How to identify a first printing
- 1789–1830s: the official Methodist Episcopal publishing house, founded by John Dickins, with books carrying the imprint of the current Book Agents rather than the words 'Methodist Book Concern' as such. Identify the period by the agent partnership named on the title page; there is no first-edition statement (use the dated title page where one is present).
- 1840s–1890s: the imprint cycles through successive agents — in New York: Lane & Scott, Carlton & Phillips, Carlton & Porter, Carlton & Lanahan, Nelson & Phillips, Phillips & Hunt, Hunt & Eaton, Eaton & Mains; in the Western/Cincinnati house: Swormstedt & Poe, Poe & Hitchcock, Hitchcock & Walden, Walden & Stowe, Cranston & Stowe, Cranston & Curts, Curts & Jennings. The agent-name pair on the title page is the primary dating tool, since each partnership brackets a known span (e.g., Carlton & Porter dissolved in 1872).
- First printing is otherwise identified by the dated title page and the absence of a later-printing notice; there is no formal 'First Edition' statement. New York and Cincinnati issues of the same title may be simultaneous, so priority generally cannot be assigned.
- Hymnals and Disciplines are dated by year and by the General Conference revision they reflect, so the revision year effectively functions as the edition.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1789 (by John Dickins); one of America's oldest and largest publishers, the official press of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with a Western (Cincinnati) house authorized by the 1820 General Conference.
- Constantly changing Book Agent partnership imprints are the key to dating — each pair (e.g., 'Carlton & Porter,' 'Cranston & Stowe') corresponds to a defined date range.
- Reorganized into the Methodist Publishing House / Abingdon Press in the 20th century.
- Vast devotional, hymnal, and Sunday-school output; textual firsts are rarely tracked, and imprint dating dominates.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Methodist Book Concern, Carlton & Phillips / Carlton & Porter / Carlton & Lanahan (NY agents), Hitchcock & Walden / Cranston & Stowe / Cranston & Curts (Cincinnati/Western agents), Eaton & Mains (NY, late 19c), Curts & Jennings. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Methodist Book Concern book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1789–1830s: the official Methodist Episcopal publishing house, founded by John Dickins, with books carrying the imprint of the current Book Agents rather than the words 'Methodist Book Concern' as such. Identify the period by the agent partnership named on the title page; there is no first-edition statement (use the dated title page where one is present). 1840s–1890s: the imprint cycles through successive agents — in New York: Lane & Scott, Carlton & Phillips, Carlton & Porter, Carlton & Lanahan, Nelson & Phillips, Phillips & Hunt, Hunt & Eaton, Eaton & Mains; in the Western/Cincinnati house: Swormstedt & Poe, Poe & Hitchcock, Hitchcock & Walden, Walden & Stowe, Cranston & Stowe, Cranston & Curts, Curts & Jennings. The agent-name pair on the title page is the primary dating tool, since each partnership brackets a known span (e.g., Carlton & Porter dissolved in 1872).
Does Methodist Book Concern use a number line?
1840s–1890s: the imprint cycles through successive agents — in New York: Lane & Scott, Carlton & Phillips, Carlton & Porter, Carlton & Lanahan, Nelson & Phillips, Phillips & Hunt, Hunt & Eaton, Eaton & Mains; in the Western/Cincinnati house: Swormstedt & Poe, Poe & Hitchcock, Hitchcock & Walden, Walden & Stowe, Cranston & Stowe, Cranston & Curts, Curts & Jennings. The agent-name pair on the title page is the primary dating tool, since each partnership brackets a known span (e.g., Carlton & Porter dissolved in 1872).
Is a book-club edition a Methodist Book Concern first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1789 (by John Dickins); one of America's oldest and largest publishers, the official press of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with a Western (Cincinnati) house authorized by the 1820 General Conference.
What era does this cover?
This covers Methodist Book Concern (1789–early 1900s (as Methodist Book Concern)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.