Customer Reviews

Pocket Guide to the Identification of First Editions

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4 star:		(1)
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2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I owe quite a lot to Bill McBride and his A Pocket Guide to the Identification of First Editions. When I started collecting books in earnest over a decade ago, I knew very little about first editions [more correctly 'first printings']. My first education in 'firsts' came from a 3rd Edition of this handy little book. I always carry it [now the 6th Revised Edition] when I'm doing the used bookstores somewhere [the urban counterpart to the rock collecting I do in the outback] and many times Mr. McBride's little book has saved me from buying a book misidentified as a 'first' and has helped me find a few bargains when a long sought 'first' was not identified as such. Before you challenge the used bookstore circuit [my favorites are in San Francisco, Berkeley, and the Los Angeles/Orange County area] or, braver yet, the yard sale/estate sale/swap meet/Goodwill circuit, make sure you have a copy of Mr. McBride's little book in your hip pocket.

The introduction gives a solid background on first editions in general. The bulk of the booklet -- and it is a booklet to carry with you -- is a 100-page list of about 3600 publishers, large and small, famous and obscure. For each publisher, the typical first edition clues are given. Indispensable and affordable.

For the details of well-known true firsts, itemized title by title, see the author's other book, Points of Issue.

I bought this after about 5 years as a bookdealer thinking it might help me out on the road. It did not. Most of first edition identification is common sense, and I just didn't find this booklet very useful. It is concise and accurate and comprehensive, so no taking away from the other reviewers. If you have never worked in the used book business, this would be a very good book. But if you are very serious, consider the Zemple guide from Spoon River Press.

This little book in a nutshell clears up any questions you may have if you're having trouble telling if your old book is a first edition or not. As a book lover and collector AND seller of books online, I found several books in my possession that I had doubts were first editions. I searched my book and found they WERE First Editions. Without this little book, I would have never, ever known.

A Pocket Guide to the Identification of First Editions is a little expensive, but in the end, you'll get your money back!

Anyone seriously, or casually, collecting books should have a copy of the Pocket Guide to the Identification of First Editions by Bill McBride with them whenever they are on a book hunt. This little book has more information, organized by publisher, about first editions than any other book I have used.

Whenever someone asks me questions about editions, print runs, or how to identify a BCE (Book Club Edition) after answering I recommend the consider purchasing this guide. I have had every edition since the 3rd and would not be without it.

This is not to fault the vendor from whom I purchased this item used, the price as new was even more. And not to question the information enclosed therein: it's probably fairly accurate and all that. But to use the word "book" as a physical description is misleading. Try a handfull of paper squares with a couple of staples banged into the middle and folded over. I've seen free handouts with a more substantial construction. A fair price for this should be somewhere south of 3 dollars I would guess. Or better yet, the information should be up on a website where it can be viewed and downloaded for free. (Hmmm, there's an idea)
So do what I should have done if I'd been using my noodle. Go to the reference section of your local library and use the copy machine. And take the money you saved and buy a real book.

This little book does only one trick, but it does it well. If you have a need to quickly identify first edition books, you need this book.

This little booklet has been a tremendous help to me when I am in a book or thrift store trying to identify a books printing status. I can say truthfully that it has expanded my knowledge of book idenification

As other people have said, this is the definitive guide for identifying first editions that is easy to carry and use in thrift stores, garage sales, etc.

McBride has figured out how to cram a lot of information into a small space while still making it easy on the eyes and easy to use.

I find this book essential.