We are an online reference guide providing collectors the details
necessary to help identify modern first edition books.

The key to establishing a book's value is to first ensure that it is a first edition. A first editions is the earliest printed copy of a published book. Collectors look for first edition books because these tend to have the highest demand and the greatest potential to increase in value over time. There are standard identification criteria that first editions conform because most, but not all, first edition books follow an established identification method established by each book publisher. These first edition criteria are details about what a book looked like when it was initially printed as a first edition. These details include details such as certain codes on the copyright page, the type of the binding, and particular text on the dust jacket.

In addition to the first edition criteria, there are sometimes points of issue that describe some part of a book which changes during the first printing without the standard first edition identification of the publisher changing, thus creating some copies of the first edition that have the point, and some that do not have the point. The most common type of first edition points of issue are typographical mistakes that were changed during the first printing. In these cases, the copies with the mistake are more desirable because they represent the earliest state of a first edition.

The fedpo.com website helps a collector understand the identification criteria and any first edition points of issue by describing details such as a book's binding, a specific typographical error, or a dust jacket review that can only be found on the earliest printings. First edition criteria and points of issue are usually subtle, but they are important features that distinguish a rare first edition from a common reprint.

The most common first edition criteria can be found on a book's copyright page. The copyright page may say that a book is a first edition, or a first printing, or first impression; and it may state additional printing information, or it may provide a printing code indicating what printing a book is from. Each publisher has used various methods over the years to indicate a book's edition and printing. Another common first edition indicator is a book's cover price, which is typically printed on the dust jacket. The presence of a price on a dust jacket is also the most fundamental way to ensure that the dust jacket is not from a book club edition or other type of reprint. Book club editions look similar to genuine first editions, but they are not first editions, and they have very little collectible value.

To find first edition criteria for a specific book, simply type in the name of the book, or the name of the author in the fields above; or browse all of our available entries by clicking on the bars at the bottom of this page. We have pages for hundreds of collectible books where we describe first edition criteria, provide photographs of known first editions, and provide pre-filled eBay, AbeBooks, and Biblio search links for each book so you can quickly establish its most recent market value.

March 31, 2008

The Evolution of Physics (U.S.) was written by Albert Einstein. The first edition was published in 1938 by Simon and Schuster. It was 319 pages long, and the retail price was $2.50.

First edition criteria: This book was published simultaneously in the U.S. (by Simon and Schuster), in England (by the Cambridge University Press), and in Holland (by A. W. Sijthoff's Uitgeversmaatschappij). Only 6,000 copies of the U.S. first printing were produced. The date on the bottom of title page must match the 1938 copyright page date, and the copyright page must have no other dates and no references to additional printings. Boards are blue cloth with dark blue top stain. The $2.50 price is on the back dust jacket flap. This is a non-technical account of the origin and implications of the theory of relativity. Click here for more photos...

March 30, 2008

A Free Life was written by Ha Jin. The first edition was published in 2007 by Pantheon. It was 660 pages long, and the retail price was $26.00.

First edition criteria: FIRST EDITION is stated on copyright page above number line "2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1". Boards are white with red spine. Click here for more photos...

March 29, 2008

Exit Ghost was written by Philip Roth. The first edition was published in 2007 by Houghton, Mifflin and Company. It was 292 pages long, and the retail price was $26.00.

Here are the first edition criteria: Copyright page has full number line "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1". Boards are black with black cloth spine. Back of dust jacket has photo of the author with no reviews. There was a special presentation edition that was signed by the author and limited to 750 copies. It was issued without the dust jacket and likely preceded the unsigned edition. Click here for more photos...

March 28, 2008

Augustus was written by John Williams. The first edition was published in 1972 by Viking. It was 305 pages long, and the retail price was $7.95. Augustus won the National Book Award.

Here are the first edition criteria: "First published in 1972 by The Viking Press, Inc." is stated on the copyright page with no mention of subsequent printings. Boards are brick-red with green cloth spine. Back of dust jacket has only one review - by Orville Prescott. Click here for more photos...

March 27, 2008

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao was written by Junot Diaz. The first edition was published in 2007 by Riverhead Books. It was 339 pages long, and the retail price was $24.95. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

The first edition criteria are as follows: Copyright page has full number line "1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2". Boards are white with white cloth spine and red lettering. Back of dust jacket says "Praise for Junot Díaz" and has 3 reviews - by Walter Mosley, The New York Times Book Review, and Newsweek. Click here for more photos...

March 26, 2008

Varieties of Disturbance was written by Lydia Davis. The first edition was published in 2007 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. It was 219 pages long, and the retail price was $13.00.

Here are the first edition criteria: The first edition was a softcover. The copyright page has full number line "1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2". 20 reviews on the third and fourth pages including reviews by Jonathan Franzen, Grace Paley, Joyce Carol Oates, and various newspapers. The second from last page has one big review by Dave Eggers. Back cover has price of "U.S.A. $13.00 / CAN $16.00". Click here for more photos...

