How to identify a first printing
- 1867-1876 (Ginn Brothers): educational/textbook publisher using no trade 'First Edition' statement. First printing by title-page/copyright date concordance; because textbooks were routinely revised, the absence of an 'edition' or revision note combined with matching dates indicates an early/first printing.
- 1876-1885 (Ginn & Heath / Ginn, Heath & Co.): same convention, after Daniel Collamore Heath joined in 1876. An 'edition' or 'Revised Edition' statement, when present, indicates a later issue.
- 1885 onward (Ginn & Company): textbooks frequently carry stacked copyright accretions; the earliest single copyright year with no added later copyrights and no 'revised' note marks the first printing. From 1895 the Athenaeum Press (Cambridge) colophon may appear and, because the plant opened in 1895, its presence rules out a pre-1895 printing.
- No number line was used in the 19th century; textbook collectors rely on the copyright-date stack (the earliest single year = first printing).
Notable points & cautions
- A leading American schoolbook/textbook house; not a literary-firsts house, but a major presence in the 19th-century Northeast trade and frequently encountered.
- Because textbooks are revised repeatedly, watch the stacked copyright dates: a single earliest year with no later copyrights or 'revised' wording signals the first printing.
- The Athenaeum Press, its Cambridge printing plant, opened in 1895; its colophon therefore both aids identification and marks a copy as 1895-or-later.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Ginn Brothers, Ginn & Heath, Ginn, Heath & Co., Ginn & Company, Athenaeum Press (printing imprint, from 1895). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Ginn & Company (Ginn Brothers / Ginn, Heath & Co.) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1867-1876 (Ginn Brothers): educational/textbook publisher using no trade 'First Edition' statement. First printing by title-page/copyright date concordance; because textbooks were routinely revised, the absence of an 'edition' or revision note combined with matching dates indicates an early/first printing. 1876-1885 (Ginn & Heath / Ginn, Heath & Co.): same convention, after Daniel Collamore Heath joined in 1876. An 'edition' or 'Revised Edition' statement, when present, indicates a later issue.
Does Ginn & Company (Ginn Brothers / Ginn, Heath & Co.) use a number line?
1876-1885 (Ginn & Heath / Ginn, Heath & Co.): same convention, after Daniel Collamore Heath joined in 1876. An 'edition' or 'Revised Edition' statement, when present, indicates a later issue.
Is a book-club edition a Ginn & Company (Ginn Brothers / Ginn, Heath & Co.) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. A leading American schoolbook/textbook house; not a literary-firsts house, but a major presence in the 19th-century Northeast trade and frequently encountered.
What era does this cover?
This covers Ginn & Company (Ginn Brothers / Ginn, Heath & Co.) (1867-1900 (within slice); firm continued into the 20th century). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.