First-Edition Checker

How number lines work

Since roughly the 1970s many publishers have printed a line of numbers on the copyright page. When a book goes back to press, the printer removes the lowest number. So the lowest number still showing is the printing: if you can see a 1, you are holding a first printing.

The order of the numbers doesn’t matter. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 and 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 all indicate a first printing. Some lines include two-digit year codes (for example 75 76 77); the lowest year usually shows when that printing was made.

Where the rules break

• Lines that start at 2. Some publishers — Random House is the best-known example — long paired a line beginning at 2 with a “First Edition” statement on true first printings, dropping the statement on later ones.
• Statements left in place. Some publishers keep “First Edition” on later printings. If the line says otherwise, trust the line.
• No line at all. Older books generally have no number line. Look for “First published in…” with no later reprint dates, and a title-page date that matches the copyright date.
• Book club editions can look like firsts and even carry a number line, but they are a different, much less valuable product.

Edition identification is publisher- and era-specific. For anything that looks valuable, confirm with a publisher-by-publisher reference and read our guide How to identify a first edition.