Prestel Publishing (Prestel Verlag) — first-edition identification

Prestel
Prestel Verlag
Prestel (Penguin Random House parent)
Prestel Junior (children's art books)

Prestel Publishing (Prestel Verlag) (Germany (Munich) / US (New York) / UK (London); 1924–present). First-edition identification: The colophon/copyright page states the year; a first printing shows the first-published year with no reprint or revised-edition line — this is the primary tell. Some modern Prestel titles carry a number line; where present, the lowest number indicates the printing. Where absent, rely on the first-published year and the absence of a reprint statement. German- and English-language editions of a title are separate issues; the language and place-of-publication line on the colophon identifies which is which, and the true first depends on which market was published first. Reprints and new editions are stated explicitly on the colophon. Imprints and series: Prestel; Prestel Verlag; Prestel (Penguin Random House parent); Prestel Junior (children's art books). Background: Founded 1924 in Frankfurt (named for the 18th-century engraver Johann Gottlieb Prestel); later headquartered in Munich, with a London branch. Now an imprint within Penguin Random House (sold 2006) — a corporate-parent line on the colophon dates a modern issue. German and English editions of the same Prestel title often appear in sequence or simultaneously; the genuine first depends on which language/market came first for that title. Prestel co-publishes museum catalogues; co-edition colophons should be matched to the Prestel first-published year.


Prime Press — first-edition identification

Prime Press (US; 1947–c.1953). First-edition identification: First state identified by single print run and absence of later-printing notation; some titles issued in a signed/numbered limited state with a limitation statement Match original dust jacket and confirm title-page/copyright date agreement Imprints and series: Prime Press. Background: Philadelphia fan-founded specialty house (late 1940s–early 1950s) contemporaneous with Fantasy Press, Gnome, and Shasta Small print runs make condition and jacket presence decisive; signed limiteds exist for some titles

New Mexico Literacy Project (newmexicoliteracyproject.org)


Princeton Architectural Press — first-edition identification

Princeton Architectural Press (US (founded Princeton, NJ; later New York; Chronicle/McEvoy-owned); 1981–present). First-edition identification: Copyright page: descending number line (lowest digit indicates the printing) alongside a first-published year; a first shows the full line ending in 1 with no reprint statement. First printings are often also stated ('First published in [year]') in addition to the number line. Later printings are reflected by deletion from the number line; revised editions are stated explicitly. The imprint line reads 'Princeton Architectural Press' (or the shortened 'PA Press') even on modern Chronicle-owned titles. Imprints and series: Princeton Architectural Press; PA Press. Background: Independent architecture and design publisher founded in 1981 by Kevin Lippert in Princeton, New Jersey; acquired by the McEvoy Group (owner of Chronicle Books) in 2011 and more recently positioned as a Chronicle Books imprint under the shortened name PA Press. Specializes in architecture, graphic design, and visual culture; many titles are single-printing scholarly and design books following standard US number-line convention. Modern colophons may reference the Chronicle/McEvoy parent, but the Princeton Architectural Press / PA Press imprint persists and dates the issue.


Princeton University Press — first-edition identification

Bollingen Series
Princeton Classics
Princeton Science Library
Mythos Series

Princeton University Press (US; 1905–present (number-line/printing statements standard from the later 20th c.)). First-edition identification: Copyright page states 'First printing' or carries a number line; lowest number present indicates the printing. A '1' in the line = first printing. Subsequent printings are noted on the copyright page ('Second printing,' 'Third printing, with corrections,' etc.); absence of any later-printing statement on an unrevised text indicates a first. Revised/expanded editions state the new edition and original publication date — these are not first printings of the original first edition. Imprints and series: Bollingen Series; Princeton Classics; Princeton Science Library; Mythos Series. Background: Bollingen Series (e.g., the Collected Works of C. G. Jung, the I Ching, Joseph Campbell) was published under Princeton University Press from 1967; Bollingen volumes are commonly reprinted with corrections, so check the printing line and 'with corrections' notes carefully. Princeton Classics and Princeton Science Library are reprint/paperback lines — a book in these series is by definition a later issue of an earlier first edition, not a first printing. Heavily reprinted academic staples (e.g., Strunk's editions, Kuhn-adjacent titles) keep the same copyright year across printings; rely on the number line, not the copyright date.


Profile Books — first-edition identification

Profile Books
Serpent's Tail (acquired)
Souvenir Press (acquired)
Viper
Economist Books

Profile Books (UK (London), non-fiction, history, and popular science; 1996-present). First-edition identification: 1996-present (Profile Books): a first printing is shown by 'First published in Great Britain in <year> by Profile Books Ltd' together with a descending number line ending in 1. Because many titles are bestsellers reprinted heavily, the number line is the decisive tell. Serpent's Tail (acquired 2007) keeps its own 'First published by Serpent's Tail' imprint statement and number line, so a Serpent's Tail first is distinct from any Profile reissue. Economist Books and Economist co-editions carry The Economist branding but the printing is identified by Profile's number line. Imprints and series: Profile Books; Serpent's Tail (acquired); Souvenir Press (acquired); Viper; Economist Books. Background: Publisher of major non-fiction bestsellers including Eats, Shoots and Leaves, with heavy reprinting that makes the number line essential to identifying a first. Owns Serpent's Tail (literary and transgressive fiction), acquired 2007, and took on Souvenir Press in 2018; keep these imprints separate for attribution. Later added the crime imprint Viper in 2019.


Profile Publications — first-edition identification

Profile Publications (Windsor, Berkshire / Leatherhead, Surrey, United Kingdom; 1965-c.1984). First-edition identification: Mid-1960s into the 1970s UK specialist: thin stapled single-subject monographs, each carrying a series number (e.g. 'Aircraft Profile No. 1'). A first printing shows the original series/copyright date and no reprint notation; reprints add a revised date. The series number identifies the TITLE, not the edition state. Because each Profile is a numbered single-subject booklet, collectors track the original softcover singles by their series number; presence of a later reprint line marks it as not the original issue. Bound multi-Profile hardcover anthologies (the 'Aircraft in Profile' volumes, etc.) are later compilations of previously issued numbered singles and are not first editions of the original booklets. Imprints and series: Aircraft Profile series; AFV (Armoured Fighting Vehicle) Profile series; Warship Profile; Loco Profile; Car Profile. Background: Influential mid-century color-profile reference for aircraft (262 numbered Aircraft Profiles, plus AFV, warship, locomotive, and car lines); Martin C. Windrow served as a general editor. Original numbered singles are collected by series number; the format influenced later specialist series. Hardbound anthology volumes reprint multiple numbered Profiles and are not the original firsts.


Prometheus Books — first-edition identification

Prometheus Books (USA (Amherst NY; now a Globe Pequot imprint under Rowman & Littlefield); 1969-present). First-edition identification: 1969-c.1990 (founder Paul Kurtz, Amherst NY): secular-humanist, skeptic, freethought and philosophy titles; the copyright page states 'First Edition' or the printing year, and early titles often lack a number line. Identify by the copyright year and the absence of a later-printing statement. c.1990-2019 (Amherst NY, independent): standard number line, with the lowest number present indicating the printing (a '1' present means a first printing); 'First Edition' is typically stated. The Humanity Books academic imprint and the Pyr science-fiction imprint (launched March 2005, editor Lou Anders) carry the same conventions. 2019-present (acquired by Rowman & Littlefield, now published under its Globe Pequot division): Prometheus continues as an imprint using a number line (lowest number present = printing) plus an edition statement, with the new distribution line appearing on the copyright page. Imprints and series: Prometheus Books; Pyr (science fiction/fantasy, 2005-2018); Humanity Books (academic); Seventh Street Books (mystery/crime). Background: Founded August 1969 by philosopher Paul Kurtz; the leading US publisher of secular humanism, skepticism, freethought, and accessible philosophy and science. Pyr was its science-fiction/fantasy imprint (2005-2018, editor Lou Anders); collectible SF firsts use the same number-line convention. Prometheus sold its fiction imprints (Pyr and Seventh Street Books) in 2018. Acquisition tell: independent Amherst NY (pre-2019) versus a Rowman & Littlefield / Globe Pequot imprint line on the copyright page (post-2019). Humanity Books is the academic/scholarly imprint.


Pruett Publishing Company — first-edition identification

Pruett Publishing Company (Mountain West — Boulder, Colorado; 1954–c.2012 (trade list dispersed c.2010–2012)). First-edition identification: Earlier titles (as 'Pruett Press'/Pruett Publishing): first printings generally identified by copyright-page data — a single copyright year, a matching title-page date, and no later-printing statement; some titles state 'First Edition'. Later titles: a printing number line appears on the copyright page (for example '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'), with the lowest digit present indicating the printing. Frequently reissued guidebooks may carry a revised-edition statement — distinguish edition from printing. Many regional guidebook titles went through multiple revised editions, so confirm both the edition statement and the printing line. Imprints and series: Pruett Press; Pruett Publishing. Background: Boulder, Colorado regional house; business records indicate a 1954 founding (the company's own materials sometimes cite 1959, which is contradicted by registry data — treat the precise year cautiously). List covered Rocky Mountain history, outdoor recreation, railroads, natural history, and Colorado/Southwest guidebooks. Trade list was dispersed around 2010–2012; the company's titles were acquired by Graphic Arts Books in 2012, so check the imprint to date a copy. Guidebook and trail-guide titles were frequently revised across multiple editions.


