More about Printing vs. Edition

The terms first printing and first edition are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings in the world of book collecting. Here’s a breakdown of the difference between the two:
 

First Edition:
A first edition refers to the very first version of a book published. It includes all copies printed at the time of the initial publication, regardless of when they were printed within that initial run. For example, if a publisher prints a book and releases it to the public for the first time, that entire batch of books constitutes the first edition. A first edition can include all printings made during the initial release (for instance, the first, second, or third printings, if they are all released in the same publication cycle).
 

First Printing:
A first printing, on the other hand, refers specifically to the very first batch of copies that were printed from the first edition of a book. A first printing is the first set of books produced from the manuscript, often before any corrections or changes are made in later printings. For example, if the publisher prints 10,000 copies for the first release of a book, those 10,000 copies would all be considered the first printing. If the book sells well and the publisher needs to print more copies later, those subsequent printings would be referred to as second, third, and so on, depending on the number of times the book is reprinted.
 

Key Differences:
   1    Scope: A first edition refers to the overall first release of the book, while a first printing refers to the very first physical copies produced.
   2    Collectibility: While both are important in book collecting, first printings are often more highly valued than other printings within the first edition, because they are the earliest copies of the book that ever existed. Later printings within the same edition, even though they may be part of the first edition, are generally less valuable than the first printing.
 

Example:
   •    If a book was first published in 1999, the first edition would include all copies printed in 1999, but the first printing would refer specifically to the first batch of books produced, which could be only a small portion of the total first edition print run. If the publisher later prints more copies later in 1999, those would be second printings of the first edition, but not first printings.
In summary, a first edition includes all copies from the first release, while a first printing specifically refers to the earliest batch produced. Harry Potter first editions are still being printed today. The print number for Sorcerer's Stone is now over 100.