How to identify a first printing
- 1926-1960s (early Pelican era): No consistent first-edition slug. Treat a first printing as a single copyright-page date matching publication with no later-printing statement. The Pelican name and business passed through several owners in this period (founder John McClure, then Hodding Carter from 1967), so confirm you are looking at the New Orleans/Gretna Pelican before relying on any tell.
- 1970-2000s (Calhoun-family ownership, the classic Pelican era): Like many regional houses, Pelican commonly identified printings on the copyright page; where a number line is present the lowest number indicates the printing, and many titles add an explicit printing statement, with later printings noted line by line. Because perennial sellers were reprinted repeatedly, rely on a present low digit or a single first-printing statement rather than assuming any copy is a first.
- 2019-present (Arcadia Publishing ownership): Follows Arcadia's house convention - lowest digit present in the number line indicates the printing; imprint reads 'Pelican Publishing, a division of Arcadia Publishing.'
Notable points & cautions
- One of the oldest and largest Southern independents; founded in 1926 (rooted in the Pelican Bookshop on Royal Street, New Orleans) and run for decades by the Calhoun family from Gretna, Louisiana, after they bought it in 1970.
- Ownership lineage: founder John McClure, then Hodding Carter (1967), then brothers Milburn and James L. Calhoun (1970); Milburn's daughter Kathleen Calhoun Nettleton later led the house.
- Acquired by Arcadia Publishing in 2019.
- Broad list: Louisiana and Southern history, cookbooks, children's books, architecture, and Cajun/Creole culture, with many perennial sellers reprinted many times, so distinguishing printing from edition is critical.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Pelican Publishing Company, Arcadia Publishing (parent since 2019). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Pelican Publishing Company book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1926-1960s (early Pelican era): No consistent first-edition slug. Treat a first printing as a single copyright-page date matching publication with no later-printing statement. The Pelican name and business passed through several owners in this period (founder John McClure, then Hodding Carter from 1967), so confirm you are looking at the New Orleans/Gretna Pelican before relying on any tell. 1970-2000s (Calhoun-family ownership, the classic Pelican era): Like many regional houses, Pelican commonly identified printings on the copyright page; where a number line is present the lowest number indicates the printing, and many titles add an explicit printing statement, with later printings noted line by line. Because perennial sellers were reprinted repeatedly, rely on a present low digit or a single first-printing statement rather than assuming any copy is a first.
Does Pelican Publishing Company use a number line?
1970-2000s (Calhoun-family ownership, the classic Pelican era): Like many regional houses, Pelican commonly identified printings on the copyright page; where a number line is present the lowest number indicates the printing, and many titles add an explicit printing statement, with later printings noted line by line. Because perennial sellers were reprinted repeatedly, rely on a present low digit or a single first-printing statement rather than assuming any copy is a first.
Is a book-club edition a Pelican Publishing Company first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. One of the oldest and largest Southern independents; founded in 1926 (rooted in the Pelican Bookshop on Royal Street, New Orleans) and run for decades by the Calhoun family from Gretna, Louisiana, after they bought it in 1970.
What era does this cover?
This covers Pelican Publishing Company (1926-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.