Edizione

Edizione is the Italian and, more broadly, Romance-language term for the version or issue of a published work. In publishing and bibliographic contexts, an edition denotes a specific set of texts, typography, and production details that distinguishes one print run from another. Editions may reflect textual revisions, design updates, or corrected errors, and are often identified by an edition statement, an imprint, and numbering such as first edition, second edition, or revised edition.

Different kinds of editions are common in publishing. The first edition is the initial release, while revised editions incorporate changes or updates. Reprints reproduce the same edition with little or no textual change. Special editions can be deluxe, illustrated, annotated, or otherwise augmented for collectors, scholars, or fans. Digital editions, including e-books and online formats, are versions of the work adapted for electronic reading and distribution, sometimes alongside print editions.

In bibliographic practice, the edition is an important data element for citation and library cataloging. It helps distinguish different textual versions, pagination, and accompanying material, and is typically linked to metadata such as publisher (imprint), place and year of publication, and International Standard Book Number (ISBN) or other identifiers. Editors, translators, and publishers decide on edition strategies to balance fidelity to the original with accessibility, scholarly value, or market considerations.

Culturally, the concept of edizione encompasses both the act of editing and the product: the published version that reaches readers. In academic or critical contexts, phrases like edizione critica or edizione integrale refer to editions prepared with scholarly apparatus and comprehensive text.