PS Publishing — first-edition identification

PS Publishing (UK; 1999–present). First-edition identification: States identified by a signed limitation sheet: typically a signed/numbered hardcover (e.g. /100, /200, /500) and a more exclusive signed/lettered (often 26, A–Z) traycased state, plus sometimes an unsigned trade First printing indicated by the limitation statement and absence of later printings; the slipcase/traycase and jacket variant distinguish states Confirm the run figure printed on the limitation/signature leaf Imprints and series: PS Publishing; Drugstore Indian Press (mass-market reprint line); Stanza Press (poetry); Electric Dreamhouse (film); Absinthe Books. Background: Founded 1999 by Peter Crowther (UK); prolific in novellas and signed limited SF/F/horror (Ramsey Campbell, Stephen Baxter, Gene Wolfe) Many titles exist only as small signed limiteds, making the signed/numbered the true first; lettered is the prestige state Drugstore Indian Press issues cheaper paperback reprints — NOT the collectible firsts


PublicAffairs — first-edition identification

PublicAffairs (US (New York); 1997–present). First-edition identification: First printing: complete number line counting down to 1, following the Hachette Book Group house practice A 'First Edition' statement may appear on the copyright page but is not guaranteed; rely on the full number line Imprints and series: PublicAffairs. Background: Politics and current-affairs nonfiction imprint, a full member of the Basic Books Group within Hachette Book Group Entered Hachette via the April 2016 Perseus acquisition; pre-2016 titles are Perseus imprints Follows the Hachette number-line convention


Purdue University Press — first-edition identification

Purdue University Press (West Lafayette, Indiana; 1960–present (as 'Purdue University Studies' 1960–1974; 'Purdue University Press' from 1974)). First-edition identification: 1960–1974: Imprinted 'Purdue University Studies' rather than 'Purdue University Press'; scholarly monographs and studies carry no first-printing statement. First printing is inferred from a matching title/copyright year with no later-impression line. The imprint name itself dates a copy to this period. 1974–c.1980s: As 'Purdue University Press'; scholarly first editions generally carry no explicit first-printing statement. First printing is indicated by matching title/copyright dates with no later-impression notation. Later titles commonly show a printing number line on the copyright page (lowest number present indicates the printing; presence of '1' indicates a first printing), alongside the standard CIP/ISBN block. The exact year of broad number-line adoption is not firmly documented, so treat the absence of a later-printing notation, not a precise date, as the primary tell. Many titles are single-printing scholarly monographs, so absence of later-printing notation is the most reliable first-printing indicator. Imprints and series: Purdue University Studies (original name, 1960–1974). Background: Traces to 'Purdue University Studies', founded 1960 under President Frederick Hovde with a Purdue Research Foundation grant; renamed Purdue University Press in 1974 — the imprint name dates a copy. Subject strengths include the study of the human-animal bond, veterinary/comparative medicine, Jewish studies, and Central European studies, alongside humanities and technology titles. Smaller scholarly press; regional/scholarly focus distinct from Indiana University Press (Bloomington).


Pushkin Press — first-edition identification

Pushkin Press
Pushkin Children's Books
Pushkin Vertigo
ONE (Pushkin ONE)
Pushkin Collection

Pushkin Press (UK (London), specialising in literature in translation; 1997–present). First-edition identification: 1997–present: for the modern English-language first, look on the copyright page for a full number line whose lowest figure is '1' (for example '9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' or the alternating '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2'); the presence of '1' indicates a first printing, following standard UK trade practice. The copyright page also carries a 'First published by Pushkin Press in <year>' statement for the English-language first. For a work in translation, the original-language first-publication date is noted separately and does NOT govern the relevant Pushkin first. The Pushkin Collection (small flapped-paperback series with patterned endpapers) follows the same number-line convention; the distinctive series design is branding, not a printing or edition indicator. Imprints and series: Pushkin Press; Pushkin Children's Books; Pushkin Vertigo; ONE (Pushkin ONE); Pushkin Collection. Background: Founded in 1997, Pushkin is a specialist in literature in translation and is largely responsible for the revival of Stefan Zweig in English, alongside Antal Szerb and other rediscovered European authors. Pushkin Vertigo (crime and noir) and Pushkin Children's Books are sub-imprints that follow the house's number-line practice. The collectible 'first' is the first English-language Pushkin edition; the small flapped-paperback design is house styling, not an edition point.


Putnam / Philomel / Grosset & Dunlap (Penguin children's, formerly G.P. Putnam's Sons) — first-edition identification

Putnam / Philomel / Grosset & Dunlap (Penguin children's, formerly G.P. Putnam's Sons) (US; 1838–present (Putnam); Philomel 1980–present; Penguin number-line era 1980s–present). First-edition identification: Modern Penguin house style: full descending number line ending in 1; often 'First Impression' / 'First Edition' stated Philomel (founded 1980 by Ann Beneduce) follows the same number-line-to-1 rule Grosset & Dunlap mass-market series (Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys) have their OWN complex format-based points (list-of-titles-on-rear-flap, no number line in early eras) — distinct from trade picture-book ID Imprints and series: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers; Philomel Books; Grosset & Dunlap; Nancy Paulsen Books; Price Stern Sloan; Puffin. Background: Philomel published Eric Carle's later works and Patricia Polacco; Jan Brett titles at Putnam Grosset & Dunlap early series-book firsts are dated by the advertised title list on the dust jacket / rear, NOT a number line — a specialist subfield with frequent reprints All consolidated under Penguin Young Readers (Penguin Random House)


Pyr — first-edition identification

Pyr (USA (Amherst, New York under Prometheus Books; later under Start Publishing); 2005–present). First-edition identification: Trade first printings state 'First edition' (sometimes 'First Pyr edition') with a number line on the copyright page; the lowest number present indicates the printing. Pyr was itself an imprint of Prometheus Books — early titles carry the Prometheus Books indicia and Amherst, New York address; titles from late 2018 onward fall under Start Publishing, so the parent imprint/address on the copyright page dates the era. Background: Launched in March 2005 as the SF/fantasy imprint of Prometheus Books under editorial director Lou Anders (who led it through 2014); issued US first editions of authors including Joe Abercrombie and Ian McDonald. Sold by Prometheus Books to Start Publishing in November 2018; the parent name on the copyright page is the era tell. A trade publisher; the stated-edition / number-line method applies rather than any limitation.


Quadrangle Books — first-edition identification

Quadrangle Books (Chicago, then New York, USA; 1959-1977). First-edition identification: 1959-1969 (independent, Chicago): a first printing is indicated by the absence of any later-printing statement on the copyright page; some titles also carry a number line, in which case the lowest digit (1) present indicates a first printing. 1969 onward (under The New York Times Company): titles appear as 'Quadrangle/The New York Times Book Co.'; the copyright page typically uses a number line, and the lowest digit (1) present indicates a first printing. From 1977 the line was renamed Times Books; titles issued under the Times Books name should be judged by Times Books conventions, not Quadrangle. Imprints and series: Quadrangle Books; Quadrangle/The New York Times Book Co. (post-1969); Quadrangle Paperbacks. Background: Founded 1959 in Chicago; the company published serious non-fiction and reference titles. Michael Braude was the founder, chairman and principal stockholder, and Melvin J. Brisk served as president. Sold to The New York Times Company in 1969 and renamed Times Books in 1977; the Times Books imprint was later licensed to Random House in 1984. The imprint wording on the title/copyright page is a quick era marker: bare 'Quadrangle Books' indicates a pre-1969 issue, while 'Quadrangle/The New York Times' indicates 1969 or later.


Quinto Sol Publications — first-edition identification

Quinto Sol Publications (southwest). First-edition identification: Imprint “Quinto Sol Publications, Inc.” with a Berkeley, California address No number lines and no explicit first-edition statements — identification is by physical points of issue ISBN prefix 0-88412 Background: The press that created the Chicano literary canon. All four Premio Quinto Sol winners are now deceased — their signature pools are closed. Identification is physical, not statement-based: match imprint, format, pagination, cover, and paper stock.


Rand McNally (children's / Elf Books) — first-edition identification

Rand McNally
Junior Elf Books
Elf Books
Start-Right Elf Books
Tip-Top Elf Books

Rand McNally (children's / Elf Books) (Chicago, IL / Skokie, IL; Elf Books c.1947–1986 (firm founded 1856)). First-edition identification: Elf Books (c.1947–1986): these low-priced books (a Little Golden Books competitor) do not carry a reliable explicit first-printing statement. Date a copy by examining the title and copyright page together with the catalog/title number, the cover price, and the back-cover title-list state; the earliest printing shows the earliest title list and the original (lowest) cover price. The earliest issues used 3-digit title numbers, many later reissued under a 4-digit numbering plan, and Checkerboard Press later renumbered the line. Caution: the back-page printing-letter code (A = first, etc.) is a Little Golden Books convention and should not be assumed for Rand McNally Elf Books, which are dated chiefly by title number, price, and title-list state rather than a per-title printing code. General Rand McNally trade children's titles, mid-20th century: first printings are indicated by the copyright-page state and the absence of later-printing notes; some later titles add a printing line where the lowest digit indicates the printing. Imprints and series: Rand McNally; Junior Elf Books; Elf Books; Start-Right Elf Books; Tip-Top Elf Books. Background: Best known for maps and atlases, but a significant low-price children's publisher via the Elf Books series (Junior Elf, Tip-Top Elf, Start-Right Elf), issued c.1947–1986 before the line passed to Macmillan. Elf Books competed directly with Little Golden Books; identify the printing by the catalog/title number, cover price, and back-cover title-list state, examined on the title/copyright page. Cover-price escalation and the evolving title-number scheme (3-digit early, later 4-digit; Checkerboard Press renumbering) are useful dating proxies.


Random House — first-edition identification

Alfred A. Knopf
Pantheon Books
Modern Library
Vintage Books
Ballantine Books
Random House Children's Books

