What exactly is a first edition book

A. Collectors of first editions are looking for books they term 'first edition, first state', which means that it is the first edition, first print-run. Publishers, on the other hand, might call a reprint with no changes a first edition, though to a collector this would be second, third, etc. state.

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Q. How can you tell if it's 'first state'

A. The best way to tell with modern books, certainly those published since the early 20th century, is to look at the imprint page, also called the copyright page. This is the page with all the publishing details, usually page four or six counting from the beginning (rather than that actually numbered 4, iv or 6, vi). Here you might find 'first edition' actually stated. Otherwise there may just be a date of publication with no further information, such as reprinted 1959, or 2nd (revised) edition, both of which will tell you that it is not the original print-run and edition.

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In recent decades some publishers have made use of a number or letter system to designate which 'state' it is. Publishers using this system have sequences of numbers or letters, usually 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 or A B C D E where the 1 or the A indicates a first edition. If the 1 is missing as in 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 then that book is probably a second printing as designated by the remaining 2. Sometimes you'll find that numbers appear differently or in reverse. In short, when checking a book using this system, you want to spot the 1 or the A, whichever way round the sequence appears.

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To add to the confusion, those publishers who do state 'first edition' on the imprint page may also use a number or letter system, in which case, in addition to 'first edition' you will have a list of numbers starting at 2 or B. One big publisher who does this is Random House.

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Q. Isn't this ultra complicated Why not use something more simple

A. It means that when reprinting no new text has to be set, so when it goes to print, all the printer has to do is mask out the 1 or A of the first print-run: �25 rather than a couple of hundred to the publisher. Also, once you know the score, it's not so hard. Here are a couple of examples of relevant information from imprint pages:

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1. First published 1999; this paperback edition 2000; 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

This suggests that the book is a first edition paperback published in 2000 (although the book originally came out as a hardback in 1999), second printing. Not much use to a real first edition collector.

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2. (c) A.N. Author 1991; First edition 1991; A B C D E F

This suggests that (whether paperback or hardback) this is a first edition, first state book as the edition date is the same as the copyright date (the (c) symbol) and the A is there on the sequence denoting print-run. A collector's ideal book.

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Q. Why collect first editions, and are they worth anything

A. They can - if rare, banned, in unusual bindings, withdrawn because of errors - be very valuable. As with all collectors, people who collect first editions will do so for many reasons and in many ways: a fondness for a particular author or genre, for example, or just the love of collecting. As with any collection - whether it be trains or butterflies - what is most desirable to the collector, and, therefore, that worth most, both in aesthetic terms and purely financially, is the uncommon. Complete sets of one author's work, especially in matching editions, or any other series, will also be more collectable. Condition is important, however, and only a real rarity in bad condition will be worth much.

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Q. How do you start a collection

A. Either by buying new books as they come out or, if your taste is more antiquarian or even if you just have a fondness Penguins from the 1970s, through dealers and specialist book shops and fairs, of which there are many. Any old second-hand shop or boot-fair can turn up a bargain.

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There's a website listing other sites relating to rare books at http://www.geocities.com/albertmasters/rarebooksontheweb.html

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A couple of the bigger British rare book dealers have sites. Find them at

http://www.ashrare.com/

and

http://www.maggs.com/

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Amazon has a short guide to first editions

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/subst/books/misc/bibliofind.html/103-3815044-1971847

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By Simon Smith