How to identify a first printing
- Big Little Books, 1932–1938: the format launched in 1932 with The Adventures of Dick Tracy Detective. There is no printed first-printing statement. Identify earlier issues by the assigned series number (low numbers run earlier), the original cover price (typically ten cents), the absence of later cover redesigns, and the title-ad lists printed inside the covers and on the back — an ad list that names only earlier titles points to an earlier printing. No number line.
- Better Little Books, 1938–1949: the series was renamed Better Little Books in 1938 and last issued about 1949. The same logic applies — series number, ad lists, price, and cover/format state. No printed first-edition statement.
- Whitman storybooks and Tell-A-Tale, 1940s–1960s: these carry a copyright date and often a small code. First printings usually lack an explicit first-edition line; later books adopt Western's letter/number print codes.
- Western Publishing letter codes, c.1950s–1980s: Whitman/Western storybooks adopted alphanumeric printing codes. An embedded code (rather than a number line) is the norm, as on the related Little Golden Books line, and a later-printing code or note distinguishes reprints.
- Whitman Authorized/TV Editions, 1950s–1970s: licensed-character hardcovers identified by copyright year and the earliest title list on the rear endpaper or jacket flap. No number line.
Notable points & cautions
- Whitman, a subsidiary of Western Printing & Lithographing of Racine, WI (Whitman acquired 1916; Western itself founded 1907), originated the Big Little Book format in 1932 — a small, thick book pairing a captioned illustration opposite each page of text.
- Big Little Books were renamed Better Little Books in 1938; the format ended about 1949.
- Western Printing also produced Little Golden Books in partnership with Simon & Schuster (launched 1942) — the same Racine operation underlies both lines.
- Key Big Little Book dating tells: series number, ten-cent price, and the title-ad lists printed inside the covers and on the back.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Whitman, Big Little Books, Better Little Books, Whitman Tell-A-Tale Books, Whitman Cozy Corner, Top Top Tales, Western Publishing. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Whitman Publishing Company (Western Printing & Lithographing) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Big Little Books, 1932–1938: the format launched in 1932 with The Adventures of Dick Tracy Detective. There is no printed first-printing statement. Identify earlier issues by the assigned series number (low numbers run earlier), the original cover price (typically ten cents), the absence of later cover redesigns, and the title-ad lists printed inside the covers and on the back — an ad list that names only earlier titles points to an earlier printing. No number line. Better Little Books, 1938–1949: the series was renamed Better Little Books in 1938 and last issued about 1949. The same logic applies — series number, ad lists, price, and cover/format state. No printed first-edition statement.
Does Whitman Publishing Company (Western Printing & Lithographing) use a number line?
Better Little Books, 1938–1949: the series was renamed Better Little Books in 1938 and last issued about 1949. The same logic applies — series number, ad lists, price, and cover/format state. No printed first-edition statement.
Is a book-club edition a Whitman Publishing Company (Western Printing & Lithographing) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Whitman, a subsidiary of Western Printing & Lithographing of Racine, WI (Whitman acquired 1916; Western itself founded 1907), originated the Big Little Book format in 1932 — a small, thick book pairing a captioned illustration opposite each page of text.
What era does this cover?
This covers Whitman Publishing Company (Western Printing & Lithographing) (1916–1980s (Big Little Books 1932–1949)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.