Random House (USA (New York); 1927–present). First-edition identification: Founding/limited-editions era (c.1927–mid-1930s): Random House began as a fine-press and limited-editions imprint (its name from publishing books 'at random'), so the earliest issues are identified not by any 'First Edition' slug but by the colophon/limitation statement (limitation number, press, and often a signed leaf); treat these as points-of-issue books rather than trade firsts. In this earliest window an unmarked trade book with no later-printing notice can generally be taken as a first unless stated otherwise. Stated-edition era (c.1936–1975): trade first printings are plainly marked with the words 'First Edition' (or, on some earlier titles, 'First Printing') on the copyright page, with NO number line yet in use; a copyright page lacking that statement generally indicates a later printing. Application was not perfectly uniform in these decades (the explicit 'First Edition' habit firmed up through the late 1960s), so cross-check the individual title in Zempel/McBride rather than assuming absence proves a reprint. Classic paradox era (c.1970–2002/03) — THE famous Random House rule: a true first printing states 'First Edition' AND carries a number line whose lowest digit is 2 — the line ENDS (or begins) in 2 and NEVER reaches 1, e.g. 'First Edition / 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2' or 'First Edition / 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3'. The words 'First Edition' effectively stand in for the '1' that other houses print. Classic-era reprint mechanics (c.1970–2002/03): on going to a second printing Random House simply DELETED the words 'First Edition' from the copyright page and left the number line intact — so a bare '2'-ending line with NO 'First Edition' statement is a SECOND printing, not a first. This is why the statement, not the digit, is the real determinant in this era; a lone low '2' is ambiguous without the words. Classic-era high-printing tell (c.1970–2002/03): a '1' only appears on the line at the 11th printing and beyond, when Random House added a '1' plus a center reset LETTER — a documented 11th-printing line reads like '2 4 6 8 B 9 7 5 3 1' (the letter marking the reset). So during these years a '1' in a Random House line signals a LATE printing — the inverse of the industry norm — never a first. Modern industry-standard era (c.2002/03–present): Random House abandoned the '2' convention and fell in line with the trade — first printings now state 'First Edition' AND print a full descending line that DOES include 1 ('10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'), deleting from the low end for reprints (a 2004 statement from a Random House managing editor confirms the shift from a terminal '2' to 'First Edition' plus the digit 1). Here the surviving lowest digit 1 alongside 'First Edition' marks the first. Divisional practice — share the STATEMENT, not the '2'-line: sister divisions state 'First Edition' as their firsts (Alfred A. Knopf consistently since 1933–34; Pantheon since 1964), so the words work across the family. But the '2'-ending number-line PARADOX was a Random House trade-imprint idiosyncrasy — Knopf/Pantheon did NOT adopt it; when those imprints carry a number line at all (Pantheon only from the late 1980s), it follows the standard convention with the '1' present marking the first. Always confirm the exact imprint on the title/copyright page and apply that imprint's own rule; some family lines (Vintage, Modern Library) are reprint series by design. Imprints and series: Alfred A. Knopf; Pantheon Books; Modern Library; Vintage Books; Ballantine Books; Random House Children's Books. Background: BIGGEST TRAP — 'ends in 2, not 1': for roughly 1970–2002/03 a Random House first-edition number line correctly stops at 2 and never shows a 1; do NOT reject such a book as a reprint for 'missing the 1,' and conversely do NOT accept a lone '2'-ending line as a first unless the words 'First Edition' are also present. Treat 'First Edition' as occupying the place of the '1.' A '1' in a classic-era (pre-2003) Random House trade line means a LATER printing (11th+, flagged by an added center letter), the reverse of most houses — a genuine reversal that catches even experienced sellers. Post-2003 this flips back: a '1' in the line is again the mark of a first. Always date the book before reading the line. House device is NOT a book-club mark: the Random House little-house colophon (and, on the Knopf imprint, the Borzoi/wolfhound colophon) are house DEVICES printed on all copies, not book-club tells. Judge club status by physical points (blind stamp/dot or gutter code on the rear board, cheaper bulking paper, no price on the flap, smaller trim) plus the ABSENCE of the 'First Edition' statement and the number line — never by the presence or absence of the house/Borzoi device alone. Era-boundary ambiguity around 2002–2003: the switch from the '2'-line to the standard 1-bearing line was not one crisp dated event across all imprints (sources bracket it c.2002–2004, with a 2004 managing-editor confirmation), so books from roughly 2001–2004 must be judged by the actual line printed rather than by assumed year — verify against McBride's Pocket Guide / Zempel & Verkler for the specific title. Famous points still trump the house rule on landmark titles: e.g. correctly-lined Random House firsts of touchstone books (Ragtime, 1975; Blood Meridian, 1985) or Knopf-family titles can share dust-jacket price, blurb, or first-state text points that a matching copyright page does not guarantee — confirm the title-specific point, not just the generic 'First Edition + 2' formula.


Random House (trade imprint) — first-edition identification

Modern Library
Ballantine (group)
Del Rey
Spiegel & Grau (former)
One World
Random House Trade Paperbacks
Bennett Cerf legacy

Random House (trade imprint) (US; 1927–present). First-edition identification: Classic convention (mid-20th c. onward): the words 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page; on a TRUE first that statement appears WITH the number line — and when a later printing occurs, Random House REMOVES the words 'First Edition' (the line alone remains). Number line: descending, first printing retains '1'. Random House's well-known rule is that 'First Edition' + a complete number line ending in 2 can occur on later states, so the safest test is 'First Edition' present AND lowest number 1. Pre-number-line era: 'First Edition' / 'First Printing' statement, or absence of later-printing notation. Borzoi/RH device and pricing on jacket flap; BCEs lack price and have rear-board blind stamp. Imprints and series: Modern Library; Ballantine (group); Del Rey; Spiegel & Grau (former); One World; Random House Trade Paperbacks; Bennett Cerf legacy. Background: Founded 1927 by Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer (out of the Modern Library reprint business). Key Random House point of issue: on later printings the firm DROPS 'First Edition' from the copyright page — so seeing 'First Edition' is meaningful, but always confirm the 1 is present in the line. Now the namesake of Penguin Random House; the modern 'First Edition' + line-to-1 convention is the family standard many sibling imprints follow. Modern Library is a REPRINT/classics line — not a source of true firsts.


Ravan Press — first-edition identification

Ravan Press
Staffrider (magazine and book series)

Ravan Press (South Africa (Johannesburg); 1972-1990s). First-edition identification: Copyright page reads 'First published [year] by Ravan Press (Pty) Ltd' (Johannesburg); the first printing carries the first-published year with no reprint notice. No number line — South African / British 'First published' convention; later printings add 'Reprinted [year]'. A Staffrider Series number on a title (e.g. 'Staffrider Series, No. 19') dates it to the late-1970s/1980s oppositional-writing period. Imprints and series: Ravan Press; Staffrider (magazine and book series). Background: Founded 1972 by Peter Randall, Beyers Naudé and Danie van Zyl (the name 'Ravan' derives from the three founders); a radical donor-funded oppositional house publishing black South African writers. Was the first to publish J.M. Coetzee and supported Black Consciousness-era and Staffrider writers; won the 1984 Noma Award for Ndebele's 'Fools and Other Stories'. Many titles were banned or harassed under apartheid; first editions of banned works are scarce and significant.


Red Crane Books — first-edition identification

Red Crane Books (southwest). First-edition identification: ISBN prefix 1-878610 Red Crane Books imprint “First edition” stated on some titles Number line when present; otherwise negative-evidence Background: Cookbook series, Larry Frank's santos photography, and the New Mexico Poetry Renaissance anthology; no longer an independent press.


Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC (parent group) — first-edition identification

Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC (parent group) (USA (Boston / York Beach ME; now Newburyport MA); 2000-present). First-edition identification: House standard is a number line on the copyright page: the lowest number present indicates the printing, so a full descending line ending in 1 (e.g. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1) signals a first printing, often alongside a stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page. The imprint name (Weiser Books, Conari, Red Wheel, Hampton Roads, Career Press) identifies the subject area and roughly dates the title. Acquired houses adopt Red Wheel/Weiser conventions only after their acquisition year; pre-acquisition titles follow the original house's practice, so identify the originating imprint first, then apply that imprint's era rules. Imprints and series: Weiser Books; Red Wheel; Conari Press (acquired 2002); Hampton Roads Publishing (acquired 2009); Career Press (acquired 2017); New Page Books (via Career Press, 2017). Background: The corporate timeline is a sequence of acquisitions, not a single 2001 three-way merger: Samuel Weiser, Inc. (founded 1956) was purchased in late 2000 and the company was renamed Red Wheel/Weiser, with Red Wheel established as a new imprint at that time. Conari Press (a Berkeley publisher founded 1989) was acquired in 2002; Hampton Roads Publishing followed in 2009 and Career Press/New Page Books in 2017. The umbrella has been a major home for US mind-body-spirit, occult, and New Age publishing; the imprint name is the key subject and era tell (Weiser = occult/magick; Conari = inspiration/self-help; Hampton Roads = New Age; Career Press = business/reference).


Redhook — first-edition identification

Redhook (US (New York); 2013–present). First-edition identification: First printing: complete number line counting down to 1, following the Hachette Book Group / Orbit house practice A 'First Edition' statement may appear on the copyright page but is not guaranteed; rely on the full number line Imprints and series: Redhook. Background: Commercial fiction imprint with speculative elements within Hachette Book Group's Orbit division; launched April 2013 (debut title Hawk Quest by Robert Lyndon) Follows Orbit/Hachette first-printing conventions


Reilly & Lee (Reilly & Britton) — Oz / children's — first-edition identification

Reilly & Britton (1904–1919)
Reilly & Lee (1919–1960s)

Reilly & Lee (Reilly & Britton) — Oz / children's (Chicago, IL; 1904–c.1960s). First-edition identification: 1904–1919 (Reilly & Britton): publisher of L. Frank Baum's Oz sequels. First printings carry no 'first edition' statement; identification is by points — title-page and copyright-page states, the color-plate count, the rear advertised-Oz-title list (a list ending with the latest title dates the printing), and binding cloth. The spine imprint reads 'Reilly & Britton' on genuine pre-1919 firsts. 1919–c.1960s (Reilly & Lee, renamed 1919): continued the Oz series and other children's titles, still with point-based first-printing identification (no number line). The spine imprint reads 'Reilly & Lee' from The Magic of Oz (1919) onward; a pre-1919 copyright date under a Reilly & Lee spine imprint signals a later printing. General rule: Reilly & Britton / Reilly & Lee first printings are surmised from the spine imprint, advertised-title list, plate state, and binding — never from an explicit edition statement. Standard Oz bibliographies give book-by-book points. Imprints and series: Reilly & Britton (1904–1919); Reilly & Lee (1919–1960s). Background: Chicago house famous as publisher of the Oz books after the first (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, 1900, was George M. Hill); Reilly & Britton / Reilly & Lee issued the sequels from The Marvelous Land of Oz (1904). Reilly & Britton (1904) became Reilly & Lee (1919); the spine imprint is the first thing to check, since pre-1919 titles under a Reilly & Lee spine are reprints. Color-plate count and the rear advertised-Oz-title list are the principal dating tells, alongside binding state.


Requited — first-edition identification

Requited (US (New York); 2025–present). First-edition identification: Follows Hachette / Little, Brown house style: a descending number line on the copyright page with the lowest digit indicating the printing, typically alongside a 'First Edition' statement (Hachette imprints often add a month/year). Because the imprint is brand new, confirm the exact wording per title rather than assuming it. Modern Little, Brown practice (number line plus 'First Edition'/'First Printing') is the safest reference for a first printing. Imprints and series: Requited. Background: New Adult romance imprint announced February 2025 under Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (LBYR), a division of Hachette Book Group; editorial lead Lisa Yoskowitz. First hardcover titles appeared in 2026 (e.g., Sable Sorensen's 'Dire Bound,' March 2026); plans a boutique list of roughly 10–20 titles per year. Very new imprint — verify the first-printing statement on each individual title.


Reynal & Hitchcock — first-edition identification

Reynal & Hitchcock (US; 1933-1948). First-edition identification: Until 1947: NO first-edition statement on US-originated firsts; subsequent printings WERE noted on the copyright page, so the ABSENCE of any later-printing notice is the identifying point for a first. This is the only documented general R&H convention (per the standard ILAB/QBbooks 'First Edition Identification by Publisher' guide). For books published after 1947, defer to Harcourt, Brace & Co. identification points, since R&H was absorbed by Harcourt in 1948 and later issues of R&H titles carry Harcourt imprints/points. No general device or 'edition' statement marks an R&H first. Identification is title-by-title via established issue points (binding, colophon, dust-jacket price/address) rather than a house-wide rule. Imprints and series: Reynal & Hitchcock. Background: Founded 1933 by Eugene Reynal and Curtice Hitchcock; absorbed by Harcourt, Brace in 1948 — later issues of their titles may bear Harcourt imprints and points. There is NO general 'tell' for an R&H first beyond the absence of a later-printing notice on the copyright page; the firm did not use a house-wide first-edition device or statement. Publisher of Saint-Exupery's 'The Little Prince' (1943) US first, which has its own well-documented points: salmon (not blue) cloth, a 5-line colophon on the final page [p.94], no further printings stated on the copyright page, and a first-issue dust jacket with the printed price and the 386 Fourth Avenue address.


