Some books are printed in very limited quantities, sometimes as few as 50 copies. These are usually special editions, often signed by the author, and they are produced for a specific market, such as collectors or investors. The print number indicates how many copies of the book have been printed, and it can be used to authenticate a copy if necessary.
Other related questions:
What do the printing numbers mean in a book?
The printing numbers in a book usually refer to the number of times the book has been printed. For example, a first printing would be denoted as “1/1” or “1 of 1” and a second printing would be “2/1” or “2 of 1”.
How can you tell a book is a first edition?
There is no definitive answer, but often times a first edition will have a statement on the copyright page (usually on the back of the title page) that says something like “First Edition” or “First Printing.”
How do you tell how many times a book has been printed?
There is no definitive answer to this question as publishers do not typically release this information. However, there are a few ways to estimate the number of times a book has been printed. One method is to look at the copyright page, which will usually include a printing history. This can give you a good idea of how many times the book has been reprinted. Another method is to look at the number of library copies that are held in WorldCat. This can give you a general idea of how popular the book is and how many copies may have been printed.
What does No 1 mean in books?
No 1 is a designation given to the first book in a series.
Bibliography
- Why Do Books’ Copyright Pages Have 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10?
- Printer’s key – Wikipedia
- How to Identify a First Edition Book – 1st Editions – Biblio.com