Part I. A.

Edition statement

General notes

The critical factor in analyzing edition statements for purposes of matching a piece with a record is distinguishing genuine edition statements from printing statements.  This problem is discussed below, in two separate sections, one for English and another, collectively, for foreign languages.

An additional caveat is that, in some contexts, a word (in English or another language) that can indicate "edition" may not actually relate to an edition or printing statement.  For example, it may be present on the title page to be transcribed as part of a statement of responsibility (e.g., "edition, translation, and notes by ...").  In other cases, it may appear as part of a series (e.g. "Edizione nazionale dei classici del pensiero italiano").  It may also be a term that refers in some way to the nature of the material, which would not vary from one bibliographic edition to another (e.g., -- "Nauchnoe izdanie" ["scientific -- or scholarly -- edition/publication"]).  You do not need to worry about such phrases in the context of edition statements.

1.  English language

In general, an edition statement in an English-language publication should be treated as an actual edition statement, i.e., accepted at face value.  Edition information in the piece should correspond to edition information in the record, either in the 250 edition field or a 500 note field.  There are a few categories of exceptions, indicated below.

• Numbered editions:  The number of the edition in the record should match that in the piece.  If the piece includes a statement "Third edition," you should use a record with a 250 or 500 field for the third edition, or a new record should be input.  You should not match the piece with a record with a 250 "1st ed." or "2nd ed."  Nor should you use a record lacking an edition statement.

  First editions represent a partial exception in that the absence or presence of an explicit first edition statement (in the record or in the piece) does not prevent a match if all other elements of the record match the piece.  A record with a 250 "1st ed." can be treated as matching a piece with no edition statement, or vice versa.  (Cf. Part II.A.3, on editing first edition statements.)

• Revisions:  Any term indicating that there has been some change to the material in the item, or that some change is anticipated, indicates a difference in edition and so should correspond to the terminology in the record.  Examples include:  "Revised edition," "Revised printing," "Revised paperback edition," "New and expanded edition," "Abridged edition," "Revised with corrections," "Corrected printing," "Preliminary edition," "Draft," and "Preprint."

• Editions with a particular scope or audience:  Terms in the piece indicating a particular language, geographic coverage, typography, or audience reflect a difference in content or layout and so should correspond to the terminology in the record.  Examples include:  "English edition," "Southern edition," "Large print edition," and "Teacher's edition."  Differences in binding alone do not necessarily reflect a difference in edition.  In certain cases, limited or other special edition statements (such as "Deluxe edition") reflect a distinct edition; if you have any questions about them, check with your trainer or with the principal cataloguer.

• Paperback editions:  The presence or absence of the statement "Paperback edition" does not prevent a match if all other elements of the record match the piece.  (Among other factors, there should be no more than 2 cm. difference in height.)  This also applies to the statements "First paperback edition" and "rack edition."  On the other hand, any other numbered paperback edition statement should match in edition numbering, as in the section on numbered editions above.  Thus, should the situation occur, you could match "Second paperback edition" with a 250 "2nd ed."  (Cf. Part II.A.4, on editing statements using the term "edition" together with a generic term.)

• Book club edition:  The absence or presence of the statement "Book club edition" does not prevent a match if all other elements of the record match the piece.  If your piece is described as a book club edition, prefer a record with such a statement if it is available.  However, you may use a record that lacks any book club edition statement if everything else matches.  Similarly, you may add a copy that is described as a book club edition to a TULANET record that lacks that statement without re-searching OCLC.  (Cf. Part II.A.4, on editing statements using the term "edition" together with a generic term.)

Printing statements, on the other hand, should not be treated as indicating variations in edition unless there is some other indication of a change, such as the term "Revised printing."  (Cf. Part II.A.4, on editing printing statements.)

E.g.      T.p. verso:  Third edition ... 4th printing

The matching record would be for the 3rd ed.; the printing should be ignored.

2.  Foreign languages

Problems associated with foreign language edition and printing statements are rather different from those in English-language publications in that non-English language terms for "edition" and "printing" are often ambiguous, even when numbered.  They must be examined in context to determine whether they actually reflect a distinct edition.

For a list of terms in several European languages that could mean either "edition" or "printing," consult "Ambiguous terms for edition and printing."

