How can you tell a first edition book when there are so many different formats of books. how can you tell if that phillip pullman is a first edition 1st impression or a later reprint.???

Some books are easier than others.There are several easy ways to tell if a book is NOT a first edition -

firstly go to the publishing page of your book. it will be before the title page with most books and will say who published and printed the book.the following are Not 1st editions.

BOOKS PUBLISHED BY BCA , GUILD PUBLISHING LONDON, BY ''RP '' (REPRINT SOCIETY) , TED SMART,HERON,OR MOST OF DEAN CHILDRENS BOOKS.

if your book has any of these publishers names on the spine, title page or publishing page then it will be a reprint for certain.If its not then read on.......

The next thing to look for is whats called a number run,this is a string of numbers usually 10 or less numbers (in the uk  however in american books  it can be as long as 20 numbers). The number runs will look like these......

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1  - this is a first edition 1st printing number run it has the 1 so its the first printing.Another 1st edition first printing run can look like this....

135798642  - this is also a first edition first printing run as it has the 1 in the number run. both the examples i have given you here are 1st edition 1st printing numbers.if you see a number run and it has a 1 in it like these then its a first edition 1st printing and therefore the most desirable.

Next i will show you what later printings look like .

1098765432 - this is a 1st edition 2nd printing

35798642 - this is a 1st edition 2nd printing also.

109876543 - this is a 1st edition 3rd printing

3579864 - this is a 1st edition 3rd printing also

basically whatever the lowest number is then thats the printing number .

NON NUMBER RUN BOOKS -

Some 1st editions do not use number runs - eg they may say first published in 1985 by new english library or similar. it will then say this book published and will give a date eg 1985.You need to check that the 2 dates in the book match a first edition 1st printing will look like this

published in 1995 by john thomas books,this book published 1995 all rights reserved

or something similar. basically if the 2 dates match and it doesnt mention any other dates or mention the word reprinted then it will be a first edition 1st impression.

a non 1st edition book will read something like this....

originally published by john thomas in 1995 by john thomas books, this edition published 2000.

THIS IS A VERY BASIC GUIDE.IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO CHECK IF YOUR BOOK IS A FIRST EDITION PLEASE SCAN OR PHOTOGRAPH THE PUBLISHERS PAGE AND EMAIL ME VIA EBAY.IM HAPPY TO DO THAT FOR YOU.

HAPPY EBAYING TO ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!