March 24, 2008

Then We Came to the End was written by Joshua Ferris. The first edition was published in 2007 by Little, Brown. It was 387 pages long, and the retail price was $23.99.

The first edition criteria are as follows: "First Edition" is stated on the copyright page above full number line "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1". Boards are white with Little, Brown blind stamp on front, and yellow cloth spine. Dust jacket back has four reviews. Click here for more photos...

March 22, 2008

Falling Man was written by Don DeLillo. The first edition was published in 2007 by Scribner. It was 246 pages long, and the retail price was $26.00.

Here are the first edition criteria: Copyright page has full number line "1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2". Blue boards with black cloth spine with silver lettering. Dust jacket has $26.00 price on the front flap and has no reviews. Click here for more photos...

March 20, 2008

Year of Wonders was written by Geraldine Brooks. The first edition was published in 2001 by Viking. It was 308 pages long, and the retail price was $24.95.

The first edition criteria are as follows: "First published in 2001 by Viking Penguin," is stated on the copyright page above full number line "1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2". Boards are black with black spine. Back of dust jacket has five reviews - by Anita Shreve, Arthur Golden, Thomas Keneally, Chris Bohjalian, and Sena Jeter Naslund. Click here for more photos...

March 18, 2008

No Country for Old Men was written by Cormac McCarthy. The first edition was published in 2005 by Alfred A. Knopf. It was 309 pages long, and the retail price was $24.95.

Here are the first edition criteria: "First Edition" is stated on the copyright page. Boards are black cloth with gold lettering on spine. An unspecified number of copies have the author�s signature on a tipped in page.

Two "limited editions" were published at the same time by B.E. Trice Publishing. One is a limited edition of 75 deluxe copies, signed by the author on a tipped in numbered page. It is three Quarter leather-bound, and was issued in a slipcase. The other is a limited edition of 325 signed and numbered limited edition copies. It is quarter brown leather with white green and brown marbled boards, and housed in a red slipcase. Click here for more photos...

March 17, 2008

Charming Billy was written by Alice McDermott. The first edition was published in 1998 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. It was pages long, and the retail price was $22.00 . Charming Billy won the National Book Award.

First edition criteria: First edition, 1998 is stated on the copyright page. Click here for more photos...

March 14, 2008

The Maytrees was written by Annie Dillard. The first edition was published in 2007 by Harper Collins. It was 216 pages long, and the retail price was $24.95.

First edition criteria: FIRST EDITION is stated on the copyright page with full number line "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1". Boards are white with light yellow spine. Dust jacket price on the dust jacket is USA $24.95, and Canada $31.50. The Canadian price is reduced in later printings. There is an unspecified number of first editions that have the author's signature on a tipped in page. Click here for more photos...

March 13, 2008

Sophie's Choice was written by William Styron. The first edition was published in 1979 by Franklin Library. It was 624 pages long. Sophie's Choice won the National Book Award.

The first edition criteria are as follows: There are two limited editions vying for true first status. The true first was likely published by the Franklin Library as part of their First Edition series. It is leather-bound and limited to an unspecified number of copies. It is not signed, but the spine and copyright page state that it is the first edition. The Franklin Library had a good history of making sure that their first editions were really first.

Then there is a Random House edition limited to 500 copies. The boards are navy blue cloth, and it is issued in a navy blue slipcase, numbered, and signed by the author. Even though it might not be the true first, this one tends to have more value than the Franklin edition because it is signed and numbered.

Random House also produced a "special edition" which states that is has been "prepared for presentation to friends of the author and the publisher". It was issued in a plain glassine jacket and is thought to be a special edition of the trade edition rather than the true first edition.

The first trade edition is undisputed. It was published by Random House and its copyright page states "First Trade Edition" below the Random House number line "98765432". It also states that a "limited edition of this book has been privately printed", which by itself does little clarify which is the true first. Some say it is referring to the Franklin edition because it does not describe the limited edition as signed. Click here for more photos...

March 12, 2008

The Gravedigger's Daughter was written by Joyce Carol Oates. The first edition was published in 2007 by Ecco. It was 582 pages long, and the retail price was $26.95.

Here are the first edition criteria: FIRST EDITION is stated on the copyright page above full number line "07 08 09 10 11 BVG/QWF 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1". Boards are white with publisher's logo embossed on the front. Click here for more photos...

March 11, 2008

Special Topics in Calamity Physics was written by Marisha Pessl. The first edition was published in 2006 by Viking. It was 514 pages long, and the retail price was $25.95.

Here are the first edition criteria: "First published in 2006 by Viking Penguin," is stated on the copyright page above full number line "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1". Boards are white with "MP" embossed on the front and black cloth spine. Back of dust jacket has a blurb by Jonathan Franzen on the top, and a blurb by Susan Richards Shreve on the bottom. Click here for more photos...

