How to identify a first printing
- First printings carry NO indication of first printing on the verso of the title page (copyright page); subsequent printings are explicitly marked 'Second Printing,' 'Third Printing,' etc. The reliable tell is the absence of any later-printing notice. (Confirmed by qbbooks and IOBA publisher-identification lists derived from Zempel & Verkler.)
- Title page is generally dated to match the copyright.
- After the 1930 Putnam merger, the Minton, Balch imprint continued to appear on some titles into the mid-1930s; for those, apply this same no-statement / reprint-noted convention, but be aware Putnam house practice governs the combined firm.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1924; Melville Minton and Earle Balch among the principals; built a quality literary and general list in the 1920s.
- Merged with G. P. Putnam's Sons in 1930 (after George Haven Putnam's death the Putnam heirs voted to merge; Minton, Balch became majority stockholders and Melville Minton became president). The imprint name nonetheless appeared on some books into the mid-1930s.
- Identification relies on the no-statement convention plus the dated imprint.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Minton, Balch & Co., Putnam – Minton, Balch (post-merger joint usage). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Minton, Balch & Company book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. First printings carry NO indication of first printing on the verso of the title page (copyright page); subsequent printings are explicitly marked 'Second Printing,' 'Third Printing,' etc. The reliable tell is the absence of any later-printing notice. (Confirmed by qbbooks and IOBA publisher-identification lists derived from Zempel & Verkler.) Title page is generally dated to match the copyright.
Does Minton, Balch & Company use a number line?
Title page is generally dated to match the copyright.
Is a book-club edition a Minton, Balch & Company first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1924; Melville Minton and Earle Balch among the principals; built a quality literary and general list in the 1920s.
What era does this cover?
This covers Minton, Balch & Company (1924–1930 (independent; imprint name persisted on some titles into the mid-1930s after the Putnam merger)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.