Check the copyright page for “First Edition,” “First Printing,” or a number line ending in 1
Look for a printer’s key or number line such as 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Verify the publisher’s stated edition and printing information
Compare the dust jacket with known first-edition jacket details
Check for edition-specific errors, price points, or binding variations
Match the publication date to the earliest known release date
Confirm whether the book was issued in multiple printings or editions
Consult a bibliographic reference or collector’s guide for that title
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