Master and Commander, cover of another edition (the Lippincott 1969 cover is not yet photographed)

Cover of another edition of this book. The Lippincott 1969 jacket has not been photographed yet.

First edition Hardback Aubrey-Maturin series no. 1

Master and Commander (1969)

In short

Quick answer

Who published the Master and Commander first edition?
Lippincott, Philadelphia, in 1969, in hardback.
What decides the price
  • It is the first edition, which is the one collectors want.
  • The original dust jacket carries much of the price for a book of this age; its condition matters as much as the book's.
  • Condition is graded separately for book and jacket, from Fine down to Poor.

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Publisher's practice

How Lippincott marked its first editions

  • From about 1925 Lippincott marked later printings (or impressions) on the copyright page, so a copy with no such note is likely a first printing.
  • From about 1925 many first printings also state "First Edition" on the copyright page, but not every title carries it.
  • From the 1970s, after the move into Harper & Row, a number row was added, and books under the Lippincott and Crowell imprint state "First Edition" with a number row.
  • A number row counts printings: the lowest number left in the row gives the printing, so a row that still includes "1" points to a first printing.
  • Book club copies (a general tell for US trade houses; no mark specific to this house was found): a jacket flap with no printed price is the commonest sign, though a printed price does not on its own rule out a club copy. Also look for a small blind stamp, such as a dot or square, pressed into the rear board, and for a book that is smaller and more cheaply made than the trade edition.

Read the full guide to Lippincott first editions, decade by decade, and check your copy's copyright page against it. Our number line decoder reads the printing from the row of numbers.

Printing by printing

Printings and states

First impression

1969

At a glance

Not yet researched

We have not yet confirmed the issue points that tell this first impression from later ones. Until we do, compare your copy's title page and copyright page with the publisher, place and year above: any later printing or edition statement means it is not this one.

Know the points? Tell us. We publish them, with credit, once a second source agrees.

Notes

The cover image shows this book but may not be this edition or printing.

Questions collectors ask

Frequently asked questions

Who published the Master and Commander first edition?

Lippincott, Philadelphia, in 1969, in hardback.