How to identify a first printing
- No house first-edition statement; for 19th-century books match the title-page date to the copyright date and look for the absence of any later-printing or later-edition notice.
- The imprint name dates the book: 'Estes & Lauriat' = 1872-1898; 'Dana Estes & Company' = 1898 onward — the 1898 partnership split is a clean cutoff.
- Caution: this firm was a heavy reprinter and price-cutter of standard authors and illustrated gift books (and ran the Aldine cheap editions), so many Estes books are reprints or later editions rather than firsts — verify a true first by title-level points.
Notable points & cautions
- Dana Estes and Charles E. Lauriat founded Estes & Lauriat in August 1872; Lauriat left the publishing firm in 1898 and Estes continued as Dana Estes & Co.
- Estes formed the Aldine Publishing Co. to issue inexpensive royalty editions of standard authors — a flag that many of its lines are reprints rather than firsts.
- Dana Estes & Co. ran until about 1914; treat 'first edition' claims skeptically given the reprint-heavy output.
- Best known for illustrated children's and gift books.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Estes & Lauriat (1872-1898), Dana Estes & Company (1898-1914), Aldine Publishing Co. (cheap-reprint imprint formed by Estes). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Estes & Lauriat / Dana Estes & Company book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. No house first-edition statement; for 19th-century books match the title-page date to the copyright date and look for the absence of any later-printing or later-edition notice. The imprint name dates the book: 'Estes & Lauriat' = 1872-1898; 'Dana Estes & Company' = 1898 onward — the 1898 partnership split is a clean cutoff.
Does Estes & Lauriat / Dana Estes & Company use a number line?
The imprint name dates the book: 'Estes & Lauriat' = 1872-1898; 'Dana Estes & Company' = 1898 onward — the 1898 partnership split is a clean cutoff.
Is a book-club edition a Estes & Lauriat / Dana Estes & Company first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Dana Estes and Charles E. Lauriat founded Estes & Lauriat in August 1872; Lauriat left the publishing firm in 1898 and Estes continued as Dana Estes & Co.
What era does this cover?
This covers Estes & Lauriat / Dana Estes & Company (1872-1914; antiquarian). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.