How to Identify a The Century Company First Edition

How to identify a first printing

• 19th-century rule: no consistent stated-edition convention — match the title-page date to the copyright date and confirm no later printing is noted.
• Many Century books originated as serials in The Century Magazine or St. Nicholas; the first book printing is dated on the title page and lacks reprint notices.
• The imprint name dates the book: predecessor 'Scribner & Co.' (1870-1881) versus 'The Century Co.' (1881 onward).

Notable points & cautions

• Began as Scribner & Co. (1870), a subsidiary of Charles Scribner's Sons; bought by Roswell Smith in 1881 and renamed The Century Co. after the Century Association.
• Publisher of St. Nicholas Magazine and the Century Magazine (the renamed Scribner's Monthly), the Century Dictionary, and the 10-volume Nicolay & Hay Abraham Lincoln.
• Merged with D. Appleton in 1933 to form Appleton-Century — the merger re-dates later imprints out of this slice.

Imprints

First editions also appear under: Scribner & Co. (1870-1881, predecessor), The Century Co. (1881 onward), St. Nicholas (magazine imprint), The Century Magazine (formerly Scribner's Monthly). Each generally follows the house convention above.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my The Century Company book is a first edition?

Check the copyright page. 19th-century rule: no consistent stated-edition convention — match the title-page date to the copyright date and confirm no later printing is noted. Many Century books originated as serials in The Century Magazine or St. Nicholas; the first book printing is dated on the title page and lacks reprint notices.

Does The Century Company use a number line?

Many Century books originated as serials in The Century Magazine or St. Nicholas; the first book printing is dated on the title page and lacks reprint notices.

Is a book-club edition a The Century Company first edition?

No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Began as Scribner & Co. (1870), a subsidiary of Charles Scribner's Sons; bought by Roswell Smith in 1881 and renamed The Century Co. after the Century Association.

What era does this cover?

This covers The Century Company (1881-1933 (independent); 19c + early 20c). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.