Although two books might share the same title, author, and publisher, they might differ in other ways. For instance, one might be in another edition. Or one might be a later printing of the same edition. Each physical book is, of course, its own copy. Edition, printing, issue, and copy, therefore, refer to different aspects of the book’s production and existence. It is important not to conflate these terms when trying to understand how two books differ.
Instead of trying to memorize definitions, try to get a feel for these terms by comparing two copies of the same work. Lay them out on a table or desk. Take a careful look at each title page and copyright page. Note any edition statements, publication dates, pagination, typography, illustrations, and other things that might differ between them. Write down your observations. For example, one book might bear a statement such as “second edition” on its title page or copyright page, while the other bears a similar statement, but with a different printing date. These observations, however minor, will prove more informative than guessing what each book is based solely on the appearance of its cover.
In general, an edition is a version of a work that is issued from a particular setting (or arrangement of text). For instance, a revised edition of a novel may contain textual revisions, additional materials, different illustrations, or a radically different presentation than the first edition. A printing is a single run of a particular edition. Therefore, the same edition can be printed more than once. Just because a printing was made after another doesn’t mean that it constitutes a new edition.
Issue, finally, is a more specialized term that can be difficult to spot initially. Some books produced from essentially the same edition may be issued in slightly different versions intended for different audiences, publishers, or sales environments. The differences between these issues may involve the title page, binding, imprint, or some other feature that would otherwise not require a new edition. For this reason, it is best for beginners to avoid hastily applying the term issue. Instead, describe the specific differences between books in question and research the issue at a later time.
The term copy is relatively straightforward and refers to the single physical book under consideration. Two copies of the same printing may, over time, take on different bindings, inscriptions, annotations, missing pages, inserted endpapers, or other features unique to the individual copy. Again, such differences need not imply a new edition or printing. In fact, one should always distinguish between features related to the book’s production and those related to an individual copy.
When comparing books, it is helpful to gather multiple pieces of evidence before determining which kind of difference you have found. For instance, note the edition statement, imprint, publication dates, pagination, typography, illustrations, and so on. If insufficient evidence exists, describe the copies themselves rather than categorizing them as editions or printings. Simply noting how one copy differs from another is already useful bibliological information, even if we haven’t yet determined the precise relationship between them.
