Sociolinguistics, cover of the Penguin, 2000 edition (the Penguin Books 1974 cover is not yet photographed)Penguin, 2000 cover

Cover of the Penguin, 2000 edition of this book. The Penguin Books 1974 jacket has not been photographed yet.

First edition Hardback

Sociolinguistics (1974)

Publisher Penguin Books Year 1974 ISBN 9780140218022

Identification points are listed only where two independent sources agree. Last reviewed 28 Oct 2026.

Market value

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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Sales record

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In short

Quick answer

Who published the Sociolinguistics first edition?
Penguin Books, Harmondsworth, in 1974, in hardback.
Publisher's practice

How Penguin Books marked its first editions

Penguin began as a reprint house, so most early Penguins reissue books first published in hardback by other firms, and a first Penguin printing of such a book is not the first edition of the text.

  • The earliest Penguins carry "The Bodley Head" on the front cover. It was dropped from No. 81, issued in March 1937, and replaced by the book's category, so a copy of one of the first 80 titles without it is not a first Penguin printing.
  • The first Penguins of 1935 were priced at sixpence (6d).

Read the full guide to Penguin Books 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

1974

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 Sociolinguistics first edition?

Penguin Books, Harmondsworth, in 1974, in hardback.

Sources

Where these facts come from

  • British National Bibliography, record GB7426263

Points of issue are listed only where at least two independent sources agree. Last reviewed 28 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.