How to Identify a Fields, Osgood & Co. First Edition

How to identify a first printing

• No stated-edition convention; use date agreement between title page and copyright date, with no reprint or later-printing notice present.
• Rear publisher's catalogue/advertisement sections are often dated and can aid printing priority, as with Ticknor and Fields.

Notable points & cautions

• Direct successor to Ticknor and Fields after James T. Fields and James R. Osgood reorganized the firm in 1868 (Benjamin H. Ticknor admitted as a partner in 1870).
• Transitional imprint; superseded by James R. Osgood & Co. when Fields retired and his share was bought out on 1-2 January 1871.
• Listed separately because the imprint name on the title page distinguishes the 1868-1871 printing window.

Imprints

First editions also appear under: Fields, Osgood & Co. (1868-1871). Each generally follows the house convention above.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my Fields, Osgood & Co. book is a first edition?

Check the copyright page. No stated-edition convention; use date agreement between title page and copyright date, with no reprint or later-printing notice present. Rear publisher's catalogue/advertisement sections are often dated and can aid printing priority, as with Ticknor and Fields.

Does Fields, Osgood & Co. use a number line?

Rear publisher's catalogue/advertisement sections are often dated and can aid printing priority, as with Ticknor and Fields.

Is a book-club edition a Fields, Osgood & Co. first edition?

No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Direct successor to Ticknor and Fields after James T. Fields and James R. Osgood reorganized the firm in 1868 (Benjamin H. Ticknor admitted as a partner in 1870).

What era does this cover?

This covers Fields, Osgood & Co. (1868-1871; antiquarian). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.