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Four Children's Books by A. A. Milne by John R. Payne
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Four Children's Books by A. A. Milne
by
John R. Payne [*]

If a writer, why not write
On whatever comes in sight?
So — the Children's Books: a short
Intermezzo of a sort:
When I wrote them, little thinking
All my years of pen-and-inking
Would be almost lost among
Those four trifles for the young.[1]

This brief comment on A. A. Milne's literary career is perhaps more apt today than when he wrote it in 1952. He was never happy to be considered a children's author but preferred to be known as a dramatist. After his studies at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he edited the undergraduate paper, The Granta, Milne's career developed in three definite stages. After graduation he free-lanced for three years before accepting the assistant editorship of Punch in 1906. He contributed many of the light verses and essays that appeared in that magazine for the following eight years and thereby established his reputation as a journalist and humorist.

With the advent of World War I, Milne joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and for the first time found the leisure to write plays. It was to the drama that Milne was most devoted and therein that he made his strongest claim for literary distinction. He became one of England's successful post-War dramatists with such plays as Mr. Pim Passes By, The Dover Road and The Truth about Blayds.

The third stage in Milne's career was inspired by his son, Christopher


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Robin, and was begun by a request for a contribution to a children's magazine in 1923. After declining because he felt that children's literature was not in his line, Milne submitted "The Dormouse and the Doctor" and was unknowingly on his way to becoming famous as a writer for children. Other verses were added to "The Dormouse" and published in 1924 as When We Were Very Young. The popular success of this volume led inevitably to Winnie-the-Pooh (1926), a second volume of nonsense rhymes, Now We Are Six (1927), and another Pooh book, The House at Pooh Corner (1928). Following publication of When We Were Very Young, Milne tried in vain to make the playwright keep up with the children's author. He hated being referred to as "whimsical" and resented being remembered primarily for his light verse. Regardless of his wishes, however, it seems certain that the four books described in this paper will remain his most famous works and the basis of his literary reputation.[2]

I

Printing orders were given for When We Were Very Young on 17 September, 1924 for 110 large paper copies on hand-made paper and 5140 regular trade copies. The printing of the trade copies was completed by 5 November (with 35 overs) and bound, along with 10 traveller's samples, between 21 October and 2 December, 1924.[3] One hundred thirteen copies on hand-made paper were printed by 3 October. Publication date was 6 November, 1924, and a copy of the limited printing was registered for copyright in the British Museum on 11 November.

Of importance to collectors is the presence or absence of printed end-papers in copies of this first printing. It is often quoted that printed end-papers are present in some regular trade copies and absent in others, the inference being that those copies with plain end-papers are an earlier issue. The records show, however, that printed end-papers were not ordered until 18 November, six days after the second trade impression had been ordered, and were first used in copies of the second impression. Thus the complete first impression has plain white


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end-papers, and the use of printed end-papers began only with the second impression.

When We Were Very Young was enthusiastically received, and on 7 November electroplates were made for further printings. On 12 November a second trade impression of 5182 copies was ordered, and this was followed by four additional printings during 1924 totaling 43,843 copies. These same plates were used through the 15th printing of 7 December, 1926. On 2 June, 1927 and again on 13 December, 1940, type was reset and new electroplates were made.

The publishers have not distinguished between "edition" and "impression" in their production records; each new printing is called a new "edition." By McKerrow's definitions of edition and impression[4] the printing of 12 November, 1924 is actually the second impression of the first edition, even though it is the first printing from the first set of electroplates. Likewise, those books of the "16th edition" are actually the first impression of the second edition, printed from the second set of electroplates prepared on 2 June, 1927. And books designated as "32nd edition" are the first impression of the third edition, printed from the third set of electroplates prepared on 13 December, 1940.

A summary of the printing of each of the four books under discussion will be found in the table at the end. Information includes: 1) title and edition; 2) dates of the original setting of type and subsequent electroplates; 3) dates printing was ordered; 4) number of copies printed.

The success of When We Were Very Young resulted in a second children's book, Winnie-the-Pooh. Methuen's confidence in Winnie is evidenced by their ordering two sets of electroplates before printing had begun. This was on 13 August, 1926. Three days later printing orders were given for 365 large paper copies on hand-made paper and 24 copies on Japanese vellum. These were advertised as 350 on hand-made paper and 20 on Japanese vellum. 35,000 regular trade copies were ordered printed on 17 August. Of these, 30,000 were printed by 31 August and ordered bound the same day. These were received from the binder, along with 11 traveller's samples, between 3 September and 13 October, 1926. They were placed on sale 14 October, 1926, and one of the 24 copies on Japanese vellum was registered for copyright in the British Museum on 3 November.


