How to identify a first printing
- c.1848–1872: Chicago bookseller-publisher; first editions carry the 'S.C. Griggs & Co., Chicago' imprint with a dated title page. No first-edition statement and no number line — identify by imprint form and the absence of a later-printing notice.
- Note the lineage: after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 Griggs sold out and the firm became Jansen, McClurg & Co. in 1872, which in turn became A.C. McClurg & Co. in 1886. The imprint name on the title page is the dating handle that separates the Griggs period from its McClurg successors.
- Scholarly/philosophical titles (Griggs's Philosophical Classics series): identify by series and dated title page.
Notable points & cautions
- Early Chicago bookselling/publishing firm in the corporate ancestry of A.C. McClurg; A.C. McClurg himself worked for Griggs from 1859.
- Published a respected Philosophical Classics series; standard 19th-century imprint/date identification applies.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: S.C. Griggs & Co., Jansen, McClurg & Co. (successor lineage to A.C. McClurg). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my S.C. Griggs & Co. / Jansen, McClurg lineage book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. c.1848–1872: Chicago bookseller-publisher; first editions carry the 'S.C. Griggs & Co., Chicago' imprint with a dated title page. No first-edition statement and no number line — identify by imprint form and the absence of a later-printing notice. Note the lineage: after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 Griggs sold out and the firm became Jansen, McClurg & Co. in 1872, which in turn became A.C. McClurg & Co. in 1886. The imprint name on the title page is the dating handle that separates the Griggs period from its McClurg successors.
Does S.C. Griggs & Co. / Jansen, McClurg lineage use a number line?
Note the lineage: after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 Griggs sold out and the firm became Jansen, McClurg & Co. in 1872, which in turn became A.C. McClurg & Co. in 1886. The imprint name on the title page is the dating handle that separates the Griggs period from its McClurg successors.
Is a book-club edition a S.C. Griggs & Co. / Jansen, McClurg lineage first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Early Chicago bookselling/publishing firm in the corporate ancestry of A.C. McClurg; A.C. McClurg himself worked for Griggs from 1859.
What era does this cover?
This covers S.C. Griggs & Co. / Jansen, McClurg lineage (1848–1872 (as S.C. Griggs & Co.)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.