How To Tell If A BookIs A 1st Edition
On this site, we’re all about finding rare gems at thrift stores and garage sales.
One overlooked category? Books, specifically, first editions and first printings. These can sell for hundreds, sometimes even thousands of dollars… and often you’ll pick them up for just a few bucks.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to identify a 1st edition or 1st printing, so next time you’re in the the thrift, you’ll know exactly what to look for.
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What does "1st Edition" and "1st Printing"Mean?
When a new book is published, there’s no guarantee it’ll be a hit. Publishers aren’t going to print 100,000 copies of a debut novel from an unknown author, it’s too risky. Instead, they release a small batch to test the waters. That initial batch is the first edition, and within it, the very first run off the printing press is the first printing.
The rarer the print run, the more valuable the book, especially if the book later becomes wildly popular.
Why Is This Important?
For collectors and die hard fans, owning a first edition is like holding a piece of history. It’s a bit of a status symbol, like being able to say, “I was here before it blew up.”
Think of it like vintage concert merch from a band’s first tour. A first edition of a bestselling book is kind of the same thing, a time capsule from before the hype.
Real Example: A Court of Mist and Fury
Let’s look at a real find. I picked up a hardcover copy of Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Mist and Fury at a thrift store for $6. It’s part of her massively popular A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Not familiar? Don’t worry, I wasn’t either.
Here’s how I figured out it was a first edition and first printing which is worth a lot of money.
Step 1: Check the Cover
The cover should match the original artwork from the first release. If the cover features actors from a movie adaptation, for example, it’s definitely not a first edition.
Think about Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. If the cover features Daniel Radcliffe, it can’t be when the book was first published in 1997, the movie didn’t start filming until 2001. That’s your first quick filter.
Step 2: Open to the Copyright Page
Look for "First Edition"
Some books will say “First Edition” clearly. If it does, great, you now know it’s a 1st edition. This particular book does not so we have to dive deeper.
Check the Copyright Date
At the top of the page, you see this
Text copyright © 2016
Now scan the rest of the page. Are there any future later dates listed? If not, that’s a good sign that this edition is from the original release year.
Match Country of Publication and Printing
This book was published in the USA and printed in the USA, a perfect match.
For example, a true first edition of Harry Potter would be published and printed in the UK. Many later editions were printed in Australia or the US, those aren’t considered true first editions by collectors.
Step 3: Check the Print Line
Here’s where it gets nerdy, but stick with me.
At the bottom of the copyright page, you’ll often see a string of numbers like:
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This is called the print line. The lowest number indicates which printing it is.
If you see a “1” in that line? It’s a first printing.
If the lowest number is “2” or higher? It’s a later printing.
In this case, the lowest number is 1, which confirms it: this is a first edition, first printing.
Some times you’ll see print lines that look like this:
10 8 6 4 2 1 3 5 7 9
It doesn’t matter. The order goes back to how books were originally printed, how they alternated book printing plates on different machines. We wont get into that. The lowest number is your print number.
What’s It Worth?
A first edition, first printing of A Court of Mist and Fury can sell for up to $300 online, not bad for a $6 thrift store find.
Final Thoughts
Spotting first editions takes practice, but once you’ve got an eye for it, it becomes second nature especially when scanning shelves at op shops or garage sales. Keep this checklist in mind, and you’ll be surprised how often valuable books pop up where you least expect them.
How can I learn more?
Flip Weekly is a 100% free newsletter and podcast released each Thursday morning that teaches you how to make money going to thrift stores and garage sales. If you’re a reader, you can subscribe to the newsletter here or read past issues here. If you’re more of a listener, you can listen to the podcast here or listen to past episodes here.