March 10, 2008

Son of the Moon was written by Joseph G. Hitrec. The first edition was published in 1948 by Harpers. It was 383 pages long, and the retail price was $3.00.

Here are the first edition criteria: FIRST EDITION is stated on the copyright page. Click here for more photos...

March 09, 2008

The Amityville Horror was written by Jay Anson. The first edition was published in 1977 by Prentice Hall. It was 201 pages long, and the retail price was $7.95.

First edition criteria: Copyright page has full number line "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1". Boards are brown cloth. Back of dust jacket has photo of the house and four blurbs. Click here for more photos...

March 08, 2008

The Hunt for Red October was written by Tom Clancy. The first edition was published in 1984 by Naval Institute Press. It was 387 pages long, and the retail price was None.

Here are the first edition criteria: The copyright page has exactly 18 lines of text, including a Library of Congress statement, but it has no statement of printing. First Edition or First Printing is NOT stated, and there is no number line. The book is heavy, weighing 1 pound, and 13 ounces. It is cloth bound with a Russian hammer and sickle embossed on the front, and silver lettering on the spine. The dust jacket has no price, and has 6 review blurbs on the back. The reviewers are (in order) Jack Higgins, Joseph Wambaugh, Clive Cussler, Edward L. Beach, John Moore, and Stansfield Turner.

Because there is no price on first edition Hunt for Red October dust jacket, it can be confused for a book club edition if that alone is the criteria being considered. But fortunately there are several other ways to tell the first edition from the book club edition we have observed. The true first edition is 9.25 inches tall, while the book club edition is an inch shorter. The first edition has 18 lines of text on the copyright page, while the book club edition has only 12 lines of text. The missing 6 lines are Library of Congress statements. The first edition is fully bound in red cloth, while the book club edition has cheaper two-tone paper boards. Click here for more photos...

March 07, 2008

The Dive From Clausen's Pier was written by Ann Packer. The first edition was published in 2002 by Alfred A. Knopf. It was 370 pages long, and the retail price was $24.00.

First edition criteria: First Edition is stated on the bottom of the copyright page with no mention of subsequent printings. Boards are blue with light red brick spine. Note: there are book club editions that also state First Edition, but they have solid black boards and are 8.5 inches tall, which is an inch shorter than the true first editions. Click here for more photos...

March 06, 2008

Possession was written by A.S. Byatt. The first edition was published in 1990 by Chatto & Windus. It was 511 pages long, and the retail price was £13.95.

The first edition criteria are as follows: The true first edition was published in London. "Published in 1990 by Chatto & Windus" is stated on the copyright page with no indications of subsequent impressions. Copyright page also states that the printer is Butler and Tanner. Book is bound in blue boards with blue topstain and a sewn-in dark blue ribbon bookmark.

The first American edition was published months later by Random House after some editing for an American audience. Click here for more photos...

March 05, 2008

Cross Creek was written by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. The first edition was published in 1942 by Charles Scribner's Sons. It was 368 pages long, and the retail price was $2.50.

The first edition criteria are as follows: The first edition has an "A" on copyright page, and it is our opinion that the first edition also has the Scribner's seal (a.k.a. colophon) on the bottom of the copyright page. The Scribner's seal is typically an indication that the book was printed by the Scribner Press, and not by a reprint house. Copies with the "A" and the seal are also less common than copies with the "A" but without the seal.

However there is some uncertainty about the meaning of the Scribner's seal on this particular title. There is at least one bibliography (the Pittsburgh Series in Bibliography) that characterizes copies with the "A" and without the seal as the first printing, and copies with the "A" and the seal as third printings.

We have compared "A" copies with the seal, and without the seal, and have found no obvious signs in the books themselves to indicate that one proceeds the other. Both have the same green boards with the same silver lettering. Neither books have blind stamps. The only difference we have found is that our copies with the seal have rough-cut pages and no top stain - while the non-seal books have straight-edge pages and a faint top stain.

We welcome your input on the subject. Click here for more photos...

This website is intended to help guide you and give you insight into what to look for when identifying first editions. As such, the information presented here may not always be 100% accurate. Gathering and updating information about these books is more an art than a science, so some of our first edition points may be wrong. If you spot a mistake, drop us an e-mail and we will do our best to investigate and fix it.

We are an online reference guide providing collectors the details necessary to help identify modern first edition books.

March 10, 2008Son of the Moon was written by Joseph G. Hitrec. The first edition was published in 1948 by Harpers. It was 383 pages long, and the retail price was $3.00.Here are the first edition criteria: FIRST EDITION is stated on the copyright page. Click here for more photos...

We are an online reference guide providing collectors the details
necessary to help identify modern first edition books.

March 10, 2008

Son of the Moon was written by Joseph G. Hitrec. The first edition was published in 1948 by Harpers. It was 383 pages long, and the retail price was $3.00.

Here are the first edition criteria: FIRST EDITION is stated on the copyright page. Click here for more photos...