First Edition Reprints

A couple of years ago I purchased a copy of "Showboat" on eBay. I
paid a modest amount for it and was surprised when it arrived - it was
mint - tight and brand new. The dust jacket could have been printed
only weeks before it seemed. It has the requisite points for a first
printing, but I don't believe it as it just looks too good. I came to
the conclusion that it must be one of those notorious "First Edition
Reprints" where a publisher reprinted first editions with their points
and flaws intact, but I have to assume, some indicator that it is not a
first printing. I have scoured the book looking for anything but have
found nothing (same with the dust jacket)! Where do these books
identify themselves as such? Thanks...Sam

Sam wrote:

A couple of years ago I purchased a copy of "Showboat" on eBay.

Could you be a bit more specific? I went to ABE and found Showboat Southpaw,
by Duane Decker; Haunted Showboat, a Nancy Drew mystery; Showboat, a
Broadside; Showboat Summer, by Rosamund du Jardin; Showboat original art, by
Dean Dexter; The Showboat USS, a US Navy publication; Showboat World, by
Jack Vance; Showboat Vocal Score, by Hammerstein, Kern and Zeigfield;
Showboats to Softshoes, by Katherine Hines Mahan; and Showboat by Miles
Kreuger.

I also found several other titles (some of them relating to the movie) on
COPAC (http://tinyurl.com/lzgvm).

I came to the conclusion that it must be one of those notorious
"First Edition Reprints"

Again, I'm not sure what you mean here. Are you referring to a facsimile
edition? Or are you referring to a later printing of the first edition?
These would usually be identified by the print line on the copyright page,
but there cases where there is no indication.

where a publisher reprinted first editions with their points and
flaws intact, but I have to assume, some indicator that it is not a
first printing.

There are some facsimile editions that contain nothing that indicates that
they are not the real thing. I have come across several works by Japanese
publishers that consist of a box set with a facsimile edition (and, often,
an accompanying translation or gloss) inside. Throw away the box and you're
left with a facsimile that can only be identified as such by someone with
enough knowledge to recognise the real thing.

But it's impossible to comment, really, without full publication details.

--
John
http://rarebooksinjapan.org

John R. Yamamoto-Wilson wrote:
Sam wrote:


A couple of years ago I purchased a copy of "Showboat" on eBay.


Could you be a bit more specific? I went to ABE and found...


I assume he means _Show Boat_ , by Edna Ferber (Doubleday Page, 1926).
It appears that there was a SLE of 201 copies in slipase, a further 1000
"presentation copies" specially bound (quarter blue cloth over checkered
paper boards), and the trade edition in yellow cloth.

A Doubleday Page first printing of this period should state "First
edition" on the copyright page, but I couldn't find any listing at ABE
that said "stated first." Because Doubleday did not specify later
printings at this time, early reprintings--those with matching dates on
the title & copyright pages--are frequently mistaken for firsts.

There are a few copies listed at ABE as "As New, facsimile edition" or
something similar.

--Jon Meyers

Sam wrote:

A couple of years ago I purchased a copy of "Showboat" on eBay. I
paid a modest amount for it and was surprised when it arrived - it was
mint - tight and brand new. The dust jacket could have been printed
only weeks before it seemed. It has the requisite points for a first
printing, but I don't believe it as it just looks too good. I came to
the conclusion that it must be one of those notorious "First Edition
Reprints" where a publisher reprinted first editions with their points
and flaws intact, but I have to assume, some indicator that it is not a
first printing. I have scoured the book looking for anything but have
found nothing (same with the dust jacket)! Where do these books
identify themselves as such? Thanks...Sam


Hi Sam,

I take it you are referring to Edna Ferber's Showboat (Doubleday, Page & Co.
1926). I have a copy. I am not sure it is a first printing, but I can give you
the information I have, though I suspect you have already got some information
from BAL or a another similar source.

The boards are 5 1/8 x 7 9/16. The color is a bright yellow with the title and
author in black on the front cover, title up top, name at the bottom, and again
on the spine - still black, both at the top with the publisher at the bottom.
My copy lacks a headband. [That bothers me.] The top of the sheets may be
stained a pale yellow, I am not sure. Signatures appear to be gathers of 16
sheets (32 pages).

