How to identify a first printing
- 1862-c.1872: no printed edition statement; a Boston juvenile and general-literature house. First printing is identified by the title-page date matching the copyright date and by dated terminal advertising catalogues bound in. The popular series titles (Oliver Optic, etc.) are notoriously hard to date because format stayed constant year to year.
- c.1872-1900s: same no-statement practice. For heavily reprinted juvenile series (Oliver Optic / William T. Adams, Sophie May, Elijah Kellogg), the first printing requires the earliest-state rear catalogue: it should NOT advertise titles published after the book in hand. A later title in the rear ads indicates a later printing.
- 1904: Lee & Shepard acquired the bankrupt Lothrop list and the firm continued as Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. An imprint or spine reading 'Lothrop, Lee & Shepard' therefore dates from 1904 or later. No number line was ever used.
Notable points & cautions
- Premier Boston juvenile and series house: Oliver Optic (William T. Adams), Sophie May, Elijah Kellogg; also temperance and reform titles.
- Because series books kept identical formats year to year and often lack dated title pages, the bound-in rear advertising catalogue is the key dating tool (the latest title advertised sets the earliest possible date).
- Became Lothrop, Lee & Shepard in 1904; that successor lineage was later absorbed into larger houses.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Lee, Shepard & Dillingham (NY branch, with Charles T. Dillingham), Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. (successor, 1904). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Lee & Shepard book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1862-c.1872: no printed edition statement; a Boston juvenile and general-literature house. First printing is identified by the title-page date matching the copyright date and by dated terminal advertising catalogues bound in. The popular series titles (Oliver Optic, etc.) are notoriously hard to date because format stayed constant year to year. c.1872-1900s: same no-statement practice. For heavily reprinted juvenile series (Oliver Optic / William T. Adams, Sophie May, Elijah Kellogg), the first printing requires the earliest-state rear catalogue: it should NOT advertise titles published after the book in hand. A later title in the rear ads indicates a later printing.
Does Lee & Shepard use a number line?
c.1872-1900s: same no-statement practice. For heavily reprinted juvenile series (Oliver Optic / William T. Adams, Sophie May, Elijah Kellogg), the first printing requires the earliest-state rear catalogue: it should NOT advertise titles published after the book in hand. A later title in the rear ads indicates a later printing.
Is a book-club edition a Lee & Shepard first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Premier Boston juvenile and series house: Oliver Optic (William T. Adams), Sophie May, Elijah Kellogg; also temperance and reform titles.
What era does this cover?
This covers Lee & Shepard (1862-1904). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.