Akashic Books (Noir Series)1996-presentModern copyright-page number line ending in '1' for the first printing; usually a 'First pBantam (mystery/thriller mass-market)1945-presentBantam used a code on the copyright page indicating printing and date in some eras; in theBitter Lemon Press2003–presentUK convention: first printings carry a descending number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' on thCollins Crime Club1930-1994Collins (UK) generally did NOT use 'First Edition' statements or number lines in the classCrippen & Landru1994-presentMost titles issued in TWO simultaneous states: (1) a clothbound edition, signed and numberDell (Mapbacks / paperback originals)1943-1960sDell-number identification: every Dell paperback carried a sequential Dell number. MapbackDennis McMillan Publications1980s–2000sThe first edition is a signed, numbered limited: a printed limitation page (often in a disDetective Book Club (Walter J. Black)1942-1990sThese are BOOK-CLUB editions by design — they are NOT first editions. Identification is thDodd, Mead & Company (Red Badge Detective)1930s-1980sDodd, Mead generally stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page for firsts; the statemenFawcett Gold Medal1950-1970sGold Medal pioneered the PAPERBACK ORIGINAL — so the Gold Medal paperback is itself the fiFelony & Mayhem Press2005–presentReprint house: the controlling point is the FIRST-THUS statement — copyright pages typicalFive StarImprint 1995–present; Mystery line from 1998, exclusively first-edition publications from 2000Library-oriented hardcovers: first printings are commonly identified by a full number lineHard Case Crime2004-presentMass-market and trade paperback originals with pulp-style painted covers; copyright page cMercury Publications / Mercury Mysteries (Lawrence Spivak)1937-1950sDigest-sized paperback reprint/abridgment line (1937-1950s) tied to The American Mercury /No Exit Press1987–present (acquired by Bedford Square Publishers, announced December 2022)UK-style identification: first printings carry a descending number line ('10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3Poisoned Pen Press1997-presentModern copyright-page number line; first printing shows the full descending line ending inRue Morgue Press1997–2016A reprint house: copyright pages of the trade paperbacks carry a Rue Morgue edition/printiSerpent's Tail1986–present (Viper crime imprint from 2019)First printings carry a descending number line '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' on the imprint page;Soho Crime / Soho Press1986-presentModern descending number line on the copyright page; a first printing shows the full line Soho Press1986–present (Soho Crime launched 1999)First printings carry 'First U.S. edition' or 'First edition' on the copyright page togethStark House Press1999–present (Black Gat line from May 2015)Because the house overwhelmingly reprints earlier works, the operative point is the first-The Crime Club / Doubleday Crime Club1928-1991Follows parent Doubleday house practice: word 'First Edition' on the copyright page denoteThe Mysterious Press1975-presentCopyright page states 'First Printing' (often with month and year) plus a descending numbe
Part of the First-Edition Identification hub · data: first-editions.json (CC BY 4.0).