How can you tell if a book is first addition and first printing?
First: What you’re looking for is a “first edition.” A first edition is the first printing of a book. If there are no printing dates on the title page before the date of the book you have, then you may have a first edition. You should also find a resource such as the author’s web site to see when the first printing of the book was done. They will almost always be hard-bound books; very few books go directly to soft-bound or paperback. It also won’t be a book from a book club or similar group most of the time, as they tend to print their own editions. If you think you have a first-edition of a Stephen King book, you might contact an auction house or appraiser to see what it’s worth. I hope you get lucky!
