How to Identify a Longman (Longmans, Green & Co.) First Edition

How to identify a first printing

• No edition statement on most 19th-century firsts: rely on the title-page date, the absence of later-printing wording, and the exact partnership style in the imprint, which changed frequently and dates a printing.
• Dated inserted advertisement catalogue, commonly at the rear; a first should not list books published after the title-page year.
• For Macaulay's History of England, early Tennyson and other Longman high spots, collate against the author bibliography for textual and binding points — value is point-driven.
• Complete volumes with half-titles and the original cloth support first-issue state.

Notable points & cautions

• One of the oldest English houses (founded 1724); published Macaulay, some Wordsworth, early Tennyson, shares in Scott, and major reference and scientific works.
• The firm changed its partnership name very often (e.g. Longman, Brown, Green & Longmans; Longman, Green, Longman & Roberts from 1859; Longmans, Green, Reader & Dyer; Longmans, Green & Co. from c.1889) — the imprint style is the primary dating tool.
• Three-decker fiction and multi-volume histories are common; absence of an edition notice is the norm.
• The settled 'Longmans, Green & Co.' style indicates a printing of roughly 1889 or later, not the whole post-1862 period.

Imprints

First editions also appear under: Longman, Brown, Green & Longmans (1840s–1850s), Longman, Green, Longman & Roberts (from 1859), Longmans, Green, Reader & Dyer (mid-1860s–1880s), Longmans, Green & Co. (settled style from c.1889). Each generally follows the house convention above.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my Longman (Longmans, Green & Co.) book is a first edition?

Check the copyright page. No edition statement on most 19th-century firsts: rely on the title-page date, the absence of later-printing wording, and the exact partnership style in the imprint, which changed frequently and dates a printing. Dated inserted advertisement catalogue, commonly at the rear; a first should not list books published after the title-page year.

Does Longman (Longmans, Green & Co.) use a number line?

Dated inserted advertisement catalogue, commonly at the rear; a first should not list books published after the title-page year.

Is a book-club edition a Longman (Longmans, Green & Co.) first edition?

No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. One of the oldest English houses (founded 1724); published Macaulay, some Wordsworth, early Tennyson, shares in Scott, and major reference and scientific works.

What era does this cover?

This covers Longman (Longmans, Green & Co.) (1724–20th c. (this slice = 19th c.)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.