Determining whether a book is a first edition can be more difficult than it seems. How a first edition is designated varies between publishers. There are no clear guidelines or by-laws, giving publishers the liberty to use any system they deem appropriate. In fact, there are times when you may not be able to tell, because the book is not identified as a first edition at all. It can be difficult, but there are a few things you can look for to try and determine if a book is a first edition.
Instructions
1. Compare the date on the title page to the date on the copyright page. Both dates need to match. There may be two dates listed. The copyright date and the first published date. These dates may be slightly different, but should not vary by more than one year.
2. Look for phrases such as "First Edition" or "First Printing."
3. Look for a series of numbers, for example: (1 3 5 7 8 9 2 6 4). If the number "1" is present in the number line, it is a first edition.
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