How to identify a first printing
- 1888-c.1950: Founded 1888 by Walter Burns Saunders in Philadelphia as a premier medical and surgical textbook house. Clinical texts are identified primarily by the numbered EDITION stated on the title page and spine; a revised edition is the bibliographic and value unit. The first printing of a given edition is indicated by the absence of any later-printing or reprint notice on the copyright page; later impressions are commonly marked 'Reprinted [year]'.
- c.1950-c.1985: Edition-driven identification continues; printing history is sometimes shown as dated reprint lines. First printing of an edition = only the edition's original dated line present, with no later 'Reprinted' lines.
- c.1985-present (as Saunders/Elsevier): A number line on the copyright page is common, with the lowest digit indicating the printing; Elsevier house style also uses a coded printing/year line. The EDITION number remains the dominant identification and value unit for these continuously revised clinical references.
- Ownership: family-owned until sold to CBS in 1968, then to Harcourt Brace Jovanovich in 1986 (later Harcourt Health Sciences), and now an Elsevier imprint.
Notable points & cautions
- Publisher of landmark clinical references (e.g., 'Cecil Textbook of Medicine', 'Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics', and 'Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary') that are collected and used by edition.
- Medical-text collecting centers on edition currency; a true first edition of a foundational text can carry a premium.
- Now Saunders/Elsevier; modern titles carry Elsevier coded printing lines.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: W. B. Saunders, Saunders, Saunders Elsevier, Harcourt Health Sciences (parent era), Elsevier (current). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my W. B. Saunders Company book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1888-c.1950: Founded 1888 by Walter Burns Saunders in Philadelphia as a premier medical and surgical textbook house. Clinical texts are identified primarily by the numbered EDITION stated on the title page and spine; a revised edition is the bibliographic and value unit. The first printing of a given edition is indicated by the absence of any later-printing or reprint notice on the copyright page; later impressions are commonly marked 'Reprinted [year]'. c.1950-c.1985: Edition-driven identification continues; printing history is sometimes shown as dated reprint lines. First printing of an edition = only the edition's original dated line present, with no later 'Reprinted' lines.
Does W. B. Saunders Company use a number line?
c.1950-c.1985: Edition-driven identification continues; printing history is sometimes shown as dated reprint lines. First printing of an edition = only the edition's original dated line present, with no later 'Reprinted' lines.
Is a book-club edition a W. B. Saunders Company first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Publisher of landmark clinical references (e.g., 'Cecil Textbook of Medicine', 'Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics', and 'Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary') that are collected and used by edition.
What era does this cover?
This covers W. B. Saunders Company (1888-present (imprint continues under Elsevier)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.