Richard Bentley (Richard Bentley & Son) — first-edition identification

Richard Bentley (Richard Bentley & Son) (London, UK; 1829-1898). First-edition identification: No edition statement on Victorian firsts: rely on the title-page date with no 'New Edition' / 'Second Edition' line, plus correct half-titles in each of the three volumes. Inserted advertisement leaves or catalogue at the front or rear, dated; a first should not list books published after the title-page date, and the dated catalogue often pins the printing. Bentley's Standard Novels (single-volume reprint series, 1831 onward) is explicitly a reprint line — those volumes are NOT the first edition of a work, though some carry revised or new prefaces of bibliographic interest. Volume count and pagination must match the bibliography (three-decker fiction); reissued or remaindered copies show later cancel title pages — e.g., the Oliver Twist title-page change between the first and second issue. Imprints and series: Henry Colburn & Richard Bentley (1829-1832); Richard Bentley (1832-1866); Richard Bentley & Son (1866-1898); Bentley's Standard Novels series; Temple Bar (magazine). Background: Successor to the Colburn & Bentley partnership; published Dickens's Oliver Twist (1838, 3 vols, 'by Boz') and ran Bentley's Miscellany. Oliver Twist first issue (Nov 1838) names the author as 'Boz' on the title pages; the second issue (Nov 1838) substitutes 'Charles Dickens' — a diagnostic title-page point. Bentley's Standard Novels series helped standardize cheap reprints and is a classic trap for novices who mistake a series volume for a first. The three-volume novel was the staple; the absence of a printed edition notice is the rule, so points plus dated ads do the identification work. Firm and its list acquired by Macmillan in 1898.


Rinehart & Company — first-edition identification

Rinehart
Farrar & Rinehart (1929-1946)
Holt, Rinehart & Winston (1960+)

Rinehart & Company (US; 1929-1960). First-edition identification: The primary tell of a first printing is a colophon in a circle on the copyright page: 'FR' in a circle for Farrar & Rinehart (1929-1946) and 'R' in a circle for Rinehart & Co. (1946-1960). The colophon was simply REMOVED on later printings. Subsequent printings are identified by the ABSENCE of the colophon, not by any added printing statement. Per ILAB and Quill & Brush, subsequent printings were NOT otherwise noted on the copyright page. A secondary (less consistently documented) practice on some Rinehart titles is the year of publication beneath the publisher's name at the foot of the title page, or a 'This book, first published 19.., is printed...' line on the copyright page; treat this as supplementary corroboration, not the definitive test. Imprints and series: Rinehart; Farrar & Rinehart (1929-1946); Holt, Rinehart & Winston (1960+). Background: Lineage: Farrar & Rinehart (1929-1946) -> Rinehart & Co. (1946-1960) -> merged into Holt, Rinehart & Winston (1960). The circled colophon differs accordingly: FR vs. R. The cleanest tell is the PRESENCE of the circled colophon (FR or R) on the copyright page, not a 'first published 19..' sentence. A copy lacking the colophon is a later printing. There is generally NO later-printing notice; do not rely on the presence of a printing statement to disqualify a first. Absence of the colophon is the disqualifier.


Rio Grande Books / LPD Press — first-edition identification

Rio Grande Books / LPD Press (southwest). First-edition identification: ISBN prefixes 0-9641542 and 1-936744 Los Ranchos de Albuquerque / Albuquerque address “First edition” statement typical; otherwise negative-evidence Most titles are single-printing Background: Dual-imprint structure (Rio Grande Books and LPD Press) sometimes both appear on the copyright page. Santero traditions, regional history, and the New Mexico Book Awards.


Rio Nuevo Publishers — first-edition identification

Rio Nuevo Publishers (Southwest — Tucson, Arizona; 1999-present). First-edition identification: 1999-present: First printings carry a descending number line on the copyright page (for example '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'); the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a line ending in 1 is a first printing. Some titles add an explicit 'First Impression' or 'First Edition' line. Heavily illustrated gift and photographic titles may note an overseas printing location, which does not affect first-printing status. Separate edition from printing: frequently reissued regional travel, cooking, and nature titles may carry a new copyright year or a revised-edition statement; the collectible point is the first printing of the first edition. Imprints and series: Rio Nuevo Publishers; Treasure Chest Books (parent wholesale/distribution operation); Canyonlands Publications (sister wholesale operation). Background: Founded in 1999 in Tucson, Arizona by Ross Humphreys and Susan Lowell as a family-owned regional press; specializes in Southwestern travel, cooking, gardening, nature, and gift and photographic books covering Arizona, New Mexico, and the desert Southwest. Treasure Chest Books is the affiliated wholesale and distribution business (operating under several imprints since the 1970s, predating Rio Nuevo), alongside Canyonlands Publications; the companies share a Tucson warehouse and office. Because of this, some titles are distributed rather than Rio Nuevo–published — check the imprint, not just the spine. Predominantly a modern press, so number-line identification is generally reliable.


Riverhead Books — first-edition identification

Riverhead Books (US; 1994–present). First-edition identification: States 'First Edition' on the copyright page AND uses a descending number line ending in 1. A true first carries both the 'First Edition' statement and the 1; later printings strip the statement and/or shift the lowest number. Penguin-family typography/colophon (Penguin device) on spine/title page in later years. No price-clip rule peculiarities; standard PRH-era jacket flap pricing. Background: Founded 1994 (originally under Putnam Berkley, then Penguin Putnam); literary fiction and narrative nonfiction (Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner, Junot Díaz, Anne Lamott). Now an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group within Penguin Random House. Modern, clean convention: 'First Edition' + line-to-1 — one of the most reliable to identify because the house only existed in the number-line era. Early Riverhead (mid-1990s) under Putnam used the same stated-First-Edition + number line approach.


Rizzoli International Publications — first-edition identification

Rizzoli International Publications (US (New York) / parent Italy (Milan); 1974-present (US publishing arm)). First-edition identification: Copyright page: a true first carries a 'First published in [year]' statement together with a descending number line whose lowest number is 1 (for example 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1). Number-line behavior follows US trade convention: the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a line beginning at 2 is a second printing. Where no number line is present (older titles or some Italian co-editions), rely on the 'First published' / 'Prima edizione' year and the absence of any reprint or 'new edition' statement. Co-editions with European/Italian houses (Electa, Mondadori) may carry a different colophon; match the Rizzoli US issue's first-published year. Imprints and series: Rizzoli; Rizzoli New York; Rizzoli Electa; Universe Publishing; Universe / Rizzoli; Mondadori Electa (Italian parent co-editions); Skira Rizzoli (former JV). Background: Rizzoli's US art/architecture/fashion list generally uses the number-line convention, unlike many European art houses, so for Rizzoli the printer's key is reliable. Universe Publishing is a Rizzoli imprint (often smaller-format and illustrated); Skira Rizzoli was a joint imprint (roughly 2010-2015) now ended, so the imprint name helps date the issue. Italian-parent co-editions can predate or coincide with the US edition, so the 'first American edition' may differ from the true first Italian edition of the same title.


Roaring Brook Press — first-edition identification

Neal Porter Books
First Second (graphic novels)

Roaring Brook Press (US; 2002-present). First-edition identification: First printing: a number line whose lowest digit is 1 on the copyright page, frequently accompanied by 'First edition [year]' wording Imprints and series: Neal Porter Books; First Second (graphic novels). Background: Macmillan Children's imprint founded 2002 within the Holtzbrinck/Macmillan group Neal Porter Books is a named editorial sub-imprint; First Second is its graphic-novel sub-imprint Reliable modern house style: number line ending in 1


Robert Bentley, Inc. / Bentley Publishers — first-edition identification

Robert Bentley, Inc.
Bentley Publishers (from ~2000)

Robert Bentley, Inc. / Bentley Publishers (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; 1950-present). First-edition identification: Robert Bentley founded the firm in 1950 as an importer/publisher of fiction and philosophy; early-1950s trade titles follow standard mid-century convention, with first printings carrying no printing notation and later printings noting additional printings. From the 1960s the firm focused on automotive repair manuals and marque references, beginning with reprinted hard-to-find British car manuals. First printings/editions are stated on the copyright page, often as 'First edition' or 'First printing' with a date; later printings add updated printing dates. For long-running official factory manuals the printed edition/printing statement (and the manual's date/part code) governs state, not collectibility. As Bentley Publishers (from around 2000) titles carry a number line and/or an explicit edition statement; the lowest digit present indicates the printing. Because Bentley reissues official manuals frequently, the printed edition/printing line is the authoritative indicator. Imprints and series: Robert Bentley, Inc.; Bentley Publishers (from ~2000). Background: Best known for authoritative automotive service manuals (BMW, Porsche, VW/Audi, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz) and for reprinting classic engineering texts. Because manuals are continually revised, 'edition' here is functional rather than a collector point; the rule is reliable, the collectibility modest. Early Bentley literary/philosophy imports of the 1950s predate the automotive identity and follow general trade conventions.


Robert Clarke & Co. — first-edition identification

Robert Clarke & Co.
The Robert Clarke Company
Ohio Valley Historical Series

Robert Clarke & Co. (Cincinnati, Ohio (Midwest US); 1858–1909). First-edition identification: 1858–1909: Cincinnati scholarly, legal, and regional/Western-Americana publisher and bookseller (successor to H. W. Derby & Co.). First editions carry the 'Robert Clarke & Co., Cincinnati' imprint with a dated title page; the house used no 'First Edition' statement, so identify by imprint form and the absence of any later-printing notice. Ohio Valley Historical Series and Americana reprints: the series volume number and dated title page identify the issue; reprints of older works are explicitly noted as such. After incorporation in 1894 the imprint becomes 'The Robert Clarke Company,' which brackets later issues to 1894 and after. Imprints and series: Robert Clarke & Co.; The Robert Clarke Company; Ohio Valley Historical Series. Background: A leading 19th-century Cincinnati publisher and bookseller of law books, scholarly works, and Ohio Valley/Western Americana. Important for regional Midwest historical first editions; standard 19th-century date- and issue-point identification applies (no printed first-edition statement).


