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first edition

first edition

Noun

pl: first editions

This term is primarily used in the context of bibliophilia and publishing. It carries a strong connotation of rarity and value, particularly when referring to a first printing, which is the most prized version for collectors. In a professional or academic context, it refers to the initial release of a text before subsequent revisions or updates are made.

Users should distinguish between a first edition and a first printing. While a first edition refers to the first version of the text, a first printing is the very first batch of books produced from that setting. A first edition may have multiple printings, but only the first printing is typically considered the most valuable by collectors.

Meanings

Nounfirst edition

The first batch of copies of a book printed from a single setting of type.

He spent thousands of dollars on a first edition of The Great Gatsby.

Nounfirst edition

The first version of a published work, regardless of whether it is the first printing of that version.

The first edition of the textbook contained several typographical errors that were corrected in the second.

Last Updated: May 2026•Report an Error