How to identify a first printing
- 1941–c.1975 (scholarly titles): No first-printing statement; later printings and revised editions noted on the copyright page. Identify a first printing by the absence of later-printing language and a single copyright date matching the title page.
- c.1975–present: Number line on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a '1' present indicates a first printing. Library of Congress CIP block standard.
- Great Lakes Books series (regional series, inaugurated 1986) and the Painted Turtle imprint both follow the press's number-line convention; the series or imprint is named on the series/title page.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1941 by Wayne University faculty to disseminate scholarly work; strong regional list on Detroit, Michigan, and the Great Lakes, plus Jewish studies and folklore/fairy-tale studies.
- The Great Lakes Books series (inaugurated 1986 to honor Michigan's 1987 sesquicentennial) mixes original titles with reprints of Michigan classics; a Great Lakes Books reprint carries a new copyright/series page and is not the work's original first edition.
- Painted Turtle, named for Michigan's state reptile, is the press's general-readership regional imprint.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Great Lakes Books, Painted Turtle. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Wayne State University Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1941–c.1975 (scholarly titles): No first-printing statement; later printings and revised editions noted on the copyright page. Identify a first printing by the absence of later-printing language and a single copyright date matching the title page. c.1975–present: Number line on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a '1' present indicates a first printing. Library of Congress CIP block standard.
Does Wayne State University Press use a number line?
c.1975–present: Number line on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a '1' present indicates a first printing. Library of Congress CIP block standard.
Is a book-club edition a Wayne State University Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1941 by Wayne University faculty to disseminate scholarly work; strong regional list on Detroit, Michigan, and the Great Lakes, plus Jewish studies and folklore/fairy-tale studies.
What era does this cover?
This covers Wayne State University Press (1941–present (Great Lakes Books series inaugurated 1986)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.