How to identify a first printing
- 1890-1921: year of publication printed on the TITLE PAGE of first editions; on later printings the title-page date was removed and a notice added to the copyright page (a title-page year is the first-printing tell for this era)
- From the 1920s onward: "First published [Year]" or "First published in Great Britain [Year]" stated on the copyright page, with later impressions noted beneath
- Modern Heinemann adopted number lines; lowest digit = printing
- First printing = statement present AND no list of subsequent impressions
Notable points & cautions
- Major literary house: Graham Greene, D.H. Lawrence, Somerset Maugham, John Masters, Anthony Burgess, Olivia Manning
- Early-era (pre-1921) reliance on the title-page date is unusual and a common source of error if collectors only check the copyright page
- Windmill Press colophon appears on many mid-century titles
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Heinemann Educational, Secker & Warburg (later sibling), Mandarin (paperback), Windmill Press (printing arm). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my William Heinemann book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1890-1921: year of publication printed on the TITLE PAGE of first editions; on later printings the title-page date was removed and a notice added to the copyright page (a title-page year is the first-printing tell for this era) From the 1920s onward: "First published [Year]" or "First published in Great Britain [Year]" stated on the copyright page, with later impressions noted beneath
Does William Heinemann use a number line?
From the 1920s onward: "First published [Year]" or "First published in Great Britain [Year]" stated on the copyright page, with later impressions noted beneath
Is a book-club edition a William Heinemann first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Major literary house: Graham Greene, D.H. Lawrence, Somerset Maugham, John Masters, Anthony Burgess, Olivia Manning
What era does this cover?
This covers William Heinemann (1890-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.