Book Club Editions or First Editions?

[redfury]

Hi,

I hope somebody can shed some insight into this..

I have started collecting first edition stephen king books and I recently purchased several from somebody on ebay which were all advertised as 'First Edition' and stated that the numberline was present etc

When I received the books, I was disappointed to discover that they are in fact most likely Book Club editions as they have no price on the dust jackets.

They do however all have the other required information such as 'First printed in..." and the 1 2 3 4 5 etc numberline.

Are they book club editions? Does that mean that they are not 'First Editions' ? Were they advertised falsely by stating they are first editions?

Thanks so much for your time!

[Moderator]

Book club editions are not first editions. For help identifying First Editions, we have a guide on the main portion of the site -- here's the link to the page where you can download the PDF document.

[REDRUM617]

They would most likely be Book Club editions, however there is a small chance that the books are first edition with Book Club jackets.

[jchanic]

If a book doesn't have a priced dust jacket, it is a book club edition. The ONLY exception to this that I'm aware of is that some of the Hodder & Stoughton editions (from the UK) that were issued as "International" editions did not have a priced dust jacket. The UK book club editions, however, are usually VERY different in size and are almost always marked as BCA editions.

John

[Bryan James]

Thank you, Ms. Mod! Is there perhaps any Overall Industry Standard for identification of Edition, um, Numbered Booky things? I called two public libraries and one adequate bookstore...I got two-and-a-half different responses.

I'm new and stupid. Five people will immediately agree with me. Four hundred will follow.

I don't collect books (physically), but it would be nice to know. Definitely no hurry.

Thanks,
BJS

[Srbo]

So, just curious - when UTD comes out and I by it in the store - am I bying a first edition or not ?

[Moderator]

So, just curious - when UTD comes out and I by it in the store - am I bying a first edition or not ?

My first reaction was to say as long as you buy one of the first printings you have a first edition but then it occurred to me that since you are in Canada, I'm not sure if that is true. Can anyone confirm whether it makes a difference if it is a Canadian release or do all the Scribner books in the U.S./Canada come from the same source?

[Moderator]

Thank you, Ms. Mod! Is there perhaps any Overall Industry Standard for identification of Edition, um, Numbered Booky things? I called two public libraries and one adequate bookstore...I got two-and-a-half different responses.

I'm new and stupid. Five people will immediately agree with me. Four hundred will follow.

I don't collect books (physically), but it would be nice to know. Definitely no hurry.

Thanks,
BJS

It appears that each publishing company has their own way of identifying their first editions, so I think it's safe to say there is no industry standard at this time.

[Matticus]

My first reaction was to say as long as you buy one of the first printings you have a first edition but then it occurred to me that since you are in Canada, I'm not sure if that is true. Can anyone confirm whether it makes a difference if it is a Canadian release or do all the Scribner books in the U.S./Canada come from the same source?

I will ask the collectors on my site this question and get back to you.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

The 'first printing' thing is one of the reasons I'm always standing at the bookshop door waiting to buy the first copy when it opens on publication day.

That, and obsession of course! LOL

Long days and pleasant nights