What is the critical bibliographic distinction between an 'edition' and a 'impression' (or printing)?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: An edition is all copies from one type setting; an impression is one continuous run from it
An edition encompasses all copies of a book produced from essentially the same setting of type elements. An impression, or printing, refers to all copies of that book printed at one continuous time from that specific type setup. A single edition can have multiple distinct impressions spread across months or years if the type forms were kept standing or stereotyped.
Keep practicing
More Bibliography questions
- In the hand-press era, what did the term 'distribution' refer to within the print shop workflow?
- What was the historical purpose of 'standing type' in a printing house?
- In analytical bibliography, what are 'countermarks' and where are they typically located?
- What does the term 'issue' mean when defining the publication states of an edition?
- What is a 'broadside' (or broadsheet) in historical print formats?
- What type of information is gathered under the category of 'provenance' when analyzing a rare book or manuscript?