Robert M. McBride & Company — first-edition identification

Robert M. McBride & Company (New York, USA; c.1915–1948 (predecessor McBride, Nast from c.1911)). First-edition identification: c.1915–1920s: first editions state 'Published [Month, Year]' (or 'First Published [Month, Year]') on the copyright page; subsequent printings were noted. Later period (c.1930s–1940s): shifted toward stating 'First Edition' on the copyright page of first printings; subsequent printings noted. Working rule: a 'Published'/'First Published' month-and-year line with no added later-printing notice indicates the first printing. Imprints and series: McBride, Nast & Company (predecessor, c.1911–1915); McBride, Winston & Company (early variant). Background: Robert Medill McBride was a partner with Condé Nast in McBride, Nast & Co. before the partners separated (c.1915) and he ran Robert M. McBride & Company. Published James Branch Cabell's 'Jurgen' (1919), subject of a celebrated obscenity case, and Thorne Smith's 'Topper' (1926). Operated a London branch from the mid-1910s. Predecessor imprint 'McBride, Nast' dates a book to roughly 1911–1915.


Roberts Brothers — first-edition identification

Roberts Brothers (Boston, Massachusetts, USA; 1857-1898; antiquarian). First-edition identification: No printed first-edition statement: identify by date agreement (title-page year matching the copyright year) and the absence of any reprint notice. Many titles were issued in numbered 'thousands' — a 'Twentieth Thousand' or similar count on the title page indicates a later printing; first printings carry no such count. For key works, title-specific points (not a house rule) govern priority; consult the relevant author bibliography for binding and textual states. Imprints and series: Roberts Brothers; No Name Series (anonymous-author series, 1876-1887). Background: Active 1857-1898 (publishing from the early 1860s); absorbed by Little, Brown in 1898. Publisher of Louisa May Alcott (Little Women, 1868), Emily Dickinson (Poems, 1890; Second Series, 1891), Helen Hunt Jackson (Ramona, 1884), and Julia Ward Howe. Dickinson, Poems: Second Series (1891), first printing exists in two simultaneous trade bindings — olive decorated cloth and a two-tone cloth — with no established priority, a well-known point. Issued the 'No Name Series' of deliberately anonymous works (note that Dickinson's Poems appeared under her name, not in this series).


Rodale Books — first-edition identification

Rodale Books (US (Emmaus, Pennsylvania / New York); 1942-present). First-edition identification: Independent Rodale era: number-line based, with the first printing line ending in 1; a copyright year and sometimes an edition statement are usually present. Post-2018 (trade assets acquired by Crown Publishing Group / Penguin Random House): follows the Crown convention of a stated 'First Edition' plus a full number line ending in 1 on the true first printing. Background: Health, cooking, gardening and wellness lifestyle publisher (organic gardening, the 'Prevention' brand cookbooks, the South Beach Diet titles). Rodale's trade book assets were acquired by Penguin Random House in early 2018 (after Hearst's purchase of Rodale, Inc.) and folded into Crown Publishing Group's illustrated and lifestyle division; modern titles follow the Crown convention, so note the ownership change when dating the rule.


Roli Books — first-edition identification

Roli Books
Lustre Press
India Ink (IndiaInk)
Lotus Collection
Roli & Janssen (intl. co-editions)

Roli Books (India (New Delhi); 1978-present). First-edition identification: Copyright page reads 'First published in [year] by Roli Books' / 'Roli Books Pvt Ltd' (Greater Kailash II, New Delhi); the first impression carries that line with no reprint or later-impression notice. First edition is usually stated; on illustrated and coffee-table titles the colophon often names the printer and impression — the first impression with no reprint line is the first. The Lustre Press / Lotus Collection / India Ink imprint line names the series and era; a 'Roli & Janssen' co-edition line indicates an international co-publication rather than a pure Indian Roli first, so verify which state a given copy is. Imprints and series: Roli Books; Lustre Press; India Ink (IndiaInk); Lotus Collection; Roli & Janssen (intl. co-editions). Background: Founded 1978 by Pramod Kapoor; specialises in illustrated books on Indian art, heritage, photography and culture, with over a thousand titles. Now family-run under Kapil and Priya Kapoor. The India Ink (IndiaInk) fiction imprint published the first Indian edition of Arundhati Roy's 'The God of Small Things' (1997) — that was IndiaInk's debut title, a notable collecting point (black buckram, chocolate endpapers, Sanjeev Saith jacket). Many titles are international co-editions; verify whether a given copy is the Indian Roli first or a co-publisher's state.


Rough Guides — first-edition identification

Rough Guides (United Kingdom (London); later Penguin / APA Publications; 1982-present). First-edition identification: Identify by edition statement plus copyright-page printing line: the lowest digit present in the number line indicates the printing, and a first printing of a given edition shows that edition's debut year with no later reprint years. 1982-1990s: founded by Mark Ellingham; 'The Rough Guide to Greece' (1982) is the landmark first title, published under Routledge & Kegan Paul. Identify early editions by the edition statement and single debut year. 1990s-2000s: acquired into the Penguin Group; standardized copyright page carries an edition number and reprint dates, with the first printing showing only the original edition date. 2017-present: under APA Publications (the Insight Guides parent); modern editions carry explicit edition numbers and number lines. Imprints and series: Rough Guides; Mini Rough Guides / Pocket Rough Guides; Rough Guides Reference series (music, internet, etc.). Background: 'The Rough Guide to Greece' (1982) by Mark Ellingham is the foundational first title; Routledge issued it after a modest advance. Ownership chain (independent / Routledge -> Penguin in the 1990s -> APA Publications in 2017) brackets copyright-page style. Collected by edition number; the number line plus edition year confirm a first printing. Reference (non-travel) Rough Guides exist and follow the same Penguin-era number-line conventions.


Routledge / Focal Press (Film, TV & Performance) — first-edition identification

Routledge
Focal Press (film/media production)
Theatre Arts Books (acquired list)

Routledge / Focal Press (Film, TV & Performance) (UK (London / Abingdon) & USA (New York); 1938–present). First-edition identification: c.1938–c.1980 (Focal Press independent / film-technical era): Focal Press, founded in London in 1938 by Andor Kraszna-Krausz, published film, photography, and broadcast technical books. A first edition is stated as 'First published YYYY' or 'First edition YYYY' on the verso, with reprints noted as 'Reprinted YYYY'. Generally no number line in this period. c.1980–present (number-line era): Routledge and Focal Press use a descending number line on the copyright page, the lowest digit being the printing; a line that includes 1 is a first printing, accompanied by a 'First published YYYY by Routledge / Focal Press' statement. Ownership for dating copies: Focal Press was owned by Elsevier from 1983, and was acquired from Elsevier by Taylor & Francis in 2012. Routledge had separately become part of Taylor & Francis in 1998. From 2012 onward, Focal Press and the Routledge performance and theatre lists sit together under Taylor & Francis, and copyright pages carry the Taylor & Francis group credit. First printing remains a number line reaching 1 plus a 'First published' statement. Imprints and series: Routledge; Focal Press (film/media production); Theatre Arts Books (acquired list). Background: Major film, TV, and theatre academic and technical list (Focal Press for production craft; Routledge for performance studies). Absorbed older theatre lists such as Theatre Arts Books. Standard descending number line, lowest digit equals the printing, from roughly 1980 onward. Focal Press was an Elsevier imprint (from 1983) before Taylor & Francis acquired it in 2012; Routledge joined Taylor & Francis earlier, in 1998.


Rue Morgue Press — first-edition identification

Rue Morgue Press (US (Boulder, then Lyons, CO); 1997–2016). First-edition identification: A reprint house: copyright pages of the trade paperbacks carry a Rue Morgue edition/printing statement (often noting the reissue and its date); identification hinges on that Rue Morgue edition statement rather than a true first-edition number line. Each title includes a signed editorial introduction by Tom and Enid Schantz — a reliable house tell that the copy is a Rue Morgue issue. Volumes are uniform trade paperbacks with series numbering; the first Rue Morgue printing is dated on the copyright page where stated. Imprints and series: Rue Morgue Press. Background: Founded in 1997 by Tom and Enid Schantz; specialized in reviving Golden Age and classic detective authors (Gladys Mitchell, Norbert Davis, John Dickson Carr, Catherine Aird, and others). The press ceased publishing in 2016 following Tom Schantz's death (Enid Schantz had died in 2011). Texts are reprints, so these are 'first thus' collectibles, valued for the introductions and for returning scarce out-of-print titles to print, not as original first editions. Because the line is finite and the press is now defunct, complete-run and scarce-title firsts hold modest collector interest.


Running Press — first-edition identification

Running Press
Running Press Kids
RP Minis (Miniature Editions)
Courage Books (historical)

Running Press (US (Philadelphia, PA); 1972–present). First-edition identification: No publisher-specific first-printing convention is documented in the standard first-edition reference guides (Zempel, Quill & Brush, McBride). When a number line is present on the copyright page, the lowest digit indicates the printing, and some titles carry a 'First Edition' statement, but neither is a reliable Running-Press-specific tell. Because the catalog is largely illustrated, gift, novelty, and miniature books, treat identification as title-by-title rather than relying on a house rule. Imprints and series: Running Press; Running Press Kids; RP Minis (Miniature Editions); Courage Books (historical). Background: Illustrated, gift, novelty, and miniature-book publisher; Running Press Miniature Editions (RP Minis) launched 1989. Founded 1972 in Philadelphia by brothers Lawrence and Stuart Teacher. Corporate path: became a Perseus Books Group imprint, entered Hachette Book Group via Hachette's acquisition of Perseus in 2016, and was later grouped within HBG's gift-oriented 'Running Press Group' after Workman joined HBG in 2021. It did NOT enter HBG through the Workman merger — it was already in HBG from 2016.


Rupa Publications India — first-edition identification

Rupa Publications India (India (New Delhi; origins in Kolkata/Calcutta); 1936-present (as Rupa Publications India 2011-present)). First-edition identification: Copyright page states 'First published in [year] by Rupa Publications India Pvt. Ltd' (7/16 Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi) or, on older books, the earlier 'Rupa & Co.' imprint. A first impression is often explicitly stated ('First impression [year]'); later impressions list a sequence of impression dates, and the earliest stated impression is the first printing. Some titles carry a descending number line for impressions; the 1, or the earliest stated impression, marks the first printing. The earlier 'Rupa & Co.' imprint (used before the rebrand to Rupa Publications India around 2011) dates the edition to before that change. Imprints and series: Rupa; Red Turtle (children's). Background: Long-established Indian trade house founded in 1936 by D. Mehra and R. K. Mehra on College Street, Calcutta (Kolkata), under the name Rupa & Co.; rebranded Rupa Publications India around 2011. Publisher of Chetan Bhagat's bestsellers and high-volume Indian fiction; large print runs mean many later impressions circulate, so the impression statement must be checked carefully. Co-founded Aleph Book Company (2011) with David Davidar as a separate, more literary imprint.


