The fastest check: Modern trade and scholarly titles: full descending number line; lowest digit '1' present indicates a first printing
How to identify a first printing
- Modern trade and scholarly titles: full descending number line; lowest digit '1' present indicates a first printing
- First printing copyright page carries no later-impression or reprint statements
- Later printings add printing/impression statements; revised editions are stated as such
Decode the printer's key: paste the number line into the number-line decoder, search any title in the First Edition Checker, or run a book through the identifier.
Notable points & cautions
- Incorporated 1890; among the oldest US university press imprints
- Pine Street Books is the paperback reprint line, so a 'First Pine Street Books edition' marks a later paperback issue, not the original first edition
- As with most university presses, older titles may lack explicit first-printing wording, so judge by the absence of reprint notices rather than the presence of an 'First Edition' line
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Pine Street Books (paperback reprint imprint), Haney Foundation Series. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my University of Pennsylvania Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Modern trade and scholarly titles: full descending number line; lowest digit '1' present indicates a first printing First printing copyright page carries no later-impression or reprint statements
Does University of Pennsylvania Press use a number line?
First printing copyright page carries no later-impression or reprint statements
Is a book-club edition a University of Pennsylvania Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Incorporated 1890; among the oldest US university press imprints
What era does this cover?
This covers University of Pennsylvania Press (1890-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.