What Do The Numbers Mean On The Copyright Page Of A Book?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Also known as a “printer’s key” or “publisher’s code,” the number line is a string of numbers printed on the copyright page, and it is used

to indicate the print run for the book

. … With each printing of a book, the publisher instructs the printer to remove the lowest number that indicated that run.

What does it mean when a book is numbered?

A numbered edition is

a limited edition where the total number of copies in the print run is notated on the book

. This is usually written as the current number over the total number in the printing; for example: “This book is copy number 54/200”. A lettered edition is the same as a numbered edition except with letters.

How do you read the copyright page of a book?

Open the book to the copyright page. It is usually the

page immediately following the title page of the book

. View the first few lines of the copyright page of the book. Note the name of the author of the publication along with the title of the work.

What does it mean if a print is marked 7 9?

The numbers on the right indicate the year the book is being printed. Reprints happen over a period of years. So the numbers above would indicate a 1996 printing. 7 8 9 0/0 . . . would indicate

1997

.

What is on the copyright page of a book?

The edition notice (or copyright page) is the

page in a book containing information about the current edition

, usually on the back of the title page. … These indicate the book’s print run. Sometimes, there will also be a warning indicating that the book sold without a cover is a stripped book.

What are the numbers on the first page of a book?


The printer’s key, also known as the number line

, is a line of text printed on the copyright page (often the verso of the title page, especially in English-language publishing) of books, used to indicate the print run. Publishers began this convention about the middle of the 20th century.

What is the purpose of a copyright page in a book?

Copyright-page meaning

The definition of a copyright page is the page in the front of a

book that lists publication, legal, copyright, printing, listing and ISBN information

. An example of a copyright page is where a reader would find out who owns the copyright for a specific book.

Should page numbers start after table of contents?

Put the cursor after the text on the page that should be the last page without a page number, for example, the table of contents. … Put the cursor on the page

where

the page numbering should start (that is, section two in the document).

Does the cover count as page 1?

Normally, the first page, or cover page, of a

document does not have a page number or

other header or footer text. You can avoid putting a page number on the first page using sections, but there is an easier way to do this. To change the page number on the second page to one, click the Insert tab.

What is the rule for page numbers?


Each page must be numbered consecutively at the bottom

unless a rule provides otherwise for a particular type of document. The page numbering must begin with the first page and use only Arabic numerals (e.g., 1, 2, 3). The page number may be suppressed and need not appear on the first page.

What if a book has no number line?

Book collectors expresses this as “no additional printings.” This simply means that

the copyright page of a book is free of any number lines beginning with a 2 or statements to the affect of “Second printing

.” Viking Publishing used this method during the 1980’s, for example.

Are first edition books worth anything?

First editions are sought-after by book collectors and a

first edition is usually more valuable than a later printing

. A first edition signed by the author will have even greater value. Scarcity influences value.

What is the average print run for a book?

That said, the average for a hardback for a debut author is from

3,000-7,000

and a paperback from 20,000-60,000. Trade paperbacks are a coin toss. Usually somewhere between–I’ve heard as low as 9,000 and as high as 40,000.

Does my book need a copyright page?

As a part of the front matter, a book’s copyright page is very important, especially if you want to protect your writing from plagiarism. …

The copyright page is standard in any book

— where it’s poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir, or comic. Self-published books are no different, so they should include a copyright page.

Where is the copyright date in a book?

Date published can most usually be found

on the copyright page of a book

. That page will tell you when the work was copyrighted – and if the book is a first edition, the copyright date will be the same as the date published. If it is a later edition, the date will be different.

What is the verso page of a book?

The verso side of the page is

the left-hand, even-numbered side

. In languages in which a book is meant to be read from right to left, RECTO and verso are flipped.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.