First printing book value

In the world of book collecting, a first edition is generally considered to be the first appearance of a work, in its first printing. My 6 year old girl is in chanted by this book and cd i was amazed at the value of this offered providing the cd as well as the book its a lovely story. Misconduct also occurs when the forger removes the cover of a worn paperback first printing of harry potter and the philosophers stone and then replaces it with the cover of a second, third, fourth, or fifth paperback printing of the book. The printing year 1929 boards are red, last page has an advertisment for the don sturdy series. But to have any real collectable value, it has to be a copy of the first edition, first impression also known as the first printing. The page in this photo is from a fifth printing book. First edition book values how much is a book worth. Speaking generally, first editions will hold the most value if they are first editions. If your copy is a 3rd printing, or a book club edition, it wont have the same value as a first edition. Second printing was issued in green or purple cloth. First edition points to identify to kill a mockingbird by.

If the initial print run of this first edition sells out and the publisher decides to. To a book collector the phrase first edition refers to a book that was released during the first printing of the first edition they call this book a 1st1st. The grapes of wrath first edition points and values. Signed first printings of the first edition command the highest value. We have thousands of rare and antique treasures brought to you by our network of trusted sellers from all around the world. To kill a mockingbird first edition points and values. A hardcover book published in 1958 by viking isnt the same as a reprint published by penguin in 1963. Speaking generally, first editions will hold the most value if they are first editions, first printings. Spoon river anthology, first printing 1915 masters, edgar lee on. But unsigned first printings are extremely valuable as well. I have a hardy boys book called the mystery of cabin island. Calculating this begins with the knowledge that the initial june printing is actually the second printing.

Second printings are very rare and have high value. The first trade edition was published by doubleday, page to be sold in bookstores. Book collecting guide identifying and collecting first editions. Issued in printed wrappers, salmoncoated on white and pinkcoated on white. Its worth somewhere around 10 per cent of the value of a first impression in the hardback binding. First editions are soughtafter by book collectors and a first edition is usually more valuable than a later printing. Condition is very important and will greatly influence value. Sometimes you may have 1st printings by different publishers i,e. Each publisher uses their own individual system to state a first printing of a book. First printing is stated on the page and no book club mark on back of book. If you are among the few who happen to have a first printing first edition of the uk edition of the first book, which was called, harry potter and the philosophers stone, you really have a treasure. A popular book may have had dozens of additional printings causing its first printing to be the most valuable. It marked the start of the gutenberg revolution and the age of printed books in the west. However, we suspect that later printing jackets might be 116 inch shorter than the first printing jackets.

With a little research and utilizing links to rare book. A new version of the book is then typeset, which becomes the second edition. Publishers will sometimes forget to remove the first edition words from the printing history as they go into subsequent printings, and the number line is the only way that you can really know that your copy. A quick look on abe or in the case of newer books, amazon will ascertain whether the book is common or not. The gutenberg bible also known as the 42line bible, the mazarin bible or the b42 was among the earliest major books printed using massproduced movable metal type in europe. Depending on who has published the book and what formats it has been published in, youll be looking for hardcover books mostly. Check out joyce kosofskys antiques roadshow appraisal of this 1830 book of mormon first printing from dallas, hour 1.

A first edition is the first time a book is printed by a publisher. The main characteristics of a 1997 first edition first issue are a print line that reads 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and the crediting of joanne rowling, not jk. In cold blood by truman capote first edition criteria. In the world of book collecting, a first edition is generally considered to be the first appearance of a work, in its first. The guide to identification and values by allen and patricia. Since 1997, bookfinder has made it easy to find any book at the best price. Book is very good condition with strong gold gilt on front board and light stain to lower left of front board. How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable. These are not true first editions and therefore dont hold high values. So if you ask the printer to print 10,000 copies of a book and then you sell them all and go back and ask for another 7,500 copies, the first 10,000 copies was the first printing.

Bauman rare books first editions, signed and inscribed. The condition of a first edition book, like all collectible books, is an important factor in determining its value. The lowest number found on the page is the print run number. That means that there are literally millions of copies of the book that can technically be referred to as first editions. In most cases, the first number on that number line indicates what printing that copy was a part of. Subsequent printings would be, for example, a 2nd printing but not a first edition. Use the search box above to find fond treasures from your childhood or that one book that has escaped your collection thus far. At first this can become somewhat confusing because when a book becomes very popular and is often reprinted many times over a number. But dont assume all hardcovers are first printings. There was another printing in june which is the third printing.