Rupert Hart-Davis Ltd — first-edition identification

Rupert Hart-Davis
The Reynard Library
The Mariners Library
Soho Bibliographies series
Hart-Davis, MacGibbon (from 1972)

Rupert Hart-Davis Ltd (UK (London); 1946-c.1963 (independent); name continued within Granada and as Hart-Davis, MacGibbon from 1972). First-edition identification: 1946-c.1965: First impressions state 'First published 19xx' or 'First published in Great Britain 19xx by Rupert Hart-Davis Ltd' on the copyright page, with no listing of later printings; reprints add dated 'Reprinted' lines. Absence of a reprint listing indicates a first impression. This is standard British copyright-page practice of the period, not a publisher-specific code. c.1965-1972: Same dated 'First published' convention; a first impression carries no additional impression statement. 1972 onward (as Hart-Davis, MacGibbon, after the merger with MacGibbon & Kee): 'First published in Great Britain 19xx by Hart-Davis, MacGibbon Ltd'; some later titles carry a descending number line, with the lowest digit indicating the printing. Imprints and series: Rupert Hart-Davis; The Reynard Library; The Mariners Library; Soho Bibliographies series; Hart-Davis, MacGibbon (from 1972). Background: Founded in 1946 by Rupert Hart-Davis (with partners including David Garnett and Edward Young); admired for fine production and scholarship. Published The Letters of Oscar Wilde (1962) and launched the Soho Bibliographies (definitive single-author bibliographies, beginning with Allan Wade's W. B. Yeats in 1951); the firm's device was a woodcut fox among oak leaves. Hart-Davis was himself a noted editor and bibliographer (the Lyttelton/Hart-Davis Letters). Granada (Heinemann group) acquired the firm around 1963, then merged it with MacGibbon & Kee in 1972 to form Hart-Davis, MacGibbon. Distinct from The Bodley Head - Rupert Hart-Davis was its own firm.


Rutgers University Press — first-edition identification

Rutgers University Press (US (New Brunswick / Piscataway, NJ); 1936-present). First-edition identification: Modern: full descending number line; '1' present indicates a first printing First printing: clean copyright page with no reprint lines Later printings add impression statements Imprints and series: Rivergate Books (regional New Jersey imprint, launched 2004). Background: Founded 1936; strong film/media studies, sociology, and public-health lists Rivergate Books is the regional New Jersey and mid-Atlantic imprint, launched in 2004 As with most university presses, older titles may lack explicit first-printing wording; judge by the absence of reprint notices


S.C. Griggs & Co. / Jansen, McClurg lineage — first-edition identification

S.C. Griggs & Co. / Jansen, McClurg lineage (Chicago, Illinois (Midwest US); 1848–1872 (as S.C. Griggs & Co.)). First-edition identification: c.1848–1872: Chicago bookseller-publisher; first editions carry the 'S.C. Griggs & Co., Chicago' imprint with a dated title page. No first-edition statement and no number line — identify by imprint form and the absence of a later-printing notice. Note the lineage: after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 Griggs sold out and the firm became Jansen, McClurg & Co. in 1872, which in turn became A.C. McClurg & Co. in 1886. The imprint name on the title page is the dating handle that separates the Griggs period from its McClurg successors. Scholarly/philosophical titles (Griggs's Philosophical Classics series): identify by series and dated title page. Imprints and series: S.C. Griggs & Co.; Jansen, McClurg & Co. (successor lineage to A.C. McClurg). Background: Early Chicago bookselling/publishing firm in the corporate ancestry of A.C. McClurg; A.C. McClurg himself worked for Griggs from 1859. Published a respected Philosophical Classics series; standard 19th-century imprint/date identification applies.


Saga Press — first-edition identification

Saga Press (US (New York); 2015–present). First-edition identification: A "First Edition" statement (sometimes "First Saga Press edition") on the copyright page together with a descending number line ending in 1 Imprints and series: Saga Press. Background: Science-fiction, fantasy, and horror imprint within Simon & Schuster (publishing since 2015) Follows Simon & Schuster's modern first-edition conventions: a printed edition statement plus a number line whose lowest digit indicates the printing


Sage Books — first-edition identification

Alan Swallow
Swallow Press
The Swallow Press Inc.

Sage Books (Denver, Colorado (later Chicago, Illinois); c.1950-c.1979). First-edition identification: 1950s-1966 (under Alan Swallow, Denver): No first-printing statement; later printings are noted on the copyright page. A first printing is indicated by the absence of any later-printing notation and a title-page date matching the copyright date. 1966-c.1979 (continued under Swallow Press Inc., Chicago): Same convention; some titles begin to carry a 'Second printing' line or, later, a number line. Sage Books was Swallow's Western-Americana/regional-history imprint, distinct from his literary line. Distribution and the list were later absorbed into Swallow Press/Ohio University Press; reissues carry the Ohio University Press number line, not the original Sage Books state. Imprints and series: Alan Swallow; Swallow Press; The Swallow Press Inc.. Background: Sage Books was Alan Swallow's imprint for Western history, the fur trade, and Rocky Mountain regional Americana, distinct from his literary Swallow imprint; Swallow (1915-1966) ran his small-press operation from Denver and also founded the University of Denver creative-writing program. Frequently confused with the unrelated modern social-science publisher SAGE Publications (no relation); verify the Denver/Swallow imprint and address. Many titles are scholarly reprints of fur-trade journals and 19th-century sources, so distinguish a Sage Books reprint from the 19th-century original.


Salmon Poetry (Salmon Publishing) — first-edition identification

Salmon Publishing (earlier name)
The Salmon (early literary journal)

Salmon Poetry (Salmon Publishing) (Ireland (Co. Clare); 1981-present). First-edition identification: Copyright page reads 'First published in [year] by Salmon Poetry' (Cliffs of Moher / Knockeven, Co. Clare); earlier titles read 'Salmon Publishing Ltd' with a Galway address. A first printing carries the first-published year and no reprint statement. No number line; almost all production is trade-paperback poetry, so the 'First published' line plus the absence of any 'reprinted' notice is the identifier. Address/imprint change dates editions: a Galway 'Salmon Publishing' imprint indicates pre-1994; a Co. Clare 'Salmon Poetry' imprint indicates 1994 onward. Imprints and series: Salmon Publishing (earlier name); The Salmon (early literary journal). Background: Founded 1981 by Jessie Lendennie and Michael (Mike) Allen, growing out of the Galway Writers' Workshop; 'The Salmon' literary journal began in 1982, and book publishing began in 1984 (early collections by Eva Bourke and Rita Ann Higgins). Headquarters moved from Galway to Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare, in 1994; the name and address change (Salmon Publishing, Galway, to Salmon Poetry, Co. Clare) dates editions and distinguishes printings. Predominantly paperback poetry, noted for promoting women writers; hardbacks are uncommon and worth noting when present.


Sampson Low (Sampson Low, Marston & Co.) — first-edition identification

Sampson Low (Sampson Low, Marston & Co.) (London, UK; 1819–c.1940s (Victorian peak 1850s–1890s)). First-edition identification: No printed edition statement on 19th-century firsts: use title-page date plus absence of any later-printing notice, and read the exact partnership style in the imprint (the firm's name changed repeatedly, which helps date a printing). Dated inserted advertisements or catalogue, usually at the rear; a first should not advertise later books. For co-published and American-authored titles (the firm was the British outlet for many U.S. books), establish whether the British issue precedes or follows the U.S. edition — priority is the key question, not a house rule. Match volume count, half-titles, and binding against the standard bibliography. Imprints and series: Sampson Low, Son & Marston; Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington; Sampson Low, Marston & Company; Sampson Low (various partnership styles by era). Background: British publisher of many American authors and the authorised British publisher of Jules Verne in translation; also R. D. Blackmore's Lorna Doone (1869, 3 vols, as Sampson Low, Son & Marston) — a famous high spot with binding and issue points. Frequent changes of partnership name (Son & Marston; Marston, Searle & Rivington; Marston & Co.) are themselves a dating tool for printing order. Often issued British editions of works first published in the U.S.; transatlantic priority must be checked case by case. Imprint continued well into the 20th century under 'Sampson Low, Marston & Co.'


Samuel French, Inc. — first-edition identification

French's Standard Drama
French's Minor Drama
French's American Drama
Samuel French's Acting Edition
Lacy's Acting Edition (acquired)

Samuel French, Inc. (USA (New York, NY) & UK (London, Samuel French Ltd.); 1846–present). First-edition identification: 1846–c.1900 (founder era; French's Standard / Minor Drama): founded in 1846, publishing paperbound acting editions. Identify by the series number (French's Standard Drama No. ___ or French's Minor Drama No. ___) on the cover or title page; this catalog number, together with the partner imprint, dates the issue. The 1859 partnership with Thomas Hailes Lacy (whose Lacy's Acting Edition was acquired) and French's later purchase of Lacy's share in 1873 mean that pre-1859, 1859–1873, and post-1873 imprint wording is a dating tell. c.1900–c.1970: acting editions continue with series and catalog numbers; printings within a number are not distinguished. Date by the publisher address, the list of plays or advertisements at the rear, and the copyright year. 'Made in the United States of America' and a cover price help bracket the era. c.1970–2018 (modern acting-edition era): standardized paperbound acting editions with royalty notices; copyright-year accretion (added revision dates) and back-cover royalty and contact text are the practical dating tells. Printings are generally not bibliographically distinguished. 2018–present (Concord Theatricals ownership): Samuel French was acquired by Concord Music in December 2018, forming Concord Theatricals; acting editions are now branded 'Samuel French ... A Concord Theatricals Company' with updated covers. Format and identification conventions are unchanged; the Concord branding marks post-2018 issues. Imprints and series: French's Standard Drama; French's Minor Drama; French's American Drama; Samuel French's Acting Edition; Lacy's Acting Edition (acquired). Background: Oldest and largest play-licensing publisher (since 1846); the acting edition is often the first printed text of a play, hence bibliographically important despite its humble format. The series or catalog number (French's Standard Drama / Minor Drama No. ___) is the core identifier, not a number line. The 1859 Lacy partnership (and French's 1873 buyout of Lacy's share) and the December 2018 Concord acquisition are the key imprint-wording era boundaries. The UK arm, Samuel French Ltd., operated in parallel with its own acting-edition numbering.


Samuel Gabriel Sons & Company — first-edition identification

Sam'l Gabriel Sons & Co.
Gabriel
Linenette Books

Samuel Gabriel Sons & Company (New York, NY; c.1900-c.1940). First-edition identification: c.1900s-1930s: a publisher of inexpensive children's linen and cloth ('Linenette') books, paper dolls, and games. First printings carry no edition statement; identify a copy by the series or stock number, the copyright year where one is present, and the cover-art state. Many titles were reprinted under the same stock number for years, so the earliest printing is surmised from the earliest art and format state. Imprints and series: Sam'l Gabriel Sons & Co.; Gabriel; Linenette Books. Background: Children's novelty, linen-book, and game publisher in the Saalfield and McLoughlin Brothers vein; some titles were printed in Germany. Identification is by stock number, copyright year, and cover-art state, since there are no edition statements. Frequently undated; rely on series numbers and format. The 'Linenette' trade name appears on the durable cloth-page editions (e.g., Peter Rabbit as Linenette no. 522, Three Little Kittens as no. 670).