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An additional 3000 copies of the first trade impression were printed by 11 September and ordered bound in red, blue, and green leather by Burn the same day. It was not until 8 October, 1926, that printing was completed for the remaining 2000 trade copies (with 67 overs), along with the 365 copies on hand-made paper (with 7 overs), and the 24 copies on Japanese vellum (with 3 overs). Binding was completed for the regular trade copies by 20 October; the copies on hand-made paper by 29 October; and the copies on Japanese vellum by 18 November.

The same set of electroplates was used through the 27th impression of 26 November, 1941. Type was reset, new electroplates made, and the first impression of the second edition was ordered printed on 9 March, 1942. This is called the "28th edition" by Methuen. The old electroplates were melted down on 23 March and the second setting of type was distributed on 28 September, 1942.

Now We Are Six was Milne's next children's book. Electroplates were made of the first type setting on 21 July, 1927. On 3 August printing orders were given for 50,000 regular trade copies, 218 large paper copies on hand-made paper, and 26 copies on Japanese vellum. By 23 August printing was completed for 40,000 trade copies and the complete impressions on vellum and hand-made paper.[5] On the same day all copies were ordered bound. The trade copies were bound and returned to Methuen between 28 May and 6 October, 1927. The copies on hand-made paper were bound between 1 September and 7 October, and the copies on Japanese vellum between 14 September and 1 October. Publication date was 13 October, 1927, and one of the 26 copies on Japanese vellum was registered for copyright at the British Museum on the same day.

Of the remaining 10,000 regular trade copies, 5048 were ordered bound in cloth on 10 September and were received from the binder between 6 October and 15 October. The final 5000 trade copies were ordered bound in leather by Ship Binding Company on 13 September: 1500 copies each in blue and green leather, and 2000 copies in red. Binding was completed between 17 September, 1927 and 2 November, 1928.

The same set of electroplates was used through the 18th impression of 9 March, 1942. Type was reset, new electroplates made, and the first impression of the second edition was ordered printed on 9 June, 1942. This is called the "19th edition" by Methuen. Type was distributed


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on 28 September, 1942, and the old electroplates were melted down on 8 October, 1942.

The last of Milne's books to be discussed is The House at Pooh Corner. Electroplates were made of the first type setting on 14 August, 1928. Printing orders were given the same day for 75,000 regular trade copies, 360 copies on hand-made paper, and 28 copies on Japanese vellum. Forty-five thousand one hundred seventy-seven trade copies were printed by 23 August and ordered bound the same day. The binding of these, along with 300 traveller's samples, was completed between 23 June and 31 October.

By 7 September, 25,100 additional trade copies had been printed. Twenty thousand of these were ordered bound the same day by Ship Binding Company and were completed by 27 November. Also on 7 September an additional binding order went out to Ship for 4000 trade copies to be bound in leather: 1200 in blue, 1200 in green, and 1600 in red. Binding of these 4000 copies was completed by 3 October, 1929.

By 10 September the 28 special copies on Japanese vellum and the 360 copies on hand-made paper (with 13 overs) had been printed and ordered bound. The Japanese vellum copies were bound by 10 October and the copies on hand-made paper by 11 October. Publication date was 11 October, 1928, and one of the 28 copies on Japanese vellum was registered for copyright at the British Museum on 17 October.

On 11 October an additional binding order for 4524 trade copies was given to Ship. These were returned by 4 January, 1929. A final binding order was given on 4 January, 1929, for 150 trade copies to be bound in blue leather. These were completed by 12 February, 1929.

The same set of electroplates was used through the 16th impression of 9 March, 1942. Type was reset, new electroplates made, and the first impression of the second edition was ordered printed on 9 June, 1942. This is called the "17th edition" by Methuen.

II. WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG

    I A. First edition, regular trade copies: 1924

  • WHEN WE WERE ∣ VERY YOUNG BY ∣ A. A. MILNE WITH ∣ DECORATIONS BY ∣ ERNEST H. SHEPARD ∣ [illustration] ∣ METHUEN & CO. LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET ∣ LONDON W. C.
  • Collation: π6 [1]8 2-58 62 (61+78); pp. [i-vi] vii-x [xi-xii] 1-99 [100]; 189 x 127 mm.; printed on thick wove paper.

