How to identify a first printing
- Modern first printings carry a descending number line on the copyright page ending in '1' (e.g., '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'); the lowest digit present equals the printing number.
- Many Zondervan titles use a year-paired line such as '24 23 22 21 20 / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' or a printer-code block; the first printing shows both the lowest year and the digit 1 present.
- Some editions additionally state 'First printing' wording on the copyright page alongside or instead of the number line.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1931; now an imprint within HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Zondervan was acquired by Harper & Row on July 14, 1988 (Harper & Row became HarperCollins in 1989-1990), and the Christian list was consolidated under HarperCollins Christian Publishing in 2012; the underlying number-line convention did not change.
- Publisher of the NIV Bible; Bible editions are notoriously hard to 'first-edition' because of constant reprints, format variants and text revisions (1973 NT, 1978 full NIV, 1984, 2011) -- treat Bible printings with caution and rely on stated printing lines plus the text-revision year.
- Zonderkidz (children's) and Zondervan Academic follow the same descending-number-line rule.
- High-volume evangelical trade titles often reach dozens of printings, so a clean '...3 2 1' line is the only safe first-printing signal.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Zonderkidz, Zondervan Academic, Zondervan Reflective, Editorial Vida (Spanish-language), Blink. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Zondervan book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Modern first printings carry a descending number line on the copyright page ending in '1' (e.g., '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'); the lowest digit present equals the printing number. Many Zondervan titles use a year-paired line such as '24 23 22 21 20 / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' or a printer-code block; the first printing shows both the lowest year and the digit 1 present.
Does Zondervan use a number line?
Many Zondervan titles use a year-paired line such as '24 23 22 21 20 / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' or a printer-code block; the first printing shows both the lowest year and the digit 1 present.
Is a book-club edition a Zondervan first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1931; now an imprint within HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Zondervan was acquired by Harper & Row on July 14, 1988 (Harper & Row became HarperCollins in 1989-1990), and the Christian list was consolidated under HarperCollins Christian Publishing in 2012; the underlying number-line convention did not change.
What era does this cover?
This covers Zondervan (1931-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.