How to identify a first printing
- British convention: a first printing carries a complete number line on the copyright page ending in 1 (commonly '2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1' or '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'); the lowest digit present is the printing
- Typically NO 'First edition' statement on UK firsts — rely on the complete number line
- Usually a 'First published 20xx by Walker Books Ltd' line; on later printings the number line rises but the 'First published' date stays the same
Notable points & cautions
- UK independent founded in 1978 by Sebastian Walker (with Amelia Edwards and Wendy Boase); flagship titles include Where's Wally?/Where's Waldo, Guess How Much I Love You, and We're Going on a Bear Hunt
- The US co-edition is published by sister company Candlewick Press (established 1991); the true first is the UK Walker printing, and a US 'First U.S. edition' postdates it
- Do not confuse with Bloomsbury's separate US 'Walker Books' imprint, nor with the older US Walker & Company (adult/nonfiction)
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Walker Books, Walker Studio, Walker Entertainment, Big Picture Press, Walker Books US = Candlewick Press (US sister). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Walker Books (UK) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. British convention: a first printing carries a complete number line on the copyright page ending in 1 (commonly '2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1' or '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'); the lowest digit present is the printing Typically NO 'First edition' statement on UK firsts — rely on the complete number line
Does Walker Books (UK) use a number line?
Typically NO 'First edition' statement on UK firsts — rely on the complete number line
Is a book-club edition a Walker Books (UK) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. UK independent founded in 1978 by Sebastian Walker (with Amelia Edwards and Wendy Boase); flagship titles include Where's Wally?/Where's Waldo, Guess How Much I Love You, and We're Going on a Bear Hunt
What era does this cover?
This covers Walker Books (UK) (1978–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.
Walker Books (UK) titles with documented first-edition points
Each link opens that title’s specific points of issue — the exact marks that separate a true first printing from a later one.
- Approaching Oblivion (Harlan Ellison, 1974)
- Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World (Mark Kurlansky, 1997)
- Jack of Shadows (Roger Zelazny, 1971)
- Longitude (Dava Sobel, 1995)
- Longitude — deeper Sobel: Galileo's Daughter (Dava Sobel, 1999)
- Partners in Wonder (Harlan Ellison, 1971)