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  • Contents: p. i, half-title 'WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG'; p. ii, frontispiece; p. iii, title; p. iv, 'First Published in 1924 ∣ PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN'; p. v, dedication to Christopher Robin Milne; p. vi, blank; pp. vii-viii, author's note; pp. ix-x, contents; at end of contents "Vespers,' being in the library of the Queen's Dolls' House, is printed ∣ here by special permission.'; p. xi, fly-title 'WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG'; p. xii, blank; pp. 1-100, text; at foot of p. 100 '[short rule] Printed by Jarrold & Sons Ltd. Norwich'.
  • Illustrations: Pen and ink drawings by Ernest H. Shepard throughout text.
  • Binding: Smooth blue cloth. Figures of Little Bo Peep, the King, and John stamped in gilt on front cover, enclosed within a gilt single rule border; spine stamped in gilt '[double rule] ∣ WHEN ∣ WE WERE ∣ VERY ∣ YOUNG ∣ ‧ ∣ A. A. ∣ MILNE ∣ METHUEN ∣ [double rule]'; figure of Christopher Robin stamped in gilt in lower right corner of back cover. Top edge gilt, others untrimmed, white wove end-papers. Cream wove dust jacket printed in blue.
  • Variant: Texas copy, p. ix, not numbered.
  • Copies examined: Lilly Library; Texas (3)

    I B. First edition, large paper copies on hand-made paper: 1924

  • WHEN WE WERE ∣ VERY YOUNG BY ∣ A. A. MILNE WITH ∣ DECORATIONS BY ∣ ERNEST H. SHEPARD ∣ [illustration] ∣ METHUEN & CO. LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET ∣ LONDON W. C.

  • Collation: π6 1-58 62 (61+78); pp. [i-vi] vii-viii [ix-xii] 1-99 [100]; 222 x 178 mm.; printed on hand-made paper, watermark: 'A. MILLBURN & C° ∣ BRITISH HANDMADE'.
  • Contents: p. i, half-title 'WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG'; p. ii, frontispiece; p. iii, title; p. iv, 'This Edition on Hand-made Paper, published in 1924, islimited to 100 numbered and signed copies of which this isNo. 15 ∣ A: A: Milne ∣ Ernest H. Shepard [autograph number and signatures in blue ink] ∣ PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN'; p. v, dedication to Christopher Robin Milne; p. vi, blank; pp. vii-viii, author's note; pp. ix-x, contents; at end of contents "Vespers,' being in the library of the Queen's Dolls' House, is printed ∣ here by special permission.'; p. xi, fly-title 'WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG'; p. xii, blank; pp. 1-100, text; at bottom of p. 100 '[short rule] ∣ Printed by Jarrold & Sons Ltd. Norwich'.
  • Illustrations: Pen and ink drawings by Ernest H. Shepard throughout text.
  • Binding: Half maroon cloth, light gray paper boards, white paper label

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    printed in black '[within a single rule border] WHEN WE ∣ WERE ∣ VERY YOUNG ∣ BY ∣ A. A. MILNE ∣ DECORATIONS BY ∣ E. H. SHEPARD ∣ Methuen & Co. Ltd. London'. All edges untrimmed, white wove end-papers. Blue wove dust jacket printed in blue.
  • Copies examined: Texas (2)

    WINNIE-THE-POOH
    II A. First edition, regular trade copies: 1926

  • WINNIE-THE-POOH ∣ BY A. A. MILNE WITH ∣ DECORATIONS BY ∣ ERNEST H. SHEPARD ∣ [illustration] ∣ METHUEN & CO. LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET ∣ LONDON W. C.

