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Welcome to First Edition Points


We are an online reference guide providing collectors the details necessary to help identify modern first edition books.

Today's Most Referenced First Edition Criteria and First Edition Points

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How to Establish the Value of a Book


The key to establishing a book's value is to first ensure that it is a first edition. A first editions is the earliest printed copy of a published book. Collectors look for first edition books because these tend to have the highest demand and the greatest potential to increase in value over time. There are standard identification criteria that first editions conform because most, but not all, first edition books follow an established identification method established by each book publisher. These first edition criteria are details about what a book looked like when it was initially printed as a first edition. These details include details such as certain codes on the copyright page, the type of the binding, and particular text on the dust jacket.

In addition to the first edition criteria, there are sometimes points of issue that describe some part of a book which changes during the first printing without the standard first edition identification of the publisher changing, thus creating some copies of the first edition that have the point, and some that do not have the point. The most common type of first edition points of issue are typographical mistakes that were changed during the first printing. In these cases, the copies with the mistake are more desirable because they represent the earliest state of a first edition.

The fedpo.com website helps a collector understand the identification criteria and any first edition points of issue by describing details such as a book's binding, a specific typographical error, or a dust jacket review that can only be found on the earliest printings. First edition criteria and points of issue are usually subtle, but they are important features that distinguish a rare first edition from a common reprint.

The most common first edition criteria can be found on a book's copyright page. The copyright page may say that a book is a first edition, or a first printing, or first impression; and it may state additional printing information, or it may provide a printing code indicating what printing a book is from. Each publisher has used various methods over the years to indicate a book's edition and printing. Another common first edition indicator is a book's cover price, which is typically printed on the dust jacket. The presence of a price on a dust jacket is also the most fundamental way to ensure that the dust jacket is not from a book club edition or other type of reprint. Book club editions look similar to genuine first editions, but they are not first editions, and they have very little collectible value.

To find first edition criteria for a specific book, simply type in the name of the book, or the name of the author in the fields above; or browse all of our available entries by clicking on the bars at the bottom of this page. We have pages for hundreds of collectible books where we describe first edition criteria, provide photographs of known first editions, and provide pre-filled eBay, AbeBooks, and Biblio search links for each book so you can quickly establish its most recent market value.


Today's Featured Book: Celestial Navigation

First Edition of Celestial Navigation


April 02, 2014

Celestial Navigation was written by Anne Tyler. The first edition was published in 1974 by Alfred A. Knopf. It was 276 pages long, and the retail price was $6.95.

The first edition criteria are as follows: First Edition is stated on the bottom of the copyright page with no references to subsequent printings. 1974 is present on the title page. Boards are orange/yellow cloth with author's initial and design embossed on the front, purple metallic lettering on the spine, and green top stain. Dust jacket has a single review on the back by Nancy Hale, after reading the proofs of Celestial Navigation. Back dust jacket flap states 3/74. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: The Pale King

First Edition of The Pale King


March 31, 2014

The Pale King was written by David Foster Wallace. The first edition was published in 2011 by Little, Brown and Company. It was 548 pages long, and the retail price was $27.99.

The first edition can be identified by the following criteria: First Edition: April 2011 is stated on the copyright page with full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Boards are black paper with silver lettering on the spine. There are now reviews on the dust jacket. This unfinished novel was published posthumously. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: Brief Interviews With Hideous Men

First Edition of Brief Interviews With Hideous Men


March 30, 2014

Brief Interviews With Hideous Men was written by David Foster Wallace. The first edition was published in 1999 by Little, Brown and Company. It was 273 pages long, and the retail price was $24.

Here are the first edition criteria: FIRST EDITION is stated on the copyright page with full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Boards are black paper with white lettering on the spine. Back of dust jacket has four reviews - by New York Times Book Review, Voice Literary Supplement, San Francisco Chronicle, and New York Times. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again

First Edition of A Supposedly Fun Thing I


March 23, 2014

A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again was written by David Foster Wallace. The first edition was published in 1997 by Little, Brown and Company. It was 353 pages long, and the retail price was $23.95.

The first edition can be identified by the following criteria: First Edition is stated toward the top of the copyright page, and full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is near the bottom of the same copyright page. Boards are robin egg blue with yellow spine. Back dust jacket panel has three reviews - by New York Times Book Review, San Francisco Chronicle, and Voice Literary Supplement. Back dust jacket flap has two reviews - by Jeffrey Eugenides and Michiko Kakutani. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: Oblivion

First Edition of Oblivion


March 19, 2014

Oblivion was written by David Foster Wallace. The first edition was published in 2004 by Little, Brown and Company. It was 329 pages long, and the retail price was $25.95.

