How do I tell the edition number of a book?

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Request for Question Clarification by hummer-ga on 29 Oct 2005 14:56 PDT

Hi blufford,

Are you wondering about a particular book? If so, copy down the
copyright information exactly as it appears on the copyright page (the
backside side of the title-page) and post it here. Be sure to include
the publisher information. Using reference material I have, I'll try
to help you with it. There are so many variables that there really is
no quick and easy guide to use. For example, the string of numbers
that bengibs mentioned is fine, but they mean nothing if it is a book
club edition. Also it is possible for the string to start with a "2"
and still be a first printing.

Regards,
hummer

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Clarification of Question by blufford-ga on 29 Oct 2005 15:18 PDT

Thanks Hummer, Hannibal, Thomas Harris ISBN 0385299299X, Delacorte
Press,NY,NY, Copyright 1999, Yazoo Fabrications..at the bottom of the
page is June 1999, 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 , RRC.

Hi blufford,

Yes, what you have is more than likely a first printing of the first
edition. I confirmed this by looking in the "Identification of First
Editions" by Bill McBride. Delacorte Press lists a sequence of numbers
and when the "1" is present, it is a first printing.

Following is a description of the book:

"Hardcopy with red paper-covered boards, black cloth spine, gold
printing on spine with author's name in gold on front cover, marbled
end-papers"
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=531571639

Here are some photos:

Dustjacket:
http://www.tomfolio.com/bookdetails.asp?book=12763173

Photo of signed title-page and dustjacket:
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=191455440

The next thing to look at is to see if the price is still present on
the dustjacket (usually inside the front flap) as this is often
clipped off.  Also, check to see if there's a mark on the bottom edge
of the pages (maybe black marker line). This would indicate
"remaindered" and reduces the value considerably, even first editions.
Even so, a first edition, unfortunately, is not rare and can be found
for under $5.00.

First editions - 489 listed for sale on Abe:
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?bx=off&sts=t&ds=50&bi=h&pn=delacorte&an=harris&dj=on&fe=on&tn=hannibal&sortby=2

All that said, it's nice to have a first edition in your home library
- keep it out of the sun so that nice dustjacket doesn't get faded. If
you have any questions, please post a clarification request and wait
for me to respond before closing/rating my answer.

Thank you,
hummer

I used my own reference material plus searched book websites to look
for descriptions and photos.

Thanks for the additional information about the clipped price and
marks. I always wondered what they meant.

Publishers label a books editions in many ways. There are entire books
written on this subject.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/093035818X/002-6352867-1677666?v=glance

In general, edition information can be found on the copyright page of
a book. This is the normally one of the first pages, and it contains
the publishing and copyright information.

Some books have a string of consecutive numbers. (i.e. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9) If the first number is "1," the book is a first edition.

Many first editions say "first edition."

http://www.millersmiles.co.uk/bookguide/firsteditionbooks/firsteditionbooks.htm

Dear bengibs,

Thank you for your thank you, nice rating, and tip!  Well, I didn't
really explain what a remaindered book is. Remainders are publishers'
overstocks of titles whose sale has slackened and so they offer them
at a drastically reduced price. Before they leave the warehouse, the
publisher will often mark the bottom edge in some way. Sometimes it's
a spray of paint, sometimes a marker pen, sometimes a stamp. There is
nothing wrong with the books, and it may very well be that a first
printing of a first edition gets remaindered. The books are sold in
bulk to booksellers who specialize in remaindered books. Here is one:

Edward R. Hamilton
http://www.edwardrhamilton.com/

In regards to the dustjacket being price clipped, that's usually done
by someone who wants to give it as a gift so they take off the price.
If the dustjacket is unclipped but you can't find a listed price, it
may mean it is a book club edition.

Thanks again,
hummer