statement combined with a 1 in the line supports a first printing.
Does Touchstone use a number line?
S&S-family convention: the verbose 'First [Imprint] edition' / explicit 'First Edition' wording on the copyright page is the reliable positive signal; absence of any later-printing statement combined with a 1 in the line supports a first printing.
Is a book-club edition a Touchstone first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Touchstone was Simon & Schuster's trade-paperback imprint, founded in 1970 (NOT 1981) — originally paired as 'Touchstone/Fireside.' The claimed 1981 founding date is incorrect.
What era does this cover?
This covers Touchstone (1981–c.2019). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.