Reading a Colophon and Limitation Statement
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A colophon can record how a publication was made: its printer, paper, typography, printing date and edition size. In many limited editions it also helps identify the particular issue. The ABAA glossary provides a useful definition of the term.
Read the complete statement
Write down the publisher and printer separately, then note the paper, date and issue divisions. “Copy 400” and “an edition of 400” mean different things. A number written on a leaf needs to be read alongside the printed limitation.
Watch the numbered ranges
Our 1943 La Chèvre-Feuille listing describes copy 400 within the standard issue numbered 26–525 and records a total edition of 534. Its numbered range does not make this a deluxe copy with the additional etching. A brief title cannot replace the full edition description.
Locate the signature
A signature printed as part of a facsimile is different from handwriting. The 1988 O’Hara–de Kooning Poems listing specifies de Kooning’s authorized facsimile signature on the colophon. That qualification should remain attached to the signature claim when comparing copies.
For a useful comparison, request a clear photograph of the whole statement and a close view of any handwritten number or signature. Compare the statement with the title page, binding and contents, and retain conflicts as questions for further research.
Browse Limited Editions. Further reading: ABAA: Colophon.
Questions about a particular copy? Email breethingbooks@gmail.com with the title and the detail you would like to see.