First Authentic Editions in Rome

Libreria Cesaretti al Collegio Romano is the meeting point for amateurs and collectors who are looking for first authentic editions in Rome.

This type of volume is rare and precious, but it is not easy to recognise its authenticity; for this reason, when you want to make a purchase of this kind, it is better to turn to reliable and highly experienced dealers like us at Libreria Cesaretti.

Visit our bookshop to discover all the proposals.

How to Identify a First Edition Book

At Libreria Cesaretti in Collegio Romano, we help you identify the authentic first editions in our store.

A book can be defined, roughly, as a "first edition" when it first appears on the market. This applies to all copies, even if printed in different periods, as long as they have the same typographic composition.

Instead, it is defined as a "second edition" when the original version of the book is modified, for example, with the addition of a preface, a chapter or an appendix.

The second printing of a volume, when it has not undergone any typographical or content changes, is called a "reprint".

Recognising True First Editions

If you want to be sure to buy authentic first editions in Rome, you need to check whether the number 1 of the numeric code on the copyright page is printed in bold.

Furthermore, the volume in question may be a first edition even if the date on the aforementioned page is the same as that reported on the title page.

However, this only applies to books printed up until the beginning of the twentieth century, as this practice subsequently fell into disuse.