The first printing is also what book collectors call a first edition. I have attempted to describe some general rules of thumb below for a brief online reference. Key points to identifying the first printing the first edition of gone with the wind has been reprinted over 100 times since it was first published. I recently purchased a first edition first printing of the grapes of wrath with all the bells and whistles excluding the dust jacket. By far the most valuable book in the series is the first, harry potter and the philosophers stone, published on 30 june 1997 by bloomsbury in london. A beatenup old book that is falling apart will have little value. Learn more about identifying first editions at abebooks. Book collectors tend to be fussy about such things and will pay a premium for a copy that looks like it just left the printing press. How to identify first editions or a first printing of a book. At the time this book was printed there were two printings in july which were the fourth and fifth printings. So if you ask the printer to print 10,000 copies of a book and then you sell them all and go back and ask for another 7,500 copies, the first.

The case is the same as the first printing, but the number line ends in 2, as scotts copy does, but the repeated 1 wand is corrected. We specialize in making it easier for you to get the books you need. One possible explanation is that is a printing plant indicator. Can anyone help me with identifying a whether my book is a first edition. A first edition signed by the author will have even greater value. The lowest number on that line often indicates that books printing number. Abebooks explains how to identify a first edition book youtube. The first printing of a book automatically makes it rare, right. The first edition of to kill a mockingbird by harper lee was published in 1960 by j. The first thing to remember is that most books are of low value or no value. There is some controversy on the authorship, with some thinking that it was actually written by. How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable book riot. An edition includes all copies printed from the same plates or setting of type without substantial change.

Everyone thinks they understand the value of a first edition. If the initial print run known as the first printing or first impression sells out and the publisher decides to produce a subsequent printing with the same typeset, books from that second print run can be described as a first edition, second printing. First edition criteria and points to identify stuart. One possible explanation is that is a printingplant indicator. As weve mentioned elsewhere, first edition means the first printing of a book. Another important factor in the value of a first edition or any collectible book is condition. Alibris is one of the premier rare and outof print book sites on the internet. The first edition continues until the book is changed. The second printing of philosophers stone in the casebound hardback issue is valuable. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, first printing 1939 big book. The first edition consists of all the copies printed from the first setting of type. Not all first editions say the words first edition on the title page.

The jacket should be the exact same size as the book. If it has flaws, it will usually be worth significantly less than a copy in excellent fine condition. For hardcover books published from the 20th century onwards, the presence of a dust jacket and its condition also greatly affect. Before selling or giving away old books, check out their value first. Identifying first editions the new antiquarian the blog of the. Rare books for sale, buy antique books from alibris. Book think clearly illustrates the importance of condition with its valuation of kurt vonneguts slaughterhousefive. Alcoholics anonymous first edition first printings 1939. The book is valued and revered for its high aesthetic and artistic qualities as well as its historic significance. Identifying, and valuing first edition dr seuss books. The polar express first edition, first printing chris van allsburg, chris van allsburg on. With each printing, the publisher removes a number from the line of numbers.

Identifying first edition hardy boys book the ebay community. It was lees first and only book until 2015, when go set a watchman was published and was instantly acclaimed, winning the pulitzer prize for fiction for 1960. Whether you want the cheapest reading copy or a specific collectible edition, with bookfinder, youll find just the right book. Publishers will sometimes forget to remove the first edition words from the printing history as they go into subsequent printings, and the number line is the only way that you can really know that your copy is a first edition.

First edition points to identify gone with the wind by. The forger has created a good condition counterfeit first printing and, in doing so, has increased. When the supply of the first printing or impression runs low, and the publisher needs more copies a second printing is done. To publishers, an edition of a book refers to all copies printed from the. On the spine it has the viking press indicated, followed by viking new york on the cover page and first printed in april 1939 with the battle hymn of the republic scores on the front and back inside covers. To kill a mockingbird book won the pulitzer prize for. The first printing is the first batch of books printed from this first setting of. Millions of new, used, rare, and outofprint books are offered for sale.