Skip to main content

First-Edition Identification · US Trade Publishers

How to Identify a Twelve First Edition

US (New York) · 2005–present

The fastest check: First printing carries a 'First Edition' statement on the copyright page plus a descending number line ending in 1; the presence of the 1 confirms a first printing.

How to identify a first printing

Decode the printer's key: paste the number line into the number-line decoder, search any title in the First Edition Checker, or run a book through the identifier.

Notable points & cautions

Imprints

First editions also appear under: Twelve. Each generally follows the house convention above.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my Twelve book is a first edition?

Check the copyright page. First printing carries a 'First Edition' statement on the copyright page plus a descending number line ending in 1; the presence of the 1 confirms a first printing.

Does Twelve use a number line?

First printing carries a 'First Edition' statement on the copyright page plus a descending number line ending in 1; the presence of the 1 confirms a first printing.

Is a book-club edition a Twelve first edition?

No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Nonfiction-leaning imprint founded by Jonathan Karp in 2005, originally publishing roughly one title per month (hence the name). Launched under the Warner Books division, which was renamed Grand Central Publishing in 2007.

What era does this cover?

This covers Twelve (2005–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.

More first-edition identification