The front and back endpapers show a river port scene with the boat at the dock,
a moon shining over the water and a number of people in the right side panel.
The second sheet contains a printed statement to Winthrop Ames, and the reverse
side lists Ferber's books to date - including Showboat - there are 13 of them.
Flipping over one more page there is a two page title and copyright page layout.
Some words - "Showboat", "The Time", "The Players", "The Scene" and the
publisher information - are in orange, the rest in black. Copyright information
- contained at the bottom on the right hand side - simply notes "Copyright 1926
by Edna Ferber". Flipping the page, the next page is blank on the left and the
novel starts on the right at page numbered "1". It is 398 pages long and
contains on free end sheet. None of the copies found on used.Addall.com have
dust jackets. Nor does mine.

Text on the page occupies 3 5/8 across by 5 3/8 top to bottom (leaving out the
book title and page number). Outer margins 3/4 inch. I find no unusual
printer's marks in any of the gutters.

I hope that helps.


Francis A. Miniter

Francis A. Miniter wrote:
Sam wrote:

A couple of years ago I purchased a copy of "Showboat" on eBay. I
paid a modest amount for it and was surprised when it arrived - it was
mint - tight and brand new. The dust jacket could have been printed
only weeks before it seemed. It has the requisite points for a first
printing, but I don't believe it as it just looks too good. I came to
the conclusion that it must be one of those notorious "First Edition
Reprints" where a publisher reprinted first editions with their points
and flaws intact, but I have to assume, some indicator that it is not a
first printing. I have scoured the book looking for anything but have
found nothing (same with the dust jacket)! Where do these books
identify themselves as such? Thanks...Sam


Hi Sam,

I take it you are referring to Edna Ferber's Showboat (Doubleday, Page & Co.
1926). I have a copy. I am not sure it is a first printing, but I can give you
the information I have, though I suspect you have already got some information
from BAL or a another similar source.

The boards are 5 1/8 x 7 9/16. The color is a bright yellow with the title and
author in black on the front cover, title up top, name at the bottom, and again
on the spine - still black, both at the top with the publisher at the bottom.
My copy lacks a headband. [That bothers me.] The top of the sheets may be
stained a pale yellow, I am not sure. Signatures appear to be gathers of 16
sheets (32 pages).

The front and back endpapers show a river port scene with the boat at the dock,
a moon shining over the water and a number of people in the right side panel.
The second sheet contains a printed statement to Winthrop Ames, and the reverse
side lists Ferber's books to date - including Showboat - there are 13 of them.
Flipping over one more page there is a two page title and copyright page layout.
Some words - "Showboat", "The Time", "The Players", "The Scene" and the
publisher information - are in orange, the rest in black. Copyright information
- contained at the bottom on the right hand side - simply notes "Copyright 1926
by Edna Ferber". Flipping the page, the next page is blank on the left and the
novel starts on the right at page numbered "1". It is 398 pages long and
contains on free end sheet. None of the copies found on used.Addall.com have
dust jackets. Nor does mine.

Text on the page occupies 3 5/8 across by 5 3/8 top to bottom (leaving out the
book title and page number). Outer margins 3/4 inch. I find no unusual
printer's marks in any of the gutters.

I hope that helps.


Francis A. Miniter

Francis A. Miniter wrote:
Sam wrote:

A couple of years ago I purchased a copy of "Showboat" on eBay. I
paid a modest amount for it and was surprised when it arrived - it was
mint - tight and brand new. The dust jacket could have been printed
only weeks before it seemed. It has the requisite points for a first
printing, but I don't believe it as it just looks too good. I came to
the conclusion that it must be one of those notorious "First Edition
Reprints" where a publisher reprinted first editions with their points
and flaws intact, but I have to assume, some indicator that it is not a
first printing. I have scoured the book looking for anything but have
found nothing (same with the dust jacket)! Where do these books
identify themselves as such? Thanks...Sam


Hi Sam,

I take it you are referring to Edna Ferber's Showboat (Doubleday, Page & Co.
1926). I have a copy. I am not sure it is a first printing, but I can give you
the information I have, though I suspect you have already got some information
from BAL or a another similar source.

The boards are 5 1/8 x 7 9/16. The color is a bright yellow with the title and
author in black on the front cover, title up top, name at the bottom, and again
on the spine - still black, both at the top with the publisher at the bottom.
My copy lacks a headband. [That bothers me.] The top of the sheets may be
stained a pale yellow, I am not sure. Signatures appear to be gathers of 16
sheets (32 pages).

