How to identify a first printing
- c.1915–1920s: first editions state 'Published [Month, Year]' (or 'First Published [Month, Year]') on the copyright page; subsequent printings were noted.
- Later period (c.1930s–1940s): shifted toward stating 'First Edition' on the copyright page of first printings; subsequent printings noted.
- Working rule: a 'Published'/'First Published' month-and-year line with no added later-printing notice indicates the first printing.
Notable points & cautions
- Robert Medill McBride was a partner with Condé Nast in McBride, Nast & Co. before the partners separated (c.1915) and he ran Robert M. McBride & Company.
- Published James Branch Cabell's 'Jurgen' (1919), subject of a celebrated obscenity case, and Thorne Smith's 'Topper' (1926).
- Operated a London branch from the mid-1910s.
- Predecessor imprint 'McBride, Nast' dates a book to roughly 1911–1915.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: McBride, Nast & Company (predecessor, c.1911–1915), McBride, Winston & Company (early variant). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Robert M. McBride & Company book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. c.1915–1920s: first editions state 'Published [Month, Year]' (or 'First Published [Month, Year]') on the copyright page; subsequent printings were noted. Later period (c.1930s–1940s): shifted toward stating 'First Edition' on the copyright page of first printings; subsequent printings noted.
Does Robert M. McBride & Company use a number line?
Later period (c.1930s–1940s): shifted toward stating 'First Edition' on the copyright page of first printings; subsequent printings noted.
Is a book-club edition a Robert M. McBride & Company first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Robert Medill McBride was a partner with Condé Nast in McBride, Nast & Co. before the partners separated (c.1915) and he ran Robert M. McBride & Company.
What era does this cover?
This covers Robert M. McBride & Company (c.1915–1948 (predecessor McBride, Nast from c.1911)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.