Printings within an Edition

Beinecke cataloging practice is to usually record any printing statement appearing in an item; this can be done in a general note for works that have separate bibliographic records for each printing within an edition, or in a local note for works that have either a separate bibliographic record for every year of printing within an edition or a single bibliographic record for all printings within an edition. Whichever option is chosen, the note should include printing number and date (e.g., “6th printing, Feb. 1954”) but not necessarily the printer’s name. It is only necessary to include information relating to the printing of the copy in hand, but sometimes it will be desirable to include information relating to the first printing as well if that information is useful and not recorded elsewhere in the record (e.g., “1st printing, March 1972 … 8th printing, July 1978”). If the item is a translation, it is not necessary to include information relating to the printing of the work in its original language. Indeed, be careful not to confuse the two.

Below are the guidelines for when to create separate records for different printings of the same edition. Occasionally a curator will request exceptions to these guidelines.

  Separate records for each printing Separate records for each year Single record for all printings
 
  • All pre-1801 publications
  • Authors or publishers for which multiple printings are collected
  • WA Ephemera, promotional materials, travel literature, etc.
  • Children’s literature
  • Certain name collections (e.g. Shirley, Tanselle)
  • 19th, 20th, 21st century belles-lettres (with exceptions)
  • YCAL, except for author for which all printings are collected
  • WA trade publications, county histories
  • All post 1800 publications, except as noted
  • Translations of 19th, 20th, 21st century authors
  • Books collected only for provenance (e.g., works from an author’s library)
  • Reference and Stack Reference
  AACR2: Printing date recorded in 260

RDA: Printing date recorded in 264_3

(month of printing may be recorded, see documentation for specific collections)

500 for printing information

AACR2: Printing date recored in 260 ‡g

RDA: Printing date recorded in 264_3

(month of printing not recorded)

590 for printing information

Printing date not recorded in 260 or 264

590 for printing information

Examples:      
1970
Third printing, June 1970
260 ‡c 1970.
590 ‡a  BEIN Shirley 2509: Dust jacket.
500 ‡a “First printing March 1970 … third printing, June 1970.”
260 ‡c 1970.
590 ‡a BEIN Zab X666 970S: Dust jacket.
590 ‡a BEIN Zab X666 970Sc: “First printing March 1970 … third printing, June 1970.”

Third printing is added to the record for the first printing since they are both from 1970.

260 ‡c 1970.
590 ‡a BEIN 1989 201: “Twenty seventh printing, August 1985.”
590 ‡a BEIN 2007 101: “Third printing, June 1970.”
1970
Second printing, June 1971
AACR2
260 ‡c 1970 ‡g (1971 printing)
500 ‡a “Second printing, June 1971.”
RDA
264_1 ‡c 1970.
264_3 ‡c 1971
500 ‡a “Second printing, June 1971.”
AACR2
260 ‡c 1970 ‡g (1971 printing)
590 ‡a BEIN Zc72 999cab: “Second printing, June 1971.”
RDA
264_1 ‡c 1970.
264_3 ‡c 1971
590 ‡a BEIN Zc72 999cab: “Second printing, June 1971.”

New record is created for 1971 –not added to the record for 1970.

260 ‡c 1970.
590 ‡a BEIN 2000 555: Dust jacket.
590 ‡a BEIN 2007 199: “Second printing, 1971.”
1927
First printing, October, 1927 … Fifth printing, June 1931
AACR2
260 ‡c 1927 ‡g (June 1931 printing)
500 ‡a “First printing, October, 1927 … Fifth printing, June 1931.”
RDA
264_1 ‡c 1927.
264_3 ‡c 1931
500 ‡a “First printing, October, 1927 … Fifth printing, June 1931.”
AACR2
260 ‡c 1927 ‡g (1931 printing)
590 ‡a BEIN Zab St345 927Pd: “First printing, October, 1927 … Fourth printing, May 1931.”
590 ‡a BEIN Zab St345 927Pe: “First printing, October, 1927 … Fifth printing, June 1931.”
RDA
264_1 ‡c 1927.
264_3 ‡c 1931
590 ‡a BEIN Zab St345 927Pd: “First printing, October, 1927 … Fourth printing, May 1931.”
590 ‡a BEIN Zab St345 927Pe: “First printing, October, 1927 … Fifth printing, June 1931.”

Fifth printing is added to record of fourth printing since they are both from 1931.

260 ‡c 1927.
590 ‡a BEIN 2000 55:”First printing, October, 1927 … Seventh printing, July 1935.”
590 ‡a BEIN 2007 100: :”First printing, October, 1927 … Fifth printing, June 1931.”