How to Identify a Hutchinson & Co. First Edition

How to identify a first printing

• Late 1880s to about 1920: many firsts of this era carry no printing statement at all, so dating relies on the title-page date and on dated rear advertisement catalogs; later printings note reprints. Number lines do not apply to this early period.
• About 1920 to about 1960: 'First published (year)' or 'First published in Great Britain (year)' on the copyright page; a first impression lists no reprints, while later printings add dated 'Reprinted' or 'New impression' lines. Hutchinson absorbed many houses (Stanley Paul, Hurst & Blackett, John Long, Jarrolds, Andrew Melrose, Skeffington), each carrying its own imprint name but the same dated-statement convention.
• About 1960 to about 1975: 'First published 19xx' on the verso, with a first printing showing no additional impression line.
• About 1975 onward (within the Hutchinson Group, later under Random House from 1985): a descending number line on the copyright page typically accompanies 'First published in Great Britain 19xx by Hutchinson'; the lowest number present indicates the printing (1 = first). Treat the exact transition year as approximate and confirm against the dated 'First published' statement, which remains the primary tell.

Notable points & cautions

• Founded 1887 by Sir George Hutchinson; grew by absorbing many smaller houses (Stanley Paul, Hurst & Blackett, John Long, Jarrolds, Andrew Melrose, Skeffington), so the Hutchinson Group umbrella covers numerous imprint names.
• Arrow Books was its mass-market paperback arm.
• Became the Hutchinson Group; acquired by Random House in 1985; Hutchinson and Hutchinson Heinemann are now imprints of Penguin Random House.

Imprints

First editions also appear under: Hutchinson, Hutchinson & Co. (Publishers), Stanley Paul, Hurst & Blackett, Jarrolds, Andrew Melrose, John Long, Skeffington, Arrow Books (paperback), Barrie & Jenkins, Hutchinson Radius, Rider. Each generally follows the house convention above.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my Hutchinson & Co. book is a first edition?

Check the copyright page. Late 1880s to about 1920: many firsts of this era carry no printing statement at all, so dating relies on the title-page date and on dated rear advertisement catalogs; later printings note reprints. Number lines do not apply to this early period. About 1920 to about 1960: 'First published (year)' or 'First published in Great Britain (year)' on the copyright page; a first impression lists no reprints, while later printings add dated 'Reprinted' or 'New impression' lines. Hutchinson absorbed many houses (Stanley Paul, Hurst & Blackett, John Long, Jarrolds, Andrew Melrose, Skeffington), each carrying its own imprint name but the same dated-statement convention.

Does Hutchinson & Co. use a number line?

About 1920 to about 1960: 'First published (year)' or 'First published in Great Britain (year)' on the copyright page; a first impression lists no reprints, while later printings add dated 'Reprinted' or 'New impression' lines. Hutchinson absorbed many houses (Stanley Paul, Hurst & Blackett, John Long, Jarrolds, Andrew Melrose, Skeffington), each carrying its own imprint name but the same dated-statement convention.

Is a book-club edition a Hutchinson & Co. first edition?

No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1887 by Sir George Hutchinson; grew by absorbing many smaller houses (Stanley Paul, Hurst & Blackett, John Long, Jarrolds, Andrew Melrose, Skeffington), so the Hutchinson Group umbrella covers numerous imprint names.

What era does this cover?

This covers Hutchinson & Co. (1887-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.