How to identify a first printing
- 1878-1880: a short-lived transitional imprint formed in 1878 when Hurd & Houghton (operating the Riverside Press, Cambridge) merged with James R. Osgood & Co., the successor to Ticknor & Fields. The house used no printed 'First Edition' statement; the first printing is identified by concordance of the title-page date with the copyright date and by the earliest-state terminal advertising catalogue bound in. A Riverside Press colophon is often present and aids dating.
- Dissolved/reorganized in 1880 when Osgood withdrew, becoming Houghton, Mifflin & Co. For ongoing 1880s practice see the Houghton Mifflin / Riverside (early) entry.
Notable points & cautions
- The 1878 merger that consolidated the Ticknor/Fields/Osgood author list under Houghton control and set the stage for the modern Houghton Mifflin trade lineage.
- The Riverside Press, Cambridge, was the firm's printing arm; its colophon and dated terminal ads aid dating of copies from this brief window.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Hurd & Houghton (predecessor), Riverside Press, Houghton, Mifflin & Co. (successor). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Houghton, Osgood & Co. book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1878-1880: a short-lived transitional imprint formed in 1878 when Hurd & Houghton (operating the Riverside Press, Cambridge) merged with James R. Osgood & Co., the successor to Ticknor & Fields. The house used no printed 'First Edition' statement; the first printing is identified by concordance of the title-page date with the copyright date and by the earliest-state terminal advertising catalogue bound in. A Riverside Press colophon is often present and aids dating. Dissolved/reorganized in 1880 when Osgood withdrew, becoming Houghton, Mifflin & Co. For ongoing 1880s practice see the Houghton Mifflin / Riverside (early) entry.
Does Houghton, Osgood & Co. use a number line?
Dissolved/reorganized in 1880 when Osgood withdrew, becoming Houghton, Mifflin & Co. For ongoing 1880s practice see the Houghton Mifflin / Riverside (early) entry.
Is a book-club edition a Houghton, Osgood & Co. first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. The 1878 merger that consolidated the Ticknor/Fields/Osgood author list under Houghton control and set the stage for the modern Houghton Mifflin trade lineage.
What era does this cover?
This covers Houghton, Osgood & Co. (1878-1880). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.