How to identify a first printing
- Earliest era (1925 to roughly 1937): Viking used no first-edition statement and instead noted later printings; treat the absence of any later-printing notice, with the title-page/copyright dates matching, as the first.
- From about 1937 onward: first printings state "First published by The Viking Press in [year]" or "Published by The Viking Press in [year]" with no later-printing notice; later printings were noted, and from the 1980s a number row was added to later printings only.
- Modern Viking under Penguin / Penguin Random House: a full number line whose lowest digit is 1, sometimes with "First American Edition."
Notable points & cautions
- The Rockwell Kent longship colophon (designed 1925) is a Viking brand mark carried across printings, not a first-issue point on its own.
- Pamela Dorman Books is a Viking literary imprint; Viking now sits within the Penguin Publishing Group under Penguin Random House.
- For older Viking books the decisive tells are the date statement and the absence of a later-printing notice rather than the colophon.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Viking, Viking Studio, Pamela Dorman Books, Penguin Press (sister imprint within Penguin Publishing Group). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Viking Press / Viking book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Earliest era (1925 to roughly 1937): Viking used no first-edition statement and instead noted later printings; treat the absence of any later-printing notice, with the title-page/copyright dates matching, as the first. From about 1937 onward: first printings state "First published by The Viking Press in [year]" or "Published by The Viking Press in [year]" with no later-printing notice; later printings were noted, and from the 1980s a number row was added to later printings only.
Does Viking Press / Viking use a number line?
From about 1937 onward: first printings state "First published by The Viking Press in [year]" or "Published by The Viking Press in [year]" with no later-printing notice; later printings were noted, and from the 1980s a number row was added to later printings only.
Is a book-club edition a Viking Press / Viking first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. The Rockwell Kent longship colophon (designed 1925) is a Viking brand mark carried across printings, not a first-issue point on its own.
What era does this cover?
This covers Viking Press / Viking (1925–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.