diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/base.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/base.py
index 47b9f00d30..46c6f7a313 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/base.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/base.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ msprefs.defaults['wait_after_first_identify_result'] = 30 # seconds
 msprefs.defaults['wait_after_first_cover_result'] = 60 # seconds
 msprefs.defaults['swap_author_names'] = False
 msprefs.defaults['fewer_tags'] = True
-msprefs.defaults['find_first_edition_date'] = True
+msprefs.defaults['find_first_edition_date'] = False
 
 # Google covers are often poor quality (scans/errors) but they have high
 # resolution, so they trump covers from better sources. So make sure they