How to identify a first printing
- 1883–c.1913: Chicago cheap-fiction, dictionary, and pocket-handbook publisher distributed largely through railroad newsstands and mail-order; first issues carry the 'Laird & Lee, Chicago' imprint and a dated title page. No 'First Edition' statement is used and no number line — identify by imprint form and the absence of a later-printing notice.
- Series fiction (Pastime Series, Pinkerton/detective titles): identify the issue by series number, copyright date, and the bound-in advertisement list. Standing plates were reused across printings, so the catalog/advertisement state is the practical first-issue tell rather than any textual point.
- Reference works (Webster-style dictionaries, vest-pocket guides): the year/edition stated on the title page is the edition designator; these were revised and reissued frequently.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1883 by Frederick C. Laird and William H. Lee; Lee bought out Laird in 1894 and ran it as one of the largest Chicago publishers (reportedly third-largest in the city by 1899) until his death in 1913.
- Mass-market plate-reuse house whose paperbacks sold at newsstands rather than bookstores — advertisement and series-number state dating applies; textual first-printing points were rarely tracked.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Laird & Lee, Pastime Series, Pinkerton Detective Series. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Laird & Lee book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1883–c.1913: Chicago cheap-fiction, dictionary, and pocket-handbook publisher distributed largely through railroad newsstands and mail-order; first issues carry the 'Laird & Lee, Chicago' imprint and a dated title page. No 'First Edition' statement is used and no number line — identify by imprint form and the absence of a later-printing notice. Series fiction (Pastime Series, Pinkerton/detective titles): identify the issue by series number, copyright date, and the bound-in advertisement list. Standing plates were reused across printings, so the catalog/advertisement state is the practical first-issue tell rather than any textual point.
Does Laird & Lee use a number line?
Series fiction (Pastime Series, Pinkerton/detective titles): identify the issue by series number, copyright date, and the bound-in advertisement list. Standing plates were reused across printings, so the catalog/advertisement state is the practical first-issue tell rather than any textual point.
Is a book-club edition a Laird & Lee first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1883 by Frederick C. Laird and William H. Lee; Lee bought out Laird in 1894 and ran it as one of the largest Chicago publishers (reportedly third-largest in the city by 1899) until his death in 1913.
What era does this cover?
This covers Laird & Lee (1883–c.1913). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.