A Printing History of Everyman's Library 1906-1982
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Austen, Jane (1775-1817). Presumably because her books were read so avidly, all the Austen titles are hard to locate in early editions, particularly in bright condition. Much of the information on first printings at Clay and the initial reset at the Temple Press is from David Gilson’s A Bibliography of Jane Austen, Oak Knoll, 1997. The Austen novels all follow the same printing pattern: first printing by Clay with short Johnson introduction, reset after 1908 at the Temple Press, expanded Johnson introduction in 1931, Lascelles new introduction in 1963-4. R. W. Chapman’s readings were used in the Lascelles edition to correct Nos. 21, 22, 23 and 24. There are several other more elegant Dent editions of the Austen novels. In addition to the predecessor volumes of 1892 (see below), there is a Charles Brock illustrated 1898 edition also edited by R. Brimley Johnson. The first Everyman editions generally use the short Brimley prefaces with some abridgment or alteration. P/ODP: 1892 Novels of Jane Austen in 10 volumes, edited by R. Brimley Johnson, illustrated by W. C. Cooke, ornaments by F. C. Tilney. All of the Everyman’s novels are included in this set with the exception of Sanditon. The Austen novels also appear in the Series of English Idylls, Brock illustrated edition. Another deluxe edition, illustrated by Maximilien Vox, was issued 1933-38 as The Works of Jane Austen. 24, Emma, (John Murray: London, 1816, 3 volumes), FIC, R. Brimley Johnson, Intro., [viii, 503]. First EML: [Jan 1906], Richard Clay & Sons. Scarcity: 5, (106,685), 933. PB: Y/1961. Printings (29): Jan 1906(1st), Apr 1906, Feb 1908, Dec 1911, reset at the Temple Press [vii, 395], May 1916, Jun 1919, 1922, 1926, 1927, 1930. 1931, full intro., Johnson, [xvii, 395], 1938, 1942, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962. 1964, new intro., Mary Lascelles, [xiv, 427], 1965P, 1970, 1973, 1976, 1980. Wrapper Art: 1) Modern Dress wrapper not seen. 2) 1964 LA drawing by Dodie Masterman. 3) 1965 PB drawing by Noel Fisher. 3) 1974 PB design shows detail from’Disappointed Love’ by Francis Danby. Special Bindings: Aldine, second leatherette, later leatherette, late Deluxe. Note: First printing is Gilson E110. 1964 printing is Gilson E357.
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About the Book
The total number of Everyman’s Library volumes that still survive somewhere in the world exceeds 70 million. Since the inception of the Library in 1906, nearly 1200 unique volumes have been published , constantly placing the world’s greatest books before a large public. A few of these titles proved unpopular and were never reprinted. But most were reprinted dozens of times, packaged in numerous ways, and benefited from updated editorial work and book design over the last century. Terry Seymour has studied and researched every aspect of this great mass of books. He now captures and distills this knowledge in A Printing History of Everyman’s Library 1906-1982. A critical feature, of course, is to update the various collecting factoids that have emerged since 2005 when his Guide to Collecting Everyman’s Library was published. The meat of the new book, however, is the Bibliographical Entries section. Each volume that has ever been printed receives its own entry, detailing every printing, each dust jacket variation, any new introductions, updated scarcity numbers, and all relevant notes. Typically an entry contains at least six lines of information, but often much more. In essence, each entry is a story written exclusively about each volume. Armed with this resource, collectors and booksellers can know reliably everything about the Everyman’s Library volume that sits on their shelf or is ready to be purchased or sold. They will see how a book fits into the total printing history of that title, and be able to describe and value the book with precision. To further enhance the value of this book, color images illustrate all of the key collecting points. An extensive index of editors, translators and artists is now included. Not just a solo effort, the Printing History has been vetted by other expert collectors, ensuring greater accuracy and comprehensiveness.
About the Author
Terry Seymour spends his days amidst books. He collects books and writes books. Sometimes he even gets to read for a while, although it’s usually just to check a fact or extract a key bit of information. During the warm weather months he lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, Adrienne. For the other half of the year they are in Florida. Geography can cause him problems: the book he needs right now is invariably a thousand miles away. The solution, of course, is simple. Own two copies of every important book. He has collected, written, held exhibitions and lectured about Everyman’s Library since 1991. His first work on the topic, A Guide to Collecting Everyman’s Library, published in early 2005, continues to inform the collecting and bookselling community and is still in print. His other current writing projects include the reconstruction of James Boswell’s personal library, a checklist of various series published by J. M. Dent, a catalogue of the Thomas Ruddiman library, and a bibliography of the works of Ernest Rhys.