Samuel Weiser, Inc. / Weiser Books (Red Wheel/Weiser) — first-edition identification

Samuel Weiser, Inc. / Weiser Books (Red Wheel/Weiser) (USA (New York NY; later York Beach ME; now Newburyport MA); 1956-present). First-edition identification: Mid-to-late 1950s (Occult Research Press imprint): a small number of esoteric titles issued under the Occult Research Press name before Weiser published under his own name. Identify by the Occult Research Press imprint plus copyright year; no number line. c.1956-c.1980 (Samuel Weiser, Inc., NYC): predominantly reprints and exclusive editions of occult classics (Crowley, Levi, Waite, Regardie). A first Weiser printing is identified by a 'First Edition' or 'First Weiser Edition' statement together with the copyright year; many are first-thus (first US, first illustrated, etc.). No consistent number line in this era, so rely on the stated printing on the copyright verso. c.1980-2000 (York Beach, Maine): a descending number line came into increasing use, the lowest digit indicating the printing; the copyright page may also state 'First published in [year] by Samuel Weiser'. First printing equals a number line ending in 1 with a matching first-publication year. 2000-2009 (after Samuel Weiser, Inc. was acquired and the company renamed Red Wheel/Weiser): the publishing imprint became 'Weiser Books'; a standard number line is used, with '1' present indicating a first printing, often alongside a 'First Edition' statement. 2009-present (Red Wheel/Weiser, Newburyport MA): conventional number line (lowest number equals the printing) plus an explicit edition statement. Imprints and series: Occult Research Press (mid-late 1950s precursor); Weiser Books; Conari Press (sister); Hampton Roads (sister); Career Press (sister). Background: The Weiser Antiquarian bookstore was founded in 1926 on Book Row, Fourth Avenue, NYC; Samuel Weiser, Inc. was established as a publishing house in 1956, with the Occult Research Press imprint as its immediate mid-1950s precursor. Long a leading American publisher of occult and esoteric material, issuing definitive Crowley, Regardie, and Golden Dawn editions. Because many Weiser books are first-thus reprints of older works, always distinguish a first Weiser printing from the work's original first publication. Era tell from the company name: pre-2000 books read 'Samuel Weiser, Inc.'; the company was purchased and renamed Red Wheel/Weiser in November 2000, after which the imprint reads 'Weiser Books'. Israel Regardie's one-volume Weiser editions of The Golden Dawn are heavily reprinted, so rely on the number line plus the edition statement rather than the copyright year alone.


Sandlapper Publishing Co. — first-edition identification

Sandlapper Publishing Co. (South (Orangeburg, South Carolina); 1971-present). First-edition identification: 1971-1980s (Sandlapper Press / early era): No consistent 'First Edition' slug; first printing is identified by a title-page date matching the copyright date together with the absence of any later-printing notation. The book operation grew out of Sandlapper magazine (founded 1968) and the early Sandlapper Press, with a tangled corporate history, so verify the actual imprint on the copyright page. 1980s-present (Sandlapper Publishing, Orangeburg): Standard regional small-press practice. A number line, where used, indicates the printing by its lowest number present (a '1' present means first printing); some titles state 'First printing.' Where there is no number line, a matching copyright date plus the absence of a printing statement indicates the first printing. Many South Carolina perennials are reprinted, so distinguish printing from edition. Imprints and series: Sandlapper Publishing; Sandlapper Store; The R.L. Bryan Company (related Columbia, SC printer/publisher). Background: Regional South Carolina/Southern independent (Orangeburg, SC) publishing history, travel, cooking, nature, photography, and folklore; descends from the Sandlapper magazine/press lineage, the magazine having been founded in 1968 by Robert P. Wilkins and his wife Rose. Distinguish 'Sandlapper Publishing' (the book house) from 'Sandlapper: The Magazine of South Carolina' (the periodical, which ran 1968-1983 and 1989-2011) and from the earlier Sandlapper Press. Long-tail house with limited bibliographic documentation; rely on copyright-page evidence. Strong reprint/perennial backlist (Lowcountry, Gullah, ghost-lore, recipes).


Sarabande Books — first-edition identification

Sarabande Books (US; 1994–present). First-edition identification: Modern convention: copyright page states 'First Edition' typically with a descending number line; lowest digit (1) = first printing. First has no later-printing notice. Imprints and series: Quarternote Chapbook Series; Linda Bruckheimer Series in Kentucky Literature. Background: Founded 1994 in Louisville, Kentucky by Sarah Gorham and Jeffrey Skinner; nonprofit poetry and short-prose press. Awards-driven list (Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry, Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction); relatively young press so modern conventions apply throughout. Chapbooks (Quarternote series) are small-run and may be numbered/limited — check for a colophon.


Sarob Press — first-edition identification

Sarob Press (Mountain Ash, Wales, UK (later operated from northern France after a 2007-2010 hiatus and relaunch); 1997-present (with a 2007-2010 hiatus; relaunched late 2010)). First-edition identification: Late 1990s-present: every title is a hand-numbered limited-edition jacketed hardcover; the numbered limitation statement in the colophon IS the first-edition identifier, since there is no trade reprint to distinguish from. Typical limitations run a few hundred numbered copies (commonly around 200-300); some titles add a small deluxe/special state alongside the standard numbered run. Read the colophon for the exact number and any deluxe designation rather than assuming a fixed figure. Physical tells of a genuine Sarob hardcover: Wibalin (fine-linen-style) cloth, foil-blocked spine, lithographically printed text, coloured endpapers, section-sewn binding with head/tailbands, and a dust jacket. Imprint location helps date a copy: Welsh (Mountain Ash) addresses on earlier titles; later titles were produced after the press resumed from France in 2010. Imprints and series: Ghosts & Scholars Book of Shadows (series, ed. Rosemary Pardoe). Background: Owned and edited by Robert Morgan; specializes in supernatural/ghost-story fiction, both classic reprints and original works. Publishes the Ghosts & Scholars Book of Shadows series (M.R. James tradition) edited by Rosemary Pardoe. The press paused around 2007 when Morgan relocated, then relaunched late in 2010; the single-state limited model means most copies are the first edition by definition, with condition and the limitation number driving collectibility.


Sasquatch Books — first-edition identification

Sasquatch Books
Little Bigfoot (children's)
Spruce Books (lifestyle)

Sasquatch Books (US; 1986–present). First-edition identification: Number line on copyright page; first printing shows complete descending line ending in 1 'First Edition' / 'First printing [year]' statement appears on many titles Seattle regional nonfiction/lifestyle/cookbook publisher founded 1986 (out of Seattle Weekly); conventional modern identification Printing/edition statement and number line should be read together Imprints and series: Sasquatch Books; Little Bigfoot (children's); Spruce Books (lifestyle). Background: Primarily Pacific Northwest / Western US regional nonfiction, field guides, and cookbooks — frequently revised, so distinguish a 'second edition' (revised content) from a later 'printing' of the same edition Revised editions are usually explicitly stated ('Second Edition, Revised'); a revised edition is a different book bibliographically than a first No house-specific point of issue


Saturday Review Press — first-edition identification

Saturday Review Press (New York, USA; c.1970-c.1976). First-edition identification: c.1970-1973 (independent): First printings are most reliably identified by the absence of any later-printing or reprint statement on the copyright page. Do not rely on a number line as the primary signal for this short-lived imprint, since usage was not consistent. c.1973-c.1976 (under E.P. Dutton): Titles appear as 'Saturday Review Press / E.P. Dutton' or 'Saturday Review Press, distributed by E.P. Dutton' and follow Dutton's documented post-1929 practice, where a first printing is marked by a printed statement such as 'First Edition' or 'First Published [year]' on the copyright page. Absence of that statement, or any noted later printing, indicates it is not a first. Where a copy carries no statement at all, use the exact imprint wording plus jacket and price to date it within the c.1970-c.1976 window. Imprints and series: Saturday Review Press; Saturday Review Press / E.P. Dutton (distributed-by / joint imprint, c.1973 onward). Background: Book-publishing arm associated with the Saturday Review magazine; short-lived as an independent trade imprint. Brought under E.P. Dutton around 1973, appearing first as a joint or distributed-by imprint before the Saturday Review name was dropped. Records are sparse, so confirm identification by combining the imprint wording with jacket and price evidence.


Sceptre — first-edition identification

Sceptre (UK (London); 1986–present). First-edition identification: Copyright page states 'First published in [year] by Hodder & Stoughton'; Sceptre is the literary imprint label carried on the title page and spine. Descending number line; a first printing ends in '1'. Follows Hodder & Stoughton conventions, which have consistently used 'First published in [year]' on firsts (with later printings noted) since 1976. Imprints and series: Sceptre. Background: Founded 1986 as Hodder & Stoughton's literary imprint, sitting alongside the mass-market Coronet and NEL lines; identification conventions track Hodder's. David Mitchell, Jodi Picoult (UK), Melvyn Bragg ('The Maid of Buttermere'), and Charles Frazier ('Cold Mountain', 1997) have appeared under Sceptre. Sceptre originally published in paperback only (early list included Thomas Keneally's 'Schindler's Ark'); hardcover lines came later, so for an early title confirm whether a hardcover first actually exists before assuming one.


Schiffer Publishing — first-edition identification

Schiffer Military History
Schiffer Aviation History
Cornell Maritime Press
Tidewater Publishers
Schiffer Craft
REDFeather Mind Body Spirit

Schiffer Publishing (Atglen, Pennsylvania, USA (earlier West Chester, PA); 1974-present; Cornell Maritime Press from 1938, acquired by Schiffer 2009). First-edition identification: Schiffer is a heavily-illustrated reference and antiques house founded in 1974. Like most US trade publishers of its era, a Schiffer first printing carries a single copyright year and no later-printing notation; a stated 'Second printing' or an added later date indicates a reprint. On more recent titles Schiffer prints a number line on the copyright page. As with the general industry convention, the lowest digit present indicates the printing, so a line still containing '1' is a first printing. The exact year Schiffer adopted the number line is not documented in standard references, so read the line itself rather than relying on a fixed cutoff date. Cornell Maritime Press and Tidewater Publishers are acquired imprints (Schiffer bought them in 2009). Pre-acquisition Cornell/Tidewater titles follow the older no-notation-on-first convention; later Schiffer reissues follow whatever notation appears on that printing's copyright page. Imprints and series: Schiffer Military History; Schiffer Aviation History; Cornell Maritime Press; Tidewater Publishers; Schiffer Craft; REDFeather Mind Body Spirit. Background: Schiffer Military History is a leading source of heavily illustrated WWII equipment and unit references; out-of-print firsts are sought by collectors. Cornell Maritime Press was founded in 1938 in New York City by Felix Cornell to supply US Merchant Marine textbooks, later moving to Maryland; Tidewater Publishers was founded in 1955 for regional Chesapeake titles. Schiffer acquired both in 2009. Large-format color references are frequently reprinted with the same cover art, so judge state by the copyright-page printing notation rather than the jacket.