• Certain types of statements do represent distinct editions and affect matching:
  1. Terms for edition accompanied by a term or terms indicating revision, updating, expansion, etc., i.e., reflecting an actual change in the text.  A number may or may not accompany the statement.

     For a list of terms in certain European languages that indicate some type of revision, see "Terms indicating revision." :

     E.g.      T.p.:  Tercera edición actualizada y aumentada

                            [i.e., 3rd updated and enlarged ed.]

                 You should search for a record that specifies in its 250 field:

                       3a ed. actualizada y aum. (or at least "3a ed." with other elements of the record matching the

                       piece; for editing, see example in Part II.A.2).

     E.g.      T.p. verso:  Zweite, vermehrte und verbesserte Auflage

                       [i.e., 2nd, expanded and "improved" ed.]

                 You should search for a record that specifies in its 250 field:

                       2., verm. und verb. Aufl.

  2. Terms for edition accompanied by the name or abbreviation of a publisher or series name.

     E.g.      P. facing t.p.:   3a edición

                 Primera en la Editorial Sudamericana

                 This statement indicates that the book is in the third edition overall and that it is not simply a third

                       printing, since a new publisher is involved. At the same time, it is the first edition by this

                       publisher.

                 You should search for a record that specifies in its 250 field "3. ed.," "1. ed. en la Editorial

                       Sudamericana," "1. ed." with everything else matching, or some

                       combination of this information.   (for editing, see example in Part II.A.4)

• Certain types of statements simply represent printing statements and thus, by themselves, do not affect matching.  They are indicated by terms that specifically mean "printing" or that indicate that the text is unchanged, for example:

        French:  [3. éd.] conforme à la [2.]; impression; réimpression

        German:  Druck; unveränderte; unveränderte Auflage

        Italian:  impressione; ristampa

        Spanish:  impresión; reimpresión; reimprimir

  For a fuller list, including other languages, consult "Terms for printing or unchanged text."

        E.g.      T.p. verso:  Unveränderte Nachdruck der dritten Auflage

                         [i.e., unaltered reprint of the 3rd ed.]

                       If the place, publisher, pagination, and any series match, you may use a record for the

                          3. Aufl. (3rd ed.).

        E.g.      T.p. verso:  2a edizione, riveduta 1988

                               [i.e., 2nd ed., revised]

                                      Ristampa [reprint] 1990

                        If everything else matches, you should prefer a record for the 1988 second edition.

  (Cf. Part II.A.4., on editing printing statements.)

• If none of the above criteria apply, other aspects of the piece and other elements of the record(s) must be examined to determine whether a distinct edition is involved.  Consult other sections of this document for further guidance.

  One clue that successive reprintings are involved rather than different editions would be the specification of the number of copies printed after each edition/printing statement.

        E.g.      T.p. verso:  1. Ausgabe 1.-50. Tausend Juni 1955

                                      2. Ausgabe 51.-63. Tausend Februar 1957

                                      3. Ausgabe 64.-75. Tausend April 1958

                       The ideal record, if everything else matches, would be one for the 1. Ausgabe, 1955.

  If multiple records are available, a record that reflects the real matching edition should be preferred, not one that matches what is actually a printing statement.  However, if the latter type of record is the only one available, it may be used (cf. Part II.A.4., on editing uncertain statements).  [Applies to new items, at least.]

        E.g.      T.p. verso  3.a edição

                      There are records online for the 1st and 2nd editions, but the publishers and pagination are

                              different from the publisher of your piece.

                      There is no matching record. An original record is needed, with 250 3. ed. (i.e., treated as a

                              genuine edition statement).

        E.g.      Cover:  2a edición (in big type)

                        T.p. verso:  Primera edición octubre de 1992

                                          Segunda edición noviembre de 1992

                        There is a record online with a 250 1a ed. The imprint, pagination, and series match.

                        You may treat this as a first edition and use the record.  (In this case, the fact that the dates

                                of the successive "ediciones" are so close together provides an additional clue that

                                these are just successive printings.)  (Cf. Part II.A, general guideline.)

                        While you would prefer a record with 250 1a ed., you may use a record with

                                250 2a ed. if it is the only record available.  (Cf. II.A.4., on editing uncertain statements.)