The front and back endpapers show a river port scene with the boat at the dock,
a moon shining over the water and a number of people in the right side panel.
The second sheet contains a printed statement to Winthrop Ames, and the reverse
side lists Ferber's books to date - including Showboat - there are 13 of them.
Flipping over one more page there is a two page title and copyright page layout.
Some words - "Showboat", "The Time", "The Players", "The Scene" and the
publisher information - are in orange, the rest in black. Copyright information
- contained at the bottom on the right hand side - simply notes "Copyright 1926
by Edna Ferber". Flipping the page, the next page is blank on the left and the
novel starts on the right at page numbered "1". It is 398 pages long and
contains on free end sheet. None of the copies found on used.Addall.com have
dust jackets. Nor does mine.

Text on the page occupies 3 5/8 across by 5 3/8 top to bottom (leaving out the
book title and page number). Outer margins 3/4 inch. I find no unusual
printer's marks in any of the gutters.

I hope that helps.


Francis A. Miniter

Francis A. Miniter wrote:
Sam wrote:

A couple of years ago I purchased a copy of "Showboat" on eBay. I
paid a modest amount for it and was surprised when it arrived - it was
mint - tight and brand new. The dust jacket could have been printed
only weeks before it seemed. It has the requisite points for a first
printing, but I don't believe it as it just looks too good. I came to
the conclusion that it must be one of those notorious "First Edition
Reprints" where a publisher reprinted first editions with their points
and flaws intact, but I have to assume, some indicator that it is not a
first printing. I have scoured the book looking for anything but have
found nothing (same with the dust jacket)! Where do these books
identify themselves as such? Thanks...Sam


Hi Sam,

I take it you are referring to Edna Ferber's Showboat (Doubleday, Page & Co.
1926). I have a copy. I am not sure it is a first printing, but I can give you
the information I have, though I suspect you have already got some information
from BAL or a another similar source.

The boards are 5 1/8 x 7 9/16. The color is a bright yellow with the title and
author in black on the front cover, title up top, name at the bottom, and again
on the spine - still black, both at the top with the publisher at the bottom.
My copy lacks a headband. [That bothers me.] The top of the sheets may be
stained a pale yellow, I am not sure. Signatures appear to be gathers of 16
sheets (32 pages).

The front and back endpapers show a river port scene with the boat at the dock,
a moon shining over the water and a number of people in the right side panel.
The second sheet contains a printed statement to Winthrop Ames, and the reverse
side lists Ferber's books to date - including Showboat - there are 13 of them.
Flipping over one more page there is a two page title and copyright page layout.
Some words - "Showboat", "The Time", "The Players", "The Scene" and the
publisher information - are in orange, the rest in black. Copyright information
- contained at the bottom on the right hand side - simply notes "Copyright 1926
by Edna Ferber". Flipping the page, the next page is blank on the left and the
novel starts on the right at page numbered "1". It is 398 pages long and
contains on free end sheet. None of the copies found on used.Addall.com have
dust jackets. Nor does mine.

Text on the page occupies 3 5/8 across by 5 3/8 top to bottom (leaving out the
book title and page number). Outer margins 3/4 inch. I find no unusual
printer's marks in any of the gutters.

I hope that helps.


Francis A. Miniter

Francis A. Miniter wrote:
Sam wrote:

A couple of years ago I purchased a copy of "Showboat" on eBay. I
paid a modest amount for it and was surprised when it arrived - it was
mint - tight and brand new. The dust jacket could have been printed
only weeks before it seemed. It has the requisite points for a first
printing, but I don't believe it as it just looks too good. I came to
the conclusion that it must be one of those notorious "First Edition
Reprints" where a publisher reprinted first editions with their points
and flaws intact, but I have to assume, some indicator that it is not a
first printing. I have scoured the book looking for anything but have
found nothing (same with the dust jacket)! Where do these books
identify themselves as such? Thanks...Sam


Hi Sam,

I take it you are referring to Edna Ferber's Showboat (Doubleday, Page & Co.
1926). I have a copy. I am not sure it is a first printing, but I can give you
the information I have, though I suspect you have already got some information
from BAL or a another similar source.

The boards are 5 1/8 x 7 9/16. The color is a bright yellow with the title and
author in black on the front cover, title up top, name at the bottom, and again
on the spine - still black, both at the top with the publisher at the bottom.
My copy lacks a headband. [That bothers me.] The top of the sheets may be
stained a pale yellow, I am not sure. Signatures appear to be gathers of 16
sheets (32 pages).

