How to Identify a Harper & Row / HarperCollins First Edition

The Harper publishing house, founded in 1817 as J. & J. Harper, is the oldest continuously operating publisher in America. Over two centuries, the company has operated under several names — Harper & Brothers (1833–1962), Harper & Row (1962–1990), and HarperCollins (1990–present) — and each era brought different first-edition identification practices. The house published Harper Lee, Aldous Huxley, Sylvia Plath’s American editions, and thousands of other significant works.

Harper & Brothers (1833–1962)

The Nineteenth Century

Early Harper & Brothers books follow the same general identification principles as other nineteenth-century publishers: matching dates between title page and copyright page, absence of later printing information, and the correct publisher name for the year.

Harper & Brothers used a distinctive torch-and-hand colophon that appeared on title pages and spines. Its presence helps confirm the publisher but does not indicate edition status.

The “First Edition” Code Method (1912–1962)

Harper & Brothers developed one of the most distinctive — and initially confusing — first-edition identification methods in American publishing. Starting around 1912, the company printed a two-letter code on the copyright page to indicate the month and year of printing:

The letter code system. The first letter indicates the month (A = January, B = February, C = March… L = December), and the second letter indicates the year within a particular cycle. For example, “A-L” would indicate January of a specific year, with the year letter cycling through an internal reference.

However, for collectors, the practical identification method is simpler: a Harper & Brothers first printing from this era carries the code letter combination that corresponds to the publication month and year, AND the letters match the copyright date. Additionally, no “Second Printing” or later printing designation appears.

The most reliable method is: if the code letters on the copyright page match the publication date and no additional printing statement appears, the book is a first printing.

Alternative Method

Many collectors rely on a simpler approach for Harper & Brothers books: look for “FIRST EDITION” on the copyright page. Harper & Brothers began printing this statement on first editions starting in the 1920s (with some earlier exceptions). After the first printing, the statement was removed.

This “FIRST EDITION” statement became the primary identification method and remains the most practical approach for most Harper & Brothers books from the 1920s onward.

Harper & Row (1962–1990)

When Harper & Brothers merged with Row, Peterson & Company in 1962, the new entity adopted clearer identification practices:

The Standard Method

“First Edition” statement. Harper & Row first editions carry the words “First Edition” on the copyright page, sometimes with additional text: “First Edition” or “FIRST EDITION” or “First Harper & Row edition.”

The letter code. Harper & Row continued using a letter code at the bottom of the copyright page, but it was simplified. The key code for a first edition is the presence of a code that includes the number of the printing. A first printing typically includes the numbers or letters that indicate “first printing” within the code sequence.

The number line. By the late 1960s and 1970s, Harper & Row adopted the number line system. The format varies:

• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
• 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
• Sometimes with a date or date code following the number line

The key identifier: the presence of 1 in the number line confirms a first printing. Many Harper & Row books from this era include both the “First Edition” statement and a number line.

HarperCollins (1990–Present)

After News Corporation (later NewsCorp) acquired Harper & Row in 1987 and merged it with William Collins, Sons in 1990, the new HarperCollins adopted fully standardised modern identification practices:

Standard HarperCollins Method

The copyright page of a first edition typically states:

• “First Edition” or “First [Imprint Name] edition [year]”
• A number line with 1 present

The number line format is usually 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (alternating) or 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 (descending).

Key HarperCollins Imprints

HarperCollins operates numerous imprints, each identified by name on the title page and copyright page:

Harper Perennial. Trade paperback imprint. “First Harper Perennial edition” indicates a first printing in this format — not necessarily the first edition of the text.

Ecco. Literary fiction and non-fiction imprint acquired by HarperCollins in 1999. Uses standard “First Ecco edition” plus number line.

William Morrow. Acquired by HarperCollins in 1999. Uses “First Edition” or “First William Morrow edition” plus number line. Morrow has its own rich publishing history with distinct pre-acquisition identification practices.

Amistad. African American literature and culture imprint. Standard HarperCollins identification applies.

Harper Voyager. Science fiction and fantasy imprint. Standard identification.

Broadside Books. Conservative non-fiction imprint. Standard identification.

Custom House, Dey Street, Park Row. Various HarperCollins imprints, all using standard identification methods.

Notable Harper First Editions

Harper Lee — To Kill a Mockingbird (1960). Published by J.B. Lippincott (not Harper directly), but Lippincott was later folded into Harper & Row. The first edition first printing states “First Edition” on the copyright page and is priced at $3.95 on the jacket. The dust jacket features a photograph-like design. This is one of the most valuable modern first editions.

Aldous Huxley — Brave New World (1932). The first American edition was published by Harper & Brothers (the UK first edition by Chatto & Windus precedes it). The Harper first states the copyright date and carries the Harper & Brothers colophon.

Sylvia Plath — The Bell Jar (1971 US edition). The first US edition was published by Harper & Row. The UK first edition (Heinemann, 1963, under the pseudonym “Victoria Lucas”) is the true first edition. The Harper & Row edition is the first American edition and is identified by the “First Edition” statement.

Shel Silverstein — Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974) and The Giving Tree (1964). Both published by Harper & Row. First editions carry the “First Edition” statement. The Giving Tree first editions are scarce and valuable.

Maurice Sendak — Where the Wild Things Are (1963). Published by Harper & Row. First edition identified by “First Edition” statement and specific dust jacket points (including the price of $3.50).

Common Pitfalls

The Harper & Brothers / Harper & Row transition. Books published in 1962 may carry either the old or new publisher name, depending on when in the year they were printed. The publisher name does not affect first-edition status — check the “First Edition” statement and other indicators.

Book club editions. Harper titles were widely distributed through the Book-of-the-Month Club and other clubs. Apply the standard checks: price on jacket, no blind stamps on rear board, appropriate paper quality.

Torchbook editions. Harper Torchbooks were the publisher’s trade paperback line from the 1950s. These are reprints, not first editions of the text.

The “BOMC” mark. Some book club editions of Harper titles are explicitly marked “Book-of-the-Month Club” on the dust jacket or carry the BOMC insignia.

Dual editions. Some Harper titles were published simultaneously in hardcover and paperback. The hardcover is conventionally the “first edition” unless the paperback was published first.

Quick Reference Checklist

1. Pre-1920s: Date matching between title page and copyright page; no later printing statements
2. 1920s–1962 (Harper & Brothers): “FIRST EDITION” statement on copyright page
3. 1962–1990 (Harper & Row): “First Edition” statement and/or number line with 1
4. 1990–present (HarperCollins): “First Edition” or “First [Imprint] edition” plus number line with 1
5. All eras: Price on dust jacket, no blind stamps on rear board, correct publisher name
6. For high-value titles (Lee, Sendak, Silverstein, Plath), consult author-specific bibliographies