So if a book has had more than one printing, how can you tell which one you have and therefore whether or not your edition is a “true” first? This one really depends on the publisher. If it’s from a small press, which often run one printing of their books, you’re sometimes safe assuming what you have is a first edition unless otherwise noted. With many of the larger publishing houses, you’re on the lookout for a string of numbers on the copyright page, as shown in this copy of Heading Out to Wonderful

The string of numbers can be descending, as it is here, ascending, or in totally random order. To identify what printing you have, look for the lowest number in the string. In this example, the lowest number is 1, so I have a first edition, first printing. Remember that even if the lowest number is 2, 3, or whatever, if the publisher is still using the original typeset, then the copyright page may still say “First Edition.”

The Beginner’s Guide to Identifying First Editions