How to identify a first printing
- 1970–late 1970s (New Left Books / NLB): the house published as NLB; firsts carry a 'First published <year> by NLB' (or New Left Books) edition statement. Number lines are commonly absent in this early era — the first printing is shown by the absence of any later impression or reprint line, not by a printer's key.
- Late 1970s onward (Verso): 'Verso' was launched as a paperback imprint at the end of the 1970s and became the house's sole imprint thereafter. Firsts show 'First published by Verso <year>' on the copyright page, increasingly with a descending number line in which the lowest figure (1) marks the first printing.
- Radical Thinkers / Radical Thinkers Classics (series launched 2005): these are reissues of older theory titles. The collectible first is the original NLB or Verso edition, not the later series volume, which is plainly marked as a reissue with its own date.
- Verso Classics and similar reissue lines: same caution — match the earliest 'First published' date to the original edition; later series printings add impression detail.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1970 as New Left Books, the book imprint of New Left Review; its early logo referenced Tatlin's monument to the Third International.
- 'Verso' (the left-hand page of an opening) began as a paperback imprint at the end of the 1970s and went on to become the house's sole imprint; it is inaccurate to describe this as a simple 1980 renaming.
- Early NLB titles (translations of Adorno, Althusser, Benjamin, Mandel, plus original work by Anderson, Nairn, Williams) rely on edition statements rather than number lines.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Verso, New Left Books (NLB), the original name of the house, Verso Classics, Radical Thinkers / Radical Thinkers Classics. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Verso Books book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1970–late 1970s (New Left Books / NLB): the house published as NLB; firsts carry a 'First published <year> by NLB' (or New Left Books) edition statement. Number lines are commonly absent in this early era — the first printing is shown by the absence of any later impression or reprint line, not by a printer's key. Late 1970s onward (Verso): 'Verso' was launched as a paperback imprint at the end of the 1970s and became the house's sole imprint thereafter. Firsts show 'First published by Verso <year>' on the copyright page, increasingly with a descending number line in which the lowest figure (1) marks the first printing.
Does Verso Books use a number line?
Late 1970s onward (Verso): 'Verso' was launched as a paperback imprint at the end of the 1970s and became the house's sole imprint thereafter. Firsts show 'First published by Verso <year>' on the copyright page, increasingly with a descending number line in which the lowest figure (1) marks the first printing.
Is a book-club edition a Verso Books first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1970 as New Left Books, the book imprint of New Left Review; its early logo referenced Tatlin's monument to the Third International.
What era does this cover?
This covers Verso Books (1970–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.