How to identify a first printing
- 1969-c.1995: Copyright page reads '© The University of Alberta Press [year]' with 'Printed in Canada'; a first printing is keyed by the matching year, the Canadian CIP block, and the absence of any reprint statement.
- c.1995-present: The copyright page carries a descending number line (lowest digit = printing) plus '© [year]' and full ISBN/CIP data; a complete line ending in 1 with no reprint note indicates a first printing. This follows the standard scholarly-press number-line convention.
Notable points & cautions
- Established 1969 as a department of the University of Alberta; strengths in natural history, Indigenous studies, and Canadian poetry and creative writing.
- Print runs are small, so true first printings of literary titles are scarce; the CIP block and number line are the practical tells.
- The press sometimes co-publishes or distributes through larger Canadian houses, so the imprint of record should be verified on the copyright page.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: University of Alberta Press, Robert Kroetsch Series (Canadian creative writing, fiction and poetry), Wayfarer (literary travel narratives). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my University of Alberta Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1969-c.1995: Copyright page reads '© The University of Alberta Press [year]' with 'Printed in Canada'; a first printing is keyed by the matching year, the Canadian CIP block, and the absence of any reprint statement. c.1995-present: The copyright page carries a descending number line (lowest digit = printing) plus '© [year]' and full ISBN/CIP data; a complete line ending in 1 with no reprint note indicates a first printing. This follows the standard scholarly-press number-line convention.
Does University of Alberta Press use a number line?
c.1995-present: The copyright page carries a descending number line (lowest digit = printing) plus '© [year]' and full ISBN/CIP data; a complete line ending in 1 with no reprint note indicates a first printing. This follows the standard scholarly-press number-line convention.
Is a book-club edition a University of Alberta Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Established 1969 as a department of the University of Alberta; strengths in natural history, Indigenous studies, and Canadian poetry and creative writing.
What era does this cover?
This covers University of Alberta Press (1969-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.