How to identify a first printing
- 1888–c.1903: cheap-library and mail-order publisher; issues carry the 'F. Tennyson Neely' imprint (Chicago and New York, with London added in 1897) — no first-edition statement, so identify by imprint form, dated title page, and advertisement/bound-in-ad state.
- Series titles (Neely's Library/Booklet Library): the series number and the bound-in ad list date the issue; reused plates make catalog/ad state the practical first-issue tell.
- Priority between cloth and paper-wrapper issues is judged by advertisements and price, not by any printed statement.
Notable points & cautions
- Firm founded in Chicago in 1888; New York branch and, in 1897, a London branch followed. Neely claimed to publish roughly a book a day at peak.
- Issued genuine first editions of notable titles, including Robert W. Chambers' 'The King in Yellow' (1895); also published Oppenheim, Anthony Hope, and others.
- Typical late-19c cheap-series identification: rely on advertisement/series state, not edition statements.
- Firm went bankrupt in 1899 amid accounting irregularities; Neely reestablished it in 1901 and it failed again by 1903.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: F. Tennyson Neely, Neely's Library / Neely's Booklet Library (series), F. Tennyson Neely Co.. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my F. Tennyson Neely book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1888–c.1903: cheap-library and mail-order publisher; issues carry the 'F. Tennyson Neely' imprint (Chicago and New York, with London added in 1897) — no first-edition statement, so identify by imprint form, dated title page, and advertisement/bound-in-ad state. Series titles (Neely's Library/Booklet Library): the series number and the bound-in ad list date the issue; reused plates make catalog/ad state the practical first-issue tell.
Does F. Tennyson Neely use a number line?
Series titles (Neely's Library/Booklet Library): the series number and the bound-in ad list date the issue; reused plates make catalog/ad state the practical first-issue tell.
Is a book-club edition a F. Tennyson Neely first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Firm founded in Chicago in 1888; New York branch and, in 1897, a London branch followed. Neely claimed to publish roughly a book a day at peak.
What era does this cover?
This covers F. Tennyson Neely (1888–c.1903). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.