Identifying First Editions

1 hour & 45 minute video available for instant viewing!

Ever been confused with all the jargon booksellers use like points of issue, first state, first thus, first printing…?⁠

If you want to collect or sell first editions, knowing how to properly identify & research a book is THE most valuable skill to have. You don't want to get taken advantage of as a buyer or leave money on the table as a bookseller.

In just under 2 hours, you'll learn how to get it right every time. We'll cover all the theory & definitions related to first edition identification, but also emphasize the practical use of all that jargon with lots of walkthrough examples & case studies. That means you’ll be able to take what you learn and start identifying books on your own right away.

Even if you’re not interested in collecting or selling first editions, the framework you'll give you can be applied to any book to identify & date it.

My favorite part of the workshop is the 30+ minutes we’ll spend looking at books together going through my exact thought process & research method.

Here's what you'll learn:

• The theory of first editions ~ 5 min
• Edition vocabulary (printing, state, points of issue…) ~ 10 min
• Other editions to know (BCEs, facsimiles, reprints, first thus…) ~ 20 min
• A step-by-step identification approach ~ 15 min
• Proper research methods ~ 15 min
• Walkthrough examples ~ 35 min
• Wrap-up & further learning ~ 5 min

You'll also get to download the workshop slides and a one page checklist with the step by step identification method.

How it will be delivered: Immediately after purchase, an order confirmation email will be sent with a link to access the workshop page. You'll be able to access the workshop again anytime from your order history page when logged into your account here on sparrowsbookshop.com.