How to identify a first printing
- 1846–c.1900 (founder era; French's Standard / Minor Drama): founded in 1846, publishing paperbound acting editions. Identify by the series number (French's Standard Drama No. ___ or French's Minor Drama No. ___) on the cover or title page; this catalog number, together with the partner imprint, dates the issue. The 1859 partnership with Thomas Hailes Lacy (whose Lacy's Acting Edition was acquired) and French's later purchase of Lacy's share in 1873 mean that pre-1859, 1859–1873, and post-1873 imprint wording is a dating tell.
- c.1900–c.1970: acting editions continue with series and catalog numbers; printings within a number are not distinguished. Date by the publisher address, the list of plays or advertisements at the rear, and the copyright year. 'Made in the United States of America' and a cover price help bracket the era.
- c.1970–2018 (modern acting-edition era): standardized paperbound acting editions with royalty notices; copyright-year accretion (added revision dates) and back-cover royalty and contact text are the practical dating tells. Printings are generally not bibliographically distinguished.
- 2018–present (Concord Theatricals ownership): Samuel French was acquired by Concord Music in December 2018, forming Concord Theatricals; acting editions are now branded 'Samuel French ... A Concord Theatricals Company' with updated covers. Format and identification conventions are unchanged; the Concord branding marks post-2018 issues.
Notable points & cautions
- Oldest and largest play-licensing publisher (since 1846); the acting edition is often the first printed text of a play, hence bibliographically important despite its humble format.
- The series or catalog number (French's Standard Drama / Minor Drama No. ___) is the core identifier, not a number line.
- The 1859 Lacy partnership (and French's 1873 buyout of Lacy's share) and the December 2018 Concord acquisition are the key imprint-wording era boundaries.
- The UK arm, Samuel French Ltd., operated in parallel with its own acting-edition numbering.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: French's Standard Drama, French's Minor Drama, French's American Drama, Samuel French's Acting Edition, Lacy's Acting Edition (acquired). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Samuel French, Inc. book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. 1846–c.1900 (founder era; French's Standard / Minor Drama): founded in 1846, publishing paperbound acting editions. Identify by the series number (French's Standard Drama No. ___ or French's Minor Drama No. ___) on the cover or title page; this catalog number, together with the partner imprint, dates the issue. The 1859 partnership with Thomas Hailes Lacy (whose Lacy's Acting Edition was acquired) and French's later purchase of Lacy's share in 1873 mean that pre-1859, 1859–1873, and post-1873 imprint wording is a dating tell. c.1900–c.1970: acting editions continue with series and catalog numbers; printings within a number are not distinguished. Date by the publisher address, the list of plays or advertisements at the rear, and the copyright year. 'Made in the United States of America' and a cover price help bracket the era.
Does Samuel French, Inc. use a number line?
c.1900–c.1970: acting editions continue with series and catalog numbers; printings within a number are not distinguished. Date by the publisher address, the list of plays or advertisements at the rear, and the copyright year. 'Made in the United States of America' and a cover price help bracket the era.
Is a book-club edition a Samuel French, Inc. first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Oldest and largest play-licensing publisher (since 1846); the acting edition is often the first printed text of a play, hence bibliographically important despite its humble format.
What era does this cover?
This covers Samuel French, Inc. (1846–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.