  • Collation: π8 1-108; pp. [i-viii] ix-xi [xii-xvi] 1-158 [159-160]; 189 x 125 mm.; printed on wove paper.
  • Contents: pp. i-ii, blank; p. iii, half-title 'WINNIE-THE-POOH'; p. iv, list of books by the same author and artist (one title); p. v, title; p. vi, 'First Published in 1926 ∣ [publisher's device] ∣ PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN'; p. vii, dedication to Her; p. viii, illustration; pp. ix-x, author's introduction; p. xi, contents; p. xii, blank; p. xiii, fly-title 'WINNIE-THE-POOH'; pp. xiv-xv, blank; p. xvi, illustration; pp. 1-158, text; p. 159, illustration; p. 160, 'PRINTED BY ∣ JARROLD AND SONS LTD. ∣ NORWICH'.
  • Illustrations: Pen and ink drawings by Ernest H. Shepard throughout text.
  • Binding: Smooth green cloth. Figures of Christopher Robin and Pooh stamped in gilt on front cover, enclosed within a gilt single rule border; spine stamped in gilt '[double rule] ∣ WINNIE ∣ THE ∣ POOH ∣ ‧ ∣ A. A. ∣ MILNE ∣ METHUEN ∣ [double rule]'. Top edge gilt, others untrimmed; map end-papers printed in black on off-white wove paper. Orange wove dust jacket printed in black.
  • Copies examined: Lilly Library (2); Texas (2); New York Public Library

    II B. First edition, large paper copies on hand-made paper: 1926

  • WINNIE-THE-POOH ∣ BY A. A. MILNE WITH ∣ DECORATIONS BY ∣ ERNEST H. SHEPARD ∣ [illustration] ∣ METHUEN & CO. LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET ∣ LONDON W. C.

  • Collation: π8 1-108; pp. [i-viii] ix-xi [xii-xvi] 1-158 [159-160]; 222 x 178 mm.; printed on hand-made paper, watermark: 'A. MILLBURN & C° ∣ BRITISH HANDMADE'.

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  • Contents: pp. i-ii, blank; p. iii, half-title 'WINNIE-THE-POOH'; p. iv, list of books by the same author and artist (one title); p. v, title; p. vi, 'This Edition on Hand-made Paper, published in 1926, islimited to 350 numbered and signed copies, of which this isNo. 267 ∣ A: A: Milne ∣ Ernest H. Shepard [autograph number and signatures in blue ink] ∣ PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN'; p. vii, dedication to Her; p. viii, illustration; pp. ix-x, author's introduction; p. xi, contents; p. xii, blank; p. xiii, fly-title 'WINNIE-THE-POOH'; pp. xiv-xv, blank; p. xvi, illustration; pp. 1-158, text; p. 159, illustration; p. 160, 'PRINTED BY ∣ JARROLD AND SONS LTD. ∣ NORWICH'; fold out map.
  • Illustrations: Pen and ink drawings by Ernest H. Shepard throughout text.
  • Binding: Half blue cloth, light blue paper boards, white paper label printed in black '[within a single rule border] WINNIE- ∣ THE-POOH ∣ BY ∣ A. A. MILNE ∣ DECORATIONS BY ∣ E. H. SHEPARD ∣ Methuen & Co. Ltd. London'. All edges untrimmed, white wove end-papers. Light blue wove dust jacket printed in blue.
  • Copies examined: Texas (3)

    II C. First edition, Japanese vellum copies: 1926

  • WINNIE-THE-POOH ∣ BY A. A. MILNE WITH ∣ DECORATIONS BY ∣ ERNEST H. SHEPARD ∣ [illustration] ∣ METHUEN & CO. LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET ∣ LONDON W. C.

  • Collation: π8 1-108; pp. [i-viii] ix-xi [xii-xvi] 1-158 [159-160]; 221 x 175 mm.; printed on Japanese vellum.
  • Contents: pp. i-ii, blank; p. iii, half-title 'WINNIE-THE-POOH'; p. iv, list of books by the same author and artist (one title); p. v, title; p. vi, 'This Edition on Japanese Vellum, published in 1926, islimited to 20 numbered and signed copies, of which this isNo. 6 ∣ A: A: Milne ∣ Ernest H. Shepard [number and autograph signatures in blue ink] ∣ PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN'; p. vii, dedication to Her; p. viii, illustration; pp. ix-x, author's introduction; p. xi, contents; p. xii, blank; p. xiii, fly-title 'WINNIE-THE-POOH'; pp. xiv-xv, blank; p. xvi, illustration; pp. 1-158, text; p. 159, illustration; p. 160, 'PRINTED BY ∣ JARROLD AND SONS LTD. ∣ NORWICH'; fold out map.
  • Illustrations: Pen and ink drawings by Ernest H. Shepard throughout text.
  • Binding: Full vellum stamped in gilt on front cover 'WINNIE-THE-POOH ∣ A. A. Milne'; all edges untrimmed, Japanese vellum end-papers.

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  • Copies examined: Description checked against copy in Kerlan Collection, Walter Library, University of Minnesota.

