How to identify a first printing
- 1872-1886 (as Jansen, McClurg & Co.): first editions carry the Jansen, McClurg & Co. imprint on the title page with no 'First Edition' statement; identify by the dated title page and absence of any later-printing notice.
- 1886-1899: imprint reads 'A.C. McClurg and Co.' with no first-edition statement; a first printing is identified by the title-page date matching the copyright date and absence of any later-impression notation. Many titles were printed for McClurg by W. F. Hall Printing or the Lakeside Press (R. R. Donnelley), Chicago.
- 1900-1930s: continued reliance on the dated title page; later printings often added 'Published (month, year)' impression lines on the copyright page, so absence of such later dates indicates a first printing. For key titles, especially Edgar Rice Burroughs, first state is determined by binding and printer's-imprint points rather than any printed statement.
- Tarzan of the Apes (1914): the true first edition, first state, has the W. F. Hall Printing Co. printer's imprint set in two lines of Old English (black-letter) type on the copyright page, and the first-state binding lacks the acorn device at the foot of the spine (the acorn appears on a later binding state). About 10,000 first-edition copies were produced across three states.
Notable points & cautions
- Began in 1844 as a Chicago retail bookstore and stationer; the publishing arm grew from Jansen, McClurg & Co. (1872) into A.C. McClurg & Co. (1886).
- Original book publisher of Edgar Rice Burroughs's Tarzan and Barsoom novels, the firm's most collected output.
- Burroughs first editions are identified by binding state and the Old-English printer's imprint, not by any 'First Edition' wording.
- The trade, wholesale, and bookselling operations were larger than the publishing line, which wound down by the 1930s.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: A.C. McClurg & Co., Jansen, McClurg & Co. (predecessor, 1872-1886). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my A.C. McClurg & Co. book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1872-1886 (as Jansen, McClurg & Co.): first editions carry the Jansen, McClurg & Co. imprint on the title page with no 'First Edition' statement; identify by the dated title page and absence of any later-printing notice. 1886-1899: imprint reads 'A.C. McClurg and Co.' with no first-edition statement; a first printing is identified by the title-page date matching the copyright date and absence of any later-impression notation. Many titles were printed for McClurg by W. F. Hall Printing or the Lakeside Press (R. R. Donnelley), Chicago.
Does A.C. McClurg & Co. use a number line?
1886-1899: imprint reads 'A.C. McClurg and Co.' with no first-edition statement; a first printing is identified by the title-page date matching the copyright date and absence of any later-impression notation. Many titles were printed for McClurg by W. F. Hall Printing or the Lakeside Press (R. R. Donnelley), Chicago.
Is a book-club edition a A.C. McClurg & Co. first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Began in 1844 as a Chicago retail bookstore and stationer; the publishing arm grew from Jansen, McClurg & Co. (1872) into A.C. McClurg & Co. (1886).
What era does this cover?
This covers A.C. McClurg & Co. (1844-c.1930s (publishing imprint c.1872-1930s)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.