How to determine if I have a first editiono book?

crankypants · 01-13-2016, 07:47 AM

I have a book "The C Programming Language" by Kernighan and Ritchie. It's quite a famous book in programming circles. I got it in 1989 but the most recent copyright is 1978. It doesn't say "first edition" and there is no other edition indicator, nor can I find if this edition was reprinted at a certain time other than 1978.

It even says it was typeset under unix running on a PDP-11/70 (a very old computer).

So

How do I know if this edition is a reprint of the 1978 edition?
How do I know if I have a first edition book?

I don't know what this page is called, but here's all the publishing info:

A bigger version as PNG.

Thank you.

[Image added as an attachment]

pdurrant · 01-13-2016, 08:05 AM

It's a reprint of the first edition. 27th printing. You can tell from the number line "30 29 28 27"

crankypants · 01-13-2016, 08:48 AM

Thanks. So what do the numbers "30 29 28" mean?

pdurrant · 01-13-2016, 10:30 AM

When print publishers publish a book, they usually include a number line on the copyright page. It usually starts

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

And with each reprint one of the numbers gets removed (which was an easy task even in the days before computers).

So the 30 29 28 are just there for later. The next printing would have 30 90 28 instead of 30 90 28 27.

Collectors usually want first edition, first printing.

susan_cassidy · 01-13-2016, 01:44 PM

What the heck does this have to do with e-reading? Nothing.

issybird · 01-13-2016, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

What the heck does this have to do with e-reading? Nothing.

In these cases, why not report the post and ask that the thread be moved to the appropriate forum? Instead of going all crankypants about it, which achieves nothing.

murg · 01-13-2016, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

What the heck does this have to do with e-reading? Nothing.

Actually, since PDurrant's comment, it does.

Many ebook versions have the printing numbers in them, and this is serves as an explanation of that anomaly.

Dr. Drib · 01-15-2016, 06:37 AM

Being a book collector of long-standing, it should be noted that publishers can (and have) used different ways to signify a First Edition.

Random House, for example, back in the 70s (if my memory is correct), often started with a '2' (and no '1') to note a first printing of a First Edition.

Too, a First Edition (from another country) may not be technically true if the First Edition was published FIRST in a foreign country.

And further, Saul Bellow, a noted Nobel prize-winning author, actually decided to publish one of his books as a First Edition not as a hardback, but as a trade edition, an act which caused quite a stir back in its time.

Then, there is the Unauthorized 'First' Edition of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, as published by Ace in paper, and later withdrawn from circulation.

Collecting books from specific authors can often be very convoluted and complicated, especially literature books from the 1900s and thereabouts. With technical books, it is much less complicated.

The main thing to keep in mind, however, is that Paul is essentially correct.

If one is a hardcore collector, as I am, then further information from specific publishers is needed for a complete guide when looking for First Editions.

01-13-2016, 07:47 AM	#1
crankypants Hmm. Posts: 124 Karma: 2016606 Join Date: Oct 2015 Device: Android 4.2 Google Play Reader	How to determine if I have a first editiono book? I have a book "The C Programming Language" by Kernighan and Ritchie. It's quite a famous book in programming circles. I got it in 1989 but the most recent copyright is 1978. It doesn't say "first edition" and there is no other edition indicator, nor can I find if this edition was reprinted at a certain time other than 1978. It even says it was typeset under unix running on a PDP-11/70 (a very old computer). So How do I know if this edition is a reprint of the 1978 edition? How do I know if I have a first edition book? I don't know what this page is called, but here's all the publishing info: A bigger version as PNG. Thank you. [Image added as an attachment] Attached Thumbnails Last edited by pdurrant; 01-13-2016 at 08:04 AM.

01-15-2016, 06:37 AM	#8
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,327 Karma: 59447733 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Being a book collector of long-standing, it should be noted that publishers can (and have) used different ways to signify a First Edition. Random House, for example, back in the 70s (if my memory is correct), often started with a '2' (and no '1') to note a first printing of a First Edition. Too, a First Edition (from another country) may not be technically true if the First Edition was published FIRST in a foreign country. And further, Saul Bellow, a noted Nobel prize-winning author, actually decided to publish one of his books as a First Edition not as a hardback, but as a trade edition, an act which caused quite a stir back in its time. Then, there is the Unauthorized 'First' Edition of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, as published by Ace in paper, and later withdrawn from circulation. Collecting books from specific authors can often be very convoluted and complicated, especially literature books from the 1900s and thereabouts. With technical books, it is much less complicated. The main thing to keep in mind, however, is that Paul is essentially correct. If one is a hardcore collector, as I am, then further information from specific publishers is needed for a complete guide when looking for First Editions. Last edited by Dr. Drib; 01-15-2016 at 06:45 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
How to determine the legitimacy of an ebook?	BWinmill	General Discussions	12	07-24-2013 05:50 AM
How does Calibre determine when a library book is on a device?	SampleAndy	Library Management	3	02-24-2013 11:20 PM
How do I determine which JB version I used to uninstall it?	twowheels	Amazon Kindle	4	10-23-2011 03:04 PM
Criteria to determine if book is already on device?	ATimson	Devices	2	10-09-2011 03:34 AM
How do you determine picture sizes?	russerslick	Sigil	3	02-25-2011 08:31 AM

01-13-2016, 08:05 AM	#2
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,608 Karma: 315126578 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	It's a reprint of the first edition. 27th printing. You can tell from the number line "30 29 28 27"

01-13-2016, 08:48 AM	#3
crankypants Hmm. Posts: 124 Karma: 2016606 Join Date: Oct 2015 Device: Android 4.2 Google Play Reader	Thanks. So what do the numbers "30 29 28" mean?

01-13-2016, 10:30 AM	#4
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,608 Karma: 315126578 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	When print publishers publish a book, they usually include a number line on the copyright page. It usually starts 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 And with each reprint one of the numbers gets removed (which was an easy task even in the days before computers). So the 30 29 28 are just there for later. The next printing would have 30 90 28 instead of 30 90 28 27. Collectors usually want first edition, first printing.

01-13-2016, 01:44 PM	#5
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	What the heck does this have to do with e-reading? Nothing.

Advert

Advert