# What is the purpose of the numeric sequence in book copyrights? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 11, 2004, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-numeric-sequence-in-book-copyrights/274191 "2004-11-11T13:08:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-numeric-sequence-in-book-copyrights/274191/1 "2004-11-11T13:08:05Z")
In many books, along with the copyright info, I often see a string of numbers, like the following: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 or letters B C D E F G H I Usually they are the final line of text following all the other info. Not all books have them, but many do. What the hell do they mean? ---
**Author:** ![Roches](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc8723/32.png) [@Roches](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roches)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-numeric-sequence-in-book-copyrights/274191/2 "2004-11-11T13:16:57Z")
IIRC at least some of the numbers are used to indicate the number of the printing run to which the book belonged. The numbers are written out in sequence: **6 5 4 3 2 1** for the first printing run, and numbers are stricken out as necessary for each successive printing run. The second printing would have **6 5 4 3 2** , and so on. The smallest number will be the printing run to which the book belongs. Presumably, it’s easier to erase numbers than to prepare a new page for each printing run. ---
**Author:** ![Roches](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc8723/32.png) [@Roches](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roches)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-numeric-sequence-in-book-copyrights/274191/3 "2004-11-11T13:21:41Z")
The letters probably mean the same thing, with A = 1, B = 2, etc. The sequence of odd numbers followed by even numbers works by erasing a number from the left side, then from the right side: **1 3 5 4 2** , then **3 5 4 2** , then **3 5 4** , then **5 4** , then **5**. This would keep the line of text centered. One of the books I checked does have the sequence of numbers centered, but it goes **10 9 8 7 6.** I guess it was printed electronically, but maintains the tradition of using these sequences. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-numeric-sequence-in-book-copyrights/274191/4 "2004-11-11T14:02:50Z")
The more serious book collectors use this information because they not only like to collect first editions but a first ( or early ) print run makes all the difference to the value of the book. The only difficulty with this system is that not all publishers put this information in their books. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-numeric-sequence-in-book-copyrights/274191/5 "2004-11-11T17:20:35Z")
I have a guidebook (think it’s for Chrono Cross, but don’t quote me on that) that uses this system. The interesting thing is that the number the furthest to the right is 0.