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Step 1
Turn to the copyright page of the book.
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Step 2
Look for the words "First Edition," "First Published," "First Impression," or any other designation that the book is a first edition.
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Step 3
Check the date on the copyright page. If it is identical to the date on the title page, then it is likely a first edition. Sometimes the dates may differ if it was copyrighted late in a year and published early the next. As a general rule of thumb, however, the dates should match.
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Step 4
Check the copyright page to see if there isn't a designation for a first printing, yet later printings are noted. An edition refers to copies of a book printed from the same type set. Printings are the press runs that the editions go through.
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Step 5
Check for a number line. The lowest number on the line is usually the edition number. For instance, if the number reads 9 8 7 6 5 4 3, then the book is third edition. At times, dates will be included. If a number reads 9 8 7 6 5 93 94 95, then the book is in its fifth edition and was published in 1993.
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Step 6
Check to make sure the numbers match the wording ("First Edition") designation. At times, a book will say "First Edition", but have the number 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2, indicating a second edition. This could mean the book is a first edition, and the publisher will remove the "First Edition" wording for later editions. It could also mean the publisher failed to remove the "First Edition" wording by mistake or policy, and that the book is in a later edition. In this case, it is best to consult a guide to first editions.
