How to identify a first printing
- When a printing statement is present, first printings read 'First Edition' / 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page.
- If a number line is present, the printing is read from the lowest number shown rather than from the line's direction; many small-press titles carry no number line at all, in which case rely on the stated printing and known issue points.
- Later printings revise the printing statement or drop the lowest number.
Notable points & cautions
- Family-run press founded 2005 by Eric Obenauf and Eliza Jane Wood-Obenauf (with Brian Obenauf), based in Columbus, OH; the Obenaufs also run Two Dollar Radio Headquarters, a bookstore/café in Columbus.
- Acquired by Seven Stories Press in April 2025 as its fourth imprint while remaining editorially independent (Obenauf stays as publisher); post-2025 copyright pages may add a Seven Stories imprint/distribution line that does not change the first-printing rule.
- Small print runs make firsts scarce; no per-house convention is documented in the standard references, so treat the above as the modern trade default. Medium confidence.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Two Dollar Radio Moving Pictures. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Two Dollar Radio book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. When a printing statement is present, first printings read 'First Edition' / 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page. If a number line is present, the printing is read from the lowest number shown rather than from the line's direction; many small-press titles carry no number line at all, in which case rely on the stated printing and known issue points.
Does Two Dollar Radio use a number line?
If a number line is present, the printing is read from the lowest number shown rather than from the line's direction; many small-press titles carry no number line at all, in which case rely on the stated printing and known issue points.
Is a book-club edition a Two Dollar Radio first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Family-run press founded 2005 by Eric Obenauf and Eliza Jane Wood-Obenauf (with Brian Obenauf), based in Columbus, OH; the Obenaufs also run Two Dollar Radio Headquarters, a bookstore/café in Columbus.
What era does this cover?
This covers Two Dollar Radio (2005–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.