How to identify a first printing
- Stinehour was primarily a fine letterpress PRINTER for museums, institutions, scholarly publishers, and other presses rather than a limitation-issuing private press, so identification is by the printer's imprint/colophon ('Printed by The Stinehour Press') combined with the issuing publisher's own edition statement.
- Where Stinehour issued limited copies itself, the limitation appears in the colophon; otherwise treat the book as a trade or institutional publication and rely on the named publisher's edition statement, not the Stinehour name.
- Identify Stinehour craftsmanship by the colophon naming Stinehour, and for plate work frequently naming Meriden Gravure (the two firms collaborated for years before merging).
Notable points & cautions
- Founded by Roderick 'Rocky' Stinehour; the firm began as North Country Press and was renamed The Stinehour Press in 1953 after a cease-and-desist over the North Country Press name.
- Stinehour acquired/merged with the Meriden Gravure Company in 1977, forming Meriden-Stinehour; the Meriden, Connecticut operation closed in 1989 and equipment moved to Vermont. The press closed in 2008.
- Because Stinehour usually printed FOR others, the 'first edition' rule defaults to the named publisher; the Stinehour name signals fine printing and quality, not necessarily limitation.
- Catalogues, museum books, and bibliographies are the typical output; check the publisher line, not just the printer line.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: North Country Press (original 1950 name, abandoned 1953 after a naming dispute), Meriden-Stinehour (after the 1977 acquisition of/merger with Meriden Gravure Company; post-merger colophons may read Meriden-Stinehour). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my The Stinehour Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Stinehour was primarily a fine letterpress PRINTER for museums, institutions, scholarly publishers, and other presses rather than a limitation-issuing private press, so identification is by the printer's imprint/colophon ('Printed by The Stinehour Press') combined with the issuing publisher's own edition statement. Where Stinehour issued limited copies itself, the limitation appears in the colophon; otherwise treat the book as a trade or institutional publication and rely on the named publisher's edition statement, not the Stinehour name.
Does The Stinehour Press use a number line?
Where Stinehour issued limited copies itself, the limitation appears in the colophon; otherwise treat the book as a trade or institutional publication and rely on the named publisher's edition statement, not the Stinehour name.
Is a book-club edition a The Stinehour Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded by Roderick 'Rocky' Stinehour; the firm began as North Country Press and was renamed The Stinehour Press in 1953 after a cease-and-desist over the North Country Press name.
What era does this cover?
This covers The Stinehour Press (1953-2008). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.