Schocken Books — first-edition identification

Schocken Books (US (New York); 1945–present (US)). First-edition identification: Random House / Penguin Random House house style: true first printing carries a "First Edition" statement and/or a full number line whose lowest digit is 1. First printing has no later-printing notice; the lowest number in the number line is the decisive tell. Imprints and series: Schocken. Background: Founded by Salman Schocken in Germany in 1931; began US publishing in 1945. Judaica and Jewish-interest house. Acquired by Random House in 1987; now an imprint within the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group under Penguin Random House, so conventions follow standard Random House / PRH house style.


Scholastic (Scholastic Press / Arthur A. Levine Books) — first-edition identification

Scholastic (Scholastic Press / Arthur A. Levine Books) (US; 1920–present (Scholastic Press trade imprint 1990s onward)). First-edition identification: Full number line on copyright page; first printing includes/begins effectively with '1' — Scholastic uses interleaved year/printing strings (e.g. '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2' followed by year codes). If the printing portion does not reach 1, it is a later printing Frequently states the edition: e.g. 'First American edition, October 1998' (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) Watch for the small 'Printed in the U.S.A. 23' style line; combine the stated edition line with the number line Imprints and series: Arthur A. Levine Books (historical; now Levine Querido, separate); Scholastic Press; Orchard Books (US); Cartwheel Books; Blue Sky Press; Chicken House (distributed); The Blue Sky Press; Graphix; Klutz; Scholastic Inc.. Background: Harry Potter US firsts (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic) are the marquee modern children's points-of-issue: Sorcerer's Stone true first = full number line with 1 present AND 'First American edition, October 1998' on copyright page Scholastic Book Clubs / Scholastic Book Fairs editions are NOT trade firsts — they often carry distinct ISBNs, 'SCHOLASTIC' club markings, no price, and a different printing string; a giant source of confusion for HP and Captain Underpants Arthur A. Levine left in 2019 to found Levine Querido (independent, distributed by Chronicle) — post-2019 'Levine' books are a different company


Scribe Publications — first-edition identification

Scribe
Scribe UK
Scribe US (distribution arm)

Scribe Publications (Australia (Melbourne, VIC) with Scribe UK (London); 1976–present). First-edition identification: On a first printing the copyright page reads 'First published by Scribe [year]' (or 'Published by Scribe Publications [year]'), carries no later-printing notice, and the stated year matches the copyright year. This statement is the primary and most reliable first-printing signal. Many modern Scribe titles also carry a descending number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1', where the lowest digit present ('1') indicates a first printing; treat this as supporting evidence only, since the line is not used on every title. Scribe UK editions (from May 2013) carry a London Scribe address and often a separate 'First published in the UK by Scribe [year]' statement, distinct from the Australian first appearance; compare the two to establish which territory is the true first. Imprints and series: Scribe; Scribe UK; Scribe US (distribution arm). Background: Founded 1976 in Melbourne by Henry Rosenbloom; began as a serious-nonfiction one-man house and remains independent. Scribe UK sister company established May 2013 (London). For a title issued in both territories, the Australian edition is usually the true first; verify by comparing the 'first published' statements and addresses. Continuous independent ownership means the statement-plus-number-line combination is reliable for recent titles, with the printed statement carrying the weight when no number line is present.


Seagull Books — first-edition identification

Seagull Books (India (Kolkata); 1982-present). First-edition identification: Copyright page reads 'First published by Seagull Books, [year]' with a Kolkata address; the first printing carries that first-published year and no reprint notice. No standardised number line — identification rests on the 'First published' statement and edition wording. Distinctive Sunandini Banerjee cover and design with high production values; the Seagull copyright page and ISBN confirm the Seagull edition versus a co-publisher's, and the Seagull printing is the true first even when distributed by another house. Imprints and series: Seagull Books; The Seagull Library of World Literature; Seagull Books London (registered division). Background: Founded 1982 in Calcutta/Kolkata by Naveen Kishore, a theatre practitioner; began in theatre and the arts and expanded into world-literature translation and twentieth/twenty-first-century critical theory. Holds world-English rights for many translations; distributed worldwide by University of Chicago Press EXCEPT in India, where it is distributed by Atlantic Publishers and Distributors — the Seagull printing is the true first regardless of distributor. Often the first English-language appearance of major translated authors (from German, French, etc.) — collectible as translation firsts.


Seal Press — first-edition identification

Seal Press (US (founded Seattle; now New York/Berkeley under Hachette); 1976–present). First-edition identification: First printing: complete number line counting down to 1, following the Hachette Book Group house practice A 'First Edition' statement may appear on the copyright page but is not guaranteed; rely on the full number line Imprints and series: Seal Press. Background: Feminist / women's-interest nonfiction imprint, founded 1976 as an independent letterpress in Seattle; one of the enduring presses of the 1970s women's press movement Sold to Avalon Publishing Group (2001), then entered Hachette via the April 2016 Perseus acquisition; now a member of the Basic Books Group, operating from New York/Berkeley Pre-2016 titles are independent/Avalon/Perseus imprints, not Hachette


Sears Publishing Company — first-edition identification

Sears Publishing Co.
J. H. Sears & Company

Sears Publishing Company (New York, USA; c.1924–1934). First-edition identification: First editions carry no mark of identification; they are recognized by the fact that second, third and later printings are always marked with a notice to that effect on the copyright page. The absence of any such notice indicates the first printing. The exact imprint wording helps bracket the date — 'J. H. Sears & Company' for the earlier issues and 'Sears Publishing Company' for the later ones. Because the convention is purely the absence of a reprint notice, confirm priority per title and, where possible, corroborate with binding and jacket state. Imprints and series: Sears Publishing Co.; J. H. Sears & Company. Background: Small New York trade house of the late 1920s–early 1930s, founded by Joseph Hamblen Sears (formerly of Harper and later president of D. Appleton & Company). Not related to Sears, Roebuck. Tied to the Kingsport Press in Tennessee and issued US Readers Library titles in the 1920s. A casualty of the Depression: J. H. Sears & Company was sold to Dodd, Mead & Company for a token sum in 1934, so any Sears imprint is itself a useful dating point. Identification relies almost entirely on the no-statement / reprint-noted convention plus the exact imprint wording.


Secker & Warburg (Martin Secker & Warburg) — first-edition identification

Martin Secker (predecessor, to 1935)
Secker & Warburg
Warburg Press

Secker & Warburg (Martin Secker & Warburg) (UK; 1910 (Martin Secker) / 1936-present (Secker & Warburg)). First-edition identification: Pre-1940s: firsts either carried NO statement or occasionally "First published [Year]" with no additional printings listed 1940s onward: consistently state "First published [Year]" on the copyright page of firsts with NO additional impressions listed (later printings add lines) First printing = statement present AND clean copyright page with no reprint notations Modern era: number line under Random House lineage Imprints and series: Martin Secker (predecessor, to 1935); Secker & Warburg; Warburg Press. Background: George Orwell's UK publisher from 'Animal Farm' (1945) and 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' (1949) — both have well-documented dust-jacket points (1984: red vs green jacket variants, both issued) Also Thomas Mann (English translations), Angus Wilson, Melvyn Bragg Martin Secker (pre-merger) and Secker & Warburg should not be conflated


Sentinel — first-edition identification

Sentinel (US (New York); 2003–present). First-edition identification: First printing is identified by a complete descending number line on the copyright page ending in 1; the lowest number present indicates the printing As a Penguin Publishing Group imprint, do not rely on a printed "First edition" statement — use the number line Imprints and series: Sentinel. Background: Conservative nonfiction imprint within Penguin Publishing Group, part of Penguin Random House Founded by Adrian Zackheim in April 2003 as a sister imprint to Portfolio


Serpent's Tail — first-edition identification

Serpent's Tail (UK (London); 1986–present (Viper crime imprint from 2019)). First-edition identification: First printings carry a descending number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' on the imprint page; the lowest number present indicates the printing. Confirm the 'First published by Serpent's Tail' statement and year; Viper titles (from 2019) carry the Viper colophon but follow the same number-line convention as the parent house. Mask Noir was an early branded crime/translated-noir series within Serpent's Tail — copyright pages still read Serpent's Tail. Serpent's Tail Classics copies are backlist reissues, not firsts. Imprints and series: Serpent's Tail; Viper (crime/thriller imprint, launched 2019; first title published 2020); Serpent's Tail Classics; Mask Noir (early branded crime/translated-noir series). Background: Independent founded 1986 by Pete Ayrton; strong in translated European crime and literary fiction. An imprint of Profile Books since 2007. Viper (announced/launched 2019, first title in 2020) is the dedicated crime/thriller imprint led by Miranda Jewess; Serpent's Tail Classics reissues backlist. Many titles are first English/UK editions of translated authors, so 'first published by Serpent's Tail' can post-date the original-language first edition — the number line marks the first UK/English appearance, not a world first.


Seven Seas Entertainment — English-language manga & light novels — first-edition identification

Ghost Ship (mature/ecchi)
Airship (light novels)
Seven Seas Danmei (BL)
Steamship (josei/adult)
Waves of Color

Seven Seas Entertainment — English-language manga & light novels (USA (Los Angeles, California; founded 2004); 2004-present). First-edition identification: 2004-present: volumes are identified by a descending number line on the copyright page (line ending in 1 = first printing; lowest digit present = printing number), typically with a printing month/year stated nearby. This is standard US trade practice independent of which distributor handles the line. Light novels (Airship) and danmei prose (Seven Seas Danmei, e.g. Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Heaven Official's Blessing) use the same number-line tell; danmei box sets and special editions carry their own per-printing lines. Early Seven Seas (2004-c.2010) original-English-language (OEL) and licensed manga use the same indicia and number-line approach. Imprints and series: Ghost Ship (mature/ecchi); Airship (light novels); Seven Seas Danmei (BL); Steamship (josei/adult); Waves of Color. Background: Distribution history: Seven Seas distributed through Macmillan (via the Tor imprint) under a 2007 agreement, then moved to Penguin Random House Publisher Services in late 2020; current printings ship through PRHPS, not Macmillan. The Seven Seas Danmei line (Heaven Official's Blessing, Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation) drove heavy demand; early-printing novels are sought, and reprints drop the low digits from the line. Known for licensing niche, mature, and previously-skipped titles, including unflipped, uncensored editions. Founded October 2004 by Jason DeAngelis, who coined the term 'world manga'.