How to identify a first printing
- Pre-1973: usually printed 'First Printing (Month, Year)' on the copyright page and ALWAYS indicated later printings — so a first shows only the first-printing notation.
- Post-1973 / modern: states 'First Edition' AND uses a number line; the number row indicates year/printing, with the lowest number 1 present on a first.
- Modern HarperCollins-era Morrow: 'First Edition' + descending line ending in 1 is the reliable test.
- Absence of later-printing lines confirms a first across eras.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1926 by William Morrow; acquired by Hearst, then by HarperCollins (1999). Now a HarperCollins imprint.
- The pre-1973 'First Printing (Month Year)' habit is a distinctive, reliable Morrow tell.
- Avon (acquired with Morrow) is the mass-market romance line — many Avon paperback originals are firsts.
- Watch for HarperCollins-era number line that can include a year-code digit; the presence of 1 is the key.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Avon (mass-market romance), Morrow/Avon, Custom House, William Morrow Paperbacks, Dey Street Books (sister), Mariner-adjacent (HC), Voyager (former SF, UK-linked). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my William Morrow book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Pre-1973: usually printed 'First Printing (Month, Year)' on the copyright page and ALWAYS indicated later printings — so a first shows only the first-printing notation. Post-1973 / modern: states 'First Edition' AND uses a number line; the number row indicates year/printing, with the lowest number 1 present on a first.
Does William Morrow use a number line?
Post-1973 / modern: states 'First Edition' AND uses a number line; the number row indicates year/printing, with the lowest number 1 present on a first.
Is a book-club edition a William Morrow first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1926 by William Morrow; acquired by Hearst, then by HarperCollins (1999). Now a HarperCollins imprint.
What era does this cover?
This covers William Morrow (1926–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.