vergriffen

Vergriffen is a term used in publishing and librarianship to indicate that a title is no longer being printed by the publisher and is not available as a new copy. The designation does not necessarily mean that all copies have disappeared; libraries and private collectors may still hold remnants, and in some cases a work may be reissued by another publisher or in a different edition.

The term is distinct from ausverkauft, which describes stock that has run out in retail channels. A vergriffenes title can still circulate in the used book market, and sometimes rights are acquired by another publisher for a new edition. Conversely, a work that is currently vergriffen may later be brought back into print if a rights agreement or market demand changes.

In bibliographic records and bookseller catalogs, vergriffen is used to signal that no new copies are available from the original publisher. Other common notes relate to editions and formats, such as Neuauflage (new edition), Nachdruck (reprint), or Auflage (printing). If a title is reissued, it is no longer vergriffen under the new imprint.

Causes for vergriffen status include a discontinued print run, a decision by the rights holder, or a strategic withdrawal from the market. The status can affect rarity and price in the used market and may influence whether libraries decide to preserve the title in their collections. In some cases, digital or scanned editions exist despite the print version being vergriffen, depending on rights and licenses.