The first edition criteria are as follows: First Edition is stated toward the top of the copyright page, and full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is near the bottom of the same copyright page. Boards are dark green (some might call it teal) with silver lettering on a blue spine. Six reviews on the back of dust jacket by Elle, San Francisco Chronicle, New York Times, Details, OC Weekly, and Salon. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: Atlas Shrugged

First Edition of Atlas Shrugged


March 10, 2014

Atlas Shrugged was written by Ayn Rand. The first edition was published in 1957 by Random House. It was 1168 pages long, and the retail price was $6.95.

Here are the first edition criteria: First Printing is stated on the copyright page. Boards are green cloth with author's initials in gold on the front, and spine lettering in black and gold. Top stain is dark (black or blue). Dust jacket has lacks review blurbs, and shows 10/57 on the bottom of the front flap. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: The Mansion

First Edition of The Mansion


March 09, 2014

The Mansion was written by William Faulkner. The first edition was published in 1959 by Random House. It was 436 pages long, and the retail price was $4.75.

The first edition criteria are as follows: There was a limited first edition that was numbered and signed by the author. These were issued in a glassine jacket and limited to 500 copies.

The first trade edition has "First Printing" stated on copyright page. Boards are teal with gold lettering. Dust jacket has "10/59" on the bottom of the front flap, and photo of the author on the back with no reviews. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: Drown

First Edition of Drown


March 08, 2014

Drown was written by Junot Diaz. The first edition was published in 1996 by Riverhead Books. It was 208 pages long, and the retail price was $21.95.

The first edition can be identified by the following criteria: Full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is present on the copyright page. Boards are brown paper with silver lettering on a maroon cloth. Endpapers are black. Back of dust jacket has four reviews by Newsweek, Walter Mosley, Ana Castillo, and Francisco Goldman. Back dust jacket flap has a single review blurb by Hanif Kureishi.

There was a publisher's slip laid-in stating regrets for typographical errors "primarily affecting the Spanish-language terms" and committing to "correct these mistakes in all future reprints". Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: Infinite Jest

First Edition of Infinite Jest


March 03, 2014

Infinite Jest was written by David Foster Wallace. The first edition was published in 1996 by Little, Brown. It was 1079 pages long, and the retail price was $29.95.

The first edition can be identified by the following criteria: First Edition is stated on the copyright page along with full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Board are blue. Back of dust jacket has 8 reviews. The last review has William Vollmann's name misspelled as Vollman rather than Vollmann. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: The Goldfinch (U.S.)

First Edition of The Goldfinch (U.S.)


March 01, 2014

The Goldfinch (U.S.) was written by Donna Tartt. The first edition was published in 2013 by Little, Brown. It was 771 pages long, and the retail price was $30.00. The Goldfinch (U.S.) won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

The first edition criteria are as follows: The true first edition was published as "Het puttertje" in Dutch by De Bezige Bij, Amersterdam. This was done possibly because the book's title is named for a painting by Dutch master Carel Fabritius.

Below is criteria for the first U.S. edition. First Edition: October 2013 is stated on the copyright page along with full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Boards are white cloth with black lettering on front and spine. Dust jacket lacks any reviews. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: Plains Song

First Edition of Plains Song


February 28, 2014

Plains Song was written by Wright Morris. The first edition was published in 1980 by Harper and Row. It was 229 pages long, and the retail price was $9.95. Plains Song won the National Book Award.

The first edition can be identified by the following criteria: FIRST EDITION is stated on the copyright page along with full number line 80 81 82 83 84 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Boards are brown cloth with gold lettering on the spine. Endpapers are brown. Dust jacket has no reviews. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: A Tale for the Time Being

First Edition of A Tale for the Time Being


February 15, 2014

A Tale for the Time Being was written by Ruth Ozeki. The first edition was published in 2013 by Viking. It was 422 pages long, and the retail price was $28.95.

Here are the first edition criteria: First Published in 2013 is stated above full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 in the middle of the copyright page. Boards are cream with wind imprint on the front, and light green metallic lettering on the spine. The same wind imprint is found on the title page. Seven reviews on the back by Junot Diaz, Alice Sebold, Philip Pullman, Madeline Miller, Karen Joy Fowler, Jane Hamilton, and Deborah Harkness. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: Ulysses (American Edition)

First Edition of Ulysses (American Edition)


February 05, 2014

Ulysses (American Edition) was written by James Joyce. The first edition was published in 1934 by Random House. It was 768 pages long, and the retail price was 3.50.

The first edition can be identified by the following criteria: The true first edition of Ulysses was published in 1922 by Shakespeare and Company, Paris. These are exceptionally rare and valuable. Below is the criteria for the more common First (authorized) American Edition which was published 12 years after the Paris first edition.

First American Edition is stated on the copyright page with no statements of subsequent printings. Boards are cream-colored cloth with red and black lettering and dark brown top-stain. The designer of the dust jacket is Ernst Reichl, and there are two variant dust jackets: one with the designer's last name displayed vertically on the front panel, and the other without the name. We have not seen evidence establishing a priority. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: The Good Lord Bird

First Edition of The Good Lord Bird


November 29, 2013

The Good Lord Bird was written by James McBride. The first edition was published in 2013 by Riverhead Books. It was 417 pages long, and the retail price was $27.95. The Good Lord Bird won the National Book Award.