The front and back endpapers show a river port scene with the boat at the dock,
a moon shining over the water and a number of people in the right side panel.
The second sheet contains a printed statement to Winthrop Ames, and the reverse
side lists Ferber's books to date - including Showboat - there are 13 of them.
Flipping over one more page there is a two page title and copyright page layout.
Some words - "Showboat", "The Time", "The Players", "The Scene" and the
publisher information - are in orange, the rest in black. Copyright information
- contained at the bottom on the right hand side - simply notes "Copyright 1926
by Edna Ferber". Flipping the page, the next page is blank on the left and the
novel starts on the right at page numbered "1". It is 398 pages long and
contains on free end sheet. None of the copies found on used.Addall.com have
dust jackets. Nor does mine.

Text on the page occupies 3 5/8 across by 5 3/8 top to bottom (leaving out the
book title and page number). Outer margins 3/4 inch. I find no unusual
printer's marks in any of the gutters.

I hope that helps.


Francis A. Miniter

[Sorry for the unintended posts on this
thread. I have been doing some system
re-configuring, and the changes resulted in
my making some posts I had intended to
cancel.]

Here is what I had meant to say: One
thing the original poster -- and Mr.
Miniter also -- left out was the question
of whether or not there was any price
on the respective dust jackets. Was
the price in the usual place? If so,
what was it?

A 1926 novel priced for mass distribution
would probably be priced at under
three-dollars. I have seen many
reprints, some with bar-code added,
some without, but I have never seen
an exact reprint which reproduced the
original price, plainly because of the
retail sales confusion that could lead
to. Anyway, I think both posters could
have clarified things by mentioning
whether or not they were talking
about d.j's with prices, with cut
prices or intact with no printed
prices. I am not saying that alone
would resolve the question, but it
is certainly key information.

[from the upstairs office]

wrote:
Francis A. Miniter wrote:
Sam wrote:

A couple of years ago I purchased a copy of "Showboat" on eBay. I
paid a modest amount for it and was surprised when it arrived - it was
mint - tight and brand new. The dust jacket could have been printed
only weeks before it seemed. It has the requisite points for a first
printing, but I don't believe it as it just looks too good. I came to
the conclusion that it must be one of those notorious "First Edition
Reprints" where a publisher reprinted first editions with their points
and flaws intact, but I have to assume, some indicator that it is not a
first printing. I have scoured the book looking for anything but have
found nothing (same with the dust jacket)! Where do these books
identify themselves as such? Thanks...Sam


Hi Sam,

I take it you are referring to Edna Ferber's Showboat (Doubleday, Page & Co.
1926). I have a copy. I am not sure it is a first printing, but I can give you
the information I have, though I suspect you have already got some information
from BAL or a another similar source.

The boards are 5 1/8 x 7 9/16. The color is a bright yellow with the title and
author in black on the front cover, title up top, name at the bottom, and again
on the spine - still black, both at the top with the publisher at the bottom.
My copy lacks a headband. [That bothers me.] The top of the sheets may be
stained a pale yellow, I am not sure. Signatures appear to be gathers of 16
sheets (32 pages).

The front and back endpapers show a river port scene with the boat at the dock,
a moon shining over the water and a number of people in the right side panel.
The second sheet contains a printed statement to Winthrop Ames, and the reverse
side lists Ferber's books to date - including Showboat - there are 13 of them.
Flipping over one more page there is a two page title and copyright page layout.
Some words - "Showboat", "The Time", "The Players", "The Scene" and the
publisher information - are in orange, the rest in black. Copyright information
- contained at the bottom on the right hand side - simply notes "Copyright 1926
by Edna Ferber". Flipping the page, the next page is blank on the left and the
novel starts on the right at page numbered "1". It is 398 pages long and
contains on free end sheet. None of the copies found on used.Addall.com have
dust jackets. Nor does mine.

Text on the page occupies 3 5/8 across by 5 3/8 top to bottom (leaving out the
book title and page number). Outer margins 3/4 inch. I find no unusual
printer's marks in any of the gutters.

I hope that helps.


Francis A. Miniter

wrote:

...Was
the price in the usual place? If so,
what was it?

Yes. $2.00.


--Jon Meyers