How to identify a first printing
- 1962-1970s: founded 1962 by Kenneth N. Taylor to publish his paraphrase, beginning with Living Letters (the Epistles, 1962). Early titles: copyright year and absence of a reprint notice indicate a first printing; printing statements appear inconsistently. The Living Bible appeared in sections before the complete edition (1971), so collectors track the staged editions.
- 1970s-1980s: explicit printing statements and printing-history lines, with later printings noted. The Living Bible was printed in vast quantities, so first printings are common.
- 1980s-present: standard number line on the copyright page; lowest digit present equals the printing. Tyndale typically prints a year line plus an impression line; presence of 1 in the impression line indicates a first printing.
- 1996-present: publisher of the New Living Translation (NLT, 1996); Bible editions carry separate text-edition and printing codes.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1962 by Kenneth N. Taylor; the name honors Bible translator William Tyndale. Began by publishing Taylor's own paraphrase, which grew into The Living Bible (complete 1971).
- Publisher of the Left Behind series (LaHaye/Jenkins), launched with 'Left Behind' in December 1995 — enormous print runs, so firsts are not scarce; points and jackets matter for the early volumes.
- Publisher of the New Living Translation (NLT) since 1996.
- Do not confuse with Tyndale House, Cambridge — a British biblical-studies research institute, a different entity sharing the same namesake.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Tyndale Momentum, Tyndale Kids, Tyndale Espanol, NavPress (distributed), Tyndale Bibles (NLT publisher). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Tyndale House Publishers book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1962-1970s: founded 1962 by Kenneth N. Taylor to publish his paraphrase, beginning with Living Letters (the Epistles, 1962). Early titles: copyright year and absence of a reprint notice indicate a first printing; printing statements appear inconsistently. The Living Bible appeared in sections before the complete edition (1971), so collectors track the staged editions. 1970s-1980s: explicit printing statements and printing-history lines, with later printings noted. The Living Bible was printed in vast quantities, so first printings are common.
Does Tyndale House Publishers use a number line?
1970s-1980s: explicit printing statements and printing-history lines, with later printings noted. The Living Bible was printed in vast quantities, so first printings are common.
Is a book-club edition a Tyndale House Publishers first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1962 by Kenneth N. Taylor; the name honors Bible translator William Tyndale. Began by publishing Taylor's own paraphrase, which grew into The Living Bible (complete 1971).
What era does this cover?
This covers Tyndale House Publishers (1962-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.