The first edition can be identified by the following criteria: Full number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 should be found on the copyright page, and 2013 should be stated on the bottom of the page facing the title page. No mention of National Book Award on the dust jacket, and now reviews on the dust jacket flaps. The only reviews should be on the back - four reviews for the author's previous book The Color of Water, and three reviews for the author's previous novels in general. Boards are dark brick with a feather imprint on the cover, and black lettering on a light brick cloth spine. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: The Orphan Master's Son

First Edition of The Orphan Master


April 15, 2013

The Orphan Master's Son was written by Adam Johnson. The first edition was published in 2012 by Random House. It was 443 pages long, and the retail price was $26.00. The Orphan Master's Son won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

The first edition can be identified by the following criteria: FIRST EDITION is stated on the copyright page below the full Random House number line "9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1". Boards are black with red metallic lettering on the spine. Back of dust jacket has four advance praise reviews about the book by Abraham Verghese, David Mitchell, Charles Bock, and Publishers Weekly; and has two praise blurbs about the author by Jennifer Egan and The New York Times Book Review. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank

First Edition of What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank


April 14, 2013

What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank was written by Nathan Englander. The first edition was published in 2012 by Alfred A. Knopf. It was 207 pages long, and the retail price was $24.95.

The first edition criteria are as follows: First Edition is stated at the bottom of the copyright page. Boards are gray with silver lettering on a black cloth spine. Front dust jacket flap has single review by Gary Shteyngart. Back of dust jacket has 10 A-List reviews by Michael Chabon, Tea Obreht, Jonathan Franzen, Colum McCann, Jennifer Egan, Geraldine Brooks, Jonathan Safran Foer, Jonathan Lethem, Dave Eggers, and Richard Russo. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: The Yellow Birds

First Edition of The Yellow Birds


March 31, 2013

The Yellow Birds was written by Kevin Powers. The first edition was published in 2012 by Little, Brown and Company. It was 230 pages long, and the retail price was $24.99.

The first edition criteria are as follows: First Edition: September 2012 is stated on the copyright page with full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Boards are cream with gold lettering on the spine. Front of dust jacket has four reviews - three on the top by Colm Toibin, Ann Patchett, and Anthony Swofford; and one review on the bottom bt Tom Wolfe. The front flap of the dust jacket has a more detailed review by Ann Patchett. The back of the dust jacket has seven reviews by Alice Sebold, Colm Toibin, Anthony Swofford, Philip Caputo, Chris Cleave, Philipp Meyer, and Daniel Woodrell. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: Magnificence

First Edition of Magnificence


January 30, 2013

Magnificence was written by Lydia Millet. The first edition was published in 2012 by Norton & Company. It was 255 pages long, and the retail price was $25.95.

The first edition can be identified by the following criteria: First Edition is stated on copyright page with full number line 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 on the bottom. Boards are yellow cloth with green metallic lettering on a yellow paper spine. Front dust jacket flap has a single blurb by David Ulin of the Los Angeles Times. The back of the dust jacket has six reviews for Ghost Lights by Josh Emmons, Carolyn Cooke, Tricia Springstubb, Martha Stewart Whole Living, Minna Proctor, and Brock Clarke. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: A Hologram For The King

First Edition of A Hologram For The King


January 29, 2013

A Hologram For The King was written by Dave Eggers. The first edition was published in 2012 by McSweeney's Books. It was 312 pages long, and the retail price was $25.00.

Here are the first edition criteria: First Printing is stated on the copyright page. Boards are bronze textured cloth with gold lettering. The back board has a removable sticker with a synopsis of the novel, information about the author, and pricing. Click here for more photos...


Previously Featured Book: Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

First Edition of Billy Lynn


January 28, 2013

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk was written by Ben Fountain. The first edition was published in 2012 by Ecco Press. It was 307 pages long, and the retail price was $25.99.

The first edition can be identified by the following criteria: FIRST EDITION is stated on the copyright page with full line number 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Boards are white with silver lettering on a white cloth spine. Dust jacket should make no mention of the book being a finalist for the National Book Award.

The back of the dust jacket contains 5 advance review blurbs for this book by Madison Smartt Bell, Karl Marlantes, Pat Conroy, Margot Livesey, and Tom Bissell. The back of the dust jack also contains a single review for the author's previous novel by the New York Times Book Review. Click here for more photos...



Disclaimer


This website is intended to help guide you and give you insight into what to look for when identifying first editions. As such, the information presented here may not always be 100% accurate. Gathering and updating information about these books is more an art than a science, so some of our first edition criteria and points may be wrong. If you spot a mistake, drop us an e-mail and we will do our best to investigate and fix it.


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