How to identify a first printing
- The Westminster Press (Presbyterian lineage, Philadelphia): in the 19th and early 20th centuries no number line; identify firsts by copyright year and the absence of a reprint notice. By the mid-20th century explicit printing statements appear and later printings are noted.
- John Knox Press (Richmond/Atlanta, Presbyterian Church US): similar conventions, with copyright year plus printing statements and additive printing lines on reprints.
- Both predecessors, 1960s-1980s: number and printing-history lines emerge; the earliest single year indicates a first.
- Westminster John Knox (1988 merger) to present: standard number line on the copyright page; the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a line including 1 indicates a first printing. Academic titles often add a year line plus an impression line.
- For heavily reprinted series (the Library of Christian Classics, the Old Testament and New Testament Library, the Interpretation commentaries), a clean impression line is essential because many volumes are reprinted.
Notable points & cautions
- Westminster John Knox was formed in 1988 by the merger of The Westminster Press (Northern/UPCUSA lineage, Philadelphia) and John Knox Press (Southern/PCUS lineage), following the 1983 denominational reunion that created the Presbyterian Church (USA).
- It is an imprint of the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation and a major academic theology house (Walter Brueggemann, Daniel Migliore, the Interpretation commentary series, the Library of Christian Classics).
- The publishing heritage is dated by the house to 1838 (the Presbyterian Board of Publication lineage).
- The pre-1988 imprint name (Westminster versus John Knox) brackets which predecessor and era produced the book.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Westminster John Knox (WJK), formerly The Westminster Press, formerly John Knox Press, Flyaway Books (children's). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Westminster John Knox Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. The Westminster Press (Presbyterian lineage, Philadelphia): in the 19th and early 20th centuries no number line; identify firsts by copyright year and the absence of a reprint notice. By the mid-20th century explicit printing statements appear and later printings are noted. John Knox Press (Richmond/Atlanta, Presbyterian Church US): similar conventions, with copyright year plus printing statements and additive printing lines on reprints.
Does Westminster John Knox Press use a number line?
John Knox Press (Richmond/Atlanta, Presbyterian Church US): similar conventions, with copyright year plus printing statements and additive printing lines on reprints.
Is a book-club edition a Westminster John Knox Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Westminster John Knox was formed in 1988 by the merger of The Westminster Press (Northern/UPCUSA lineage, Philadelphia) and John Knox Press (Southern/PCUS lineage), following the 1983 denominational reunion that created the Presbyterian Church (USA).
What era does this cover?
This covers Westminster John Knox Press (1838-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.