editio princeps

noun

edi·​tio prin·​ceps ā-ˌdi-tē-(ˌ)ō-ˈpriŋ-ˌkeps  i-ˌdi-shē-(ˌ)ō-ˈprin-ˌseps 

plural editiones principes ā-ˌdi-tē-ˈō-ˌnās-ˈpriŋ-kə-ˌpās  i-ˌdi-shē-ˈō-(ˌ)nēz-ˈprin(t)-sə-ˌpēz 

: the first printed edition especially of a work that circulated in manuscript before printing became common

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, literally, first edition

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined above