How to identify a first printing
- On a first printing the copyright page states 'First published [year] by UWA Publishing' (or 'University of Western Australia Press' before 2009), shows no reprint line, and the stated year matches the copyright year.
- Later printings add a 'Reprinted [year]' line; number lines are uncommon for this scholarly house, so the printed statement is the primary signal.
- Imprint-name era tell: 'Text Books Board' indicates 1935–1948, 'University of Western Australia Press' indicates 1948–2009, and 'UWA Publishing' indicates 2009 onward.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1935 as the Text Books Board; became University of Western Australia Press in 1948; renamed UWA Publishing in 2009.
- The University of Western Australia announced plans to close UWA Publishing in November 2019; the press nonetheless continued operating and remains active, so output around 2019–2020 may be thinner.
- UWAP Poetry (from 2016) is a significant Australian poetry list and the Cygnet children's imprint dates from 1985; the Dorothy Hewett Award (from 2015) is associated with the house.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: UWA Publishing, UWAP, UWAP Scholarly, UWAP Poetry (from 2016), Cygnet (children's, from 1985), University of Western Australia Press (1948–2009 name). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my UWA Publishing (University of Western Australia Press) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. On a first printing the copyright page states 'First published [year] by UWA Publishing' (or 'University of Western Australia Press' before 2009), shows no reprint line, and the stated year matches the copyright year. Later printings add a 'Reprinted [year]' line; number lines are uncommon for this scholarly house, so the printed statement is the primary signal.
Does UWA Publishing (University of Western Australia Press) use a number line?
Later printings add a 'Reprinted [year]' line; number lines are uncommon for this scholarly house, so the printed statement is the primary signal.
Is a book-club edition a UWA Publishing (University of Western Australia Press) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1935 as the Text Books Board; became University of Western Australia Press in 1948; renamed UWA Publishing in 2009.
What era does this cover?
This covers UWA Publishing (University of Western Australia Press) (1935–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.