The fastest check: Number line where present; lowest digit = the printing.
How to identify a first printing
- Number line where present; lowest digit = the printing.
- Some titles state 'First Edition' with the year; many single-printing firsts carry no line.
- The imprint name 'Verse Press' on the title or copyright leaf distinguishes the original edition from any later Wave Books reissue.
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
- Predecessor to Wave Books; founded in 2000 by Matthew Zapruder and Brian Henry and run on a volunteer basis until it folded into Wave Books in 2005 (Zapruder and Joshua Beckman carried over as Wave editors).
- For works first issued by Verse Press, the Verse Press printing is the true first edition even if Wave Books later reprinted the title.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Verse Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Number line where present; lowest digit = the printing. Some titles state 'First Edition' with the year; many single-printing firsts carry no line.
Does Verse Press use a number line?
Some titles state 'First Edition' with the year; many single-printing firsts carry no line.
Is a book-club edition a Verse Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Predecessor to Wave Books; founded in 2000 by Matthew Zapruder and Brian Henry and run on a volunteer basis until it folded into Wave Books in 2005 (Zapruder and Joshua Beckman carried over as Wave editors).
What era does this cover?
This covers Verse Press (2000-2005). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.