How to identify a first printing
- Copyright page states 'First Nebraska printing' / 'First printing: 19xx' and lists later Bison/Nebraska printings; absence of a later-printing line = first printing of that edition.
- Modern titles carry a number line; '1' present = first printing.
- Reprints of older works state the original publication date and the 'First Bison Books printing' date.
Notable points & cautions
- CRITICAL: Bison Books (founded 1961) is largely a REPRINT/paperback imprint of Western Americana and previously published works — a Bison Books copy is typically NOT the first edition of the work; its copyright page will say 'First Bison Books printing 19xx' under an earlier original copyright. Collect the original cloth first edition, not the Bison reissue, unless the Bison printing IS the first appearance.
- Bison Classic Editions are explicitly reissues.
- Potomac Books (military/intelligence/sports) was acquired by Nebraska and may show pre-Nebraska printing history.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Bison Books, Bison Classic Editions, Potomac Books, Jewish Publication Society (JPS, distributed). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my University of Nebraska Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Copyright page states 'First Nebraska printing' / 'First printing: 19xx' and lists later Bison/Nebraska printings; absence of a later-printing line = first printing of that edition. Modern titles carry a number line; '1' present = first printing.
Does University of Nebraska Press use a number line?
Modern titles carry a number line; '1' present = first printing.
Is a book-club edition a University of Nebraska Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. CRITICAL: Bison Books (founded 1961) is largely a REPRINT/paperback imprint of Western Americana and previously published works — a Bison Books copy is typically NOT the first edition of the work; its copyright page will say 'First Bison Books printing 19xx' under an earlier original copyright. Collect the original cloth first edition, not the Bison reissue, unless the Bison printing IS the first appearance.
What era does this cover?
This covers University of Nebraska Press (1941–present (Bison imprint 1961–present)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.