How to identify a first printing
- 1971-c.1990: Copyright page reads '© The University of British Columbia Press [year]' with 'Printed in Canada' and a Canadian CIP block; a first printing is identified by the matching year and the absence of any reprint statement. Note the press's books carried the 'UBC Press' wording only from 1990 onward.
- c.1990-present: A descending number line on the copyright page (lowest digit = printing) accompanies '© UBC Press [year]' and full ISBN/CIP data; many titles list separate cloth and paper ISBNs. A complete line ending in 1 with no 'Reprinted' note indicates a first printing. The number line follows the standard scholarly-press convention rather than a house-specific published rule.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1971 as a successor to the University of British Columbia Publications Centre (1961); a leading Canadian scholarly press in political science, law, Indigenous studies, and environmental history.
- Purich Books originates from Purich Publishing (founded 1992 by Don Purich and Karen Bolstad); UBC Press acquired its assets in 2015. On Point Press is the trade imprint launched in 2016. The imprint name therefore helps date a title.
- The reliable Canadian CIP block from the 1970s on makes printing-state calls relatively straightforward for this house.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: UBC Press, On Point Press (trade non-fiction, launched 2016), Purich Books (Indigenous studies/law; assets of Purich Publishing acquired 2015), Pacific Educational Press, On Campus. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my UBC Press (University of British Columbia Press) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1971-c.1990: Copyright page reads '© The University of British Columbia Press [year]' with 'Printed in Canada' and a Canadian CIP block; a first printing is identified by the matching year and the absence of any reprint statement. Note the press's books carried the 'UBC Press' wording only from 1990 onward. c.1990-present: A descending number line on the copyright page (lowest digit = printing) accompanies '© UBC Press [year]' and full ISBN/CIP data; many titles list separate cloth and paper ISBNs. A complete line ending in 1 with no 'Reprinted' note indicates a first printing. The number line follows the standard scholarly-press convention rather than a house-specific published rule.
Does UBC Press (University of British Columbia Press) use a number line?
c.1990-present: A descending number line on the copyright page (lowest digit = printing) accompanies '© UBC Press [year]' and full ISBN/CIP data; many titles list separate cloth and paper ISBNs. A complete line ending in 1 with no 'Reprinted' note indicates a first printing. The number line follows the standard scholarly-press convention rather than a house-specific published rule.
Is a book-club edition a UBC Press (University of British Columbia Press) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1971 as a successor to the University of British Columbia Publications Centre (1961); a leading Canadian scholarly press in political science, law, Indigenous studies, and environmental history.
What era does this cover?
This covers UBC Press (University of British Columbia Press) (1971-present (grew out of the University's Publications Centre, est. 1961; UBC Press imprint name used since 1990)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.