How to identify a first printing
- 1958–c.1975: No first-printing statement on scholarly first editions; later printings/impressions noted; first printing = matching title/copyright dates with no later-impression line.
- c.1975–present: Number line on the copyright page; lowest number present indicates the printing, so a '1' present = first printing. Library of Congress CIP block standard.
- Paperback reissues/reprints state the new printing year; distinguish a later printing from the original cloth first.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1958 by William Peden of the university's English Department; lists in Mark Twain and Langston Hughes studies, American literature, journalism, and Missouri/Midwest regional history.
- Slated for closure in 2012 amid budget cuts, but reversed after public protest and restructured under the university system — publishing continued.
- Smaller regional/scholarly list; many titles do not reach a second printing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my University of Missouri Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1958–c.1975: No first-printing statement on scholarly first editions; later printings/impressions noted; first printing = matching title/copyright dates with no later-impression line. c.1975–present: Number line on the copyright page; lowest number present indicates the printing, so a '1' present = first printing. Library of Congress CIP block standard.
Does University of Missouri Press use a number line?
c.1975–present: Number line on the copyright page; lowest number present indicates the printing, so a '1' present = first printing. Library of Congress CIP block standard.
Is a book-club edition a University of Missouri Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1958 by William Peden of the university's English Department; lists in Mark Twain and Langston Hughes studies, American literature, journalism, and Missouri/Midwest regional history.
What era does this cover?
This covers University of Missouri Press (1958–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.
University of Missouri Press titles with documented first-edition points
Each link opens that title’s specific points of issue — the exact marks that separate a true first printing from a later one.
- The Van Gogh Field and Other Stories (William Kittredge, 1978)
- Tickets for a Prayer Wheel (Annie Dillard, 1974)