[HPforGrownups] First US Edition of GoF (WAS: Scans of Relevant Pages)

squeakinby squeakinby at tds.net
Thu Jul 1 00:20:12 UTC 2004


No: HPFGUIDX 103784

scoutmom21113 wrote:


> I think mine was from the first printing, but I'm not sure if I'm 
> reading the numbers correctly.

The most valuable books are first edition first printing.  If it's a 
first edition, it may be stated.  If so, in the trade that's called a 
stated first.  Years ago publishers assumed if they didn't say Second 
Edition, you knew it was a first, so many old first editions are not 
stated.  You have to know.  If it just says first edition and there are 
no other numbers, it is a first printing.  Some publishers have their 
own designation for what the print number it was.  Usually the last 
number in the long line is the number printing it was.  If the last 
number is 1, it's a first printing.  If it's 23, it's the 23rd printing.

If there were changes to the text, in America that usually becomes a 
Second Edition.  I don't know how it works in England.

I don't know what the First Edition of the US GOF looks like, I have the 
UK First.  So I can only share what I know having spent some years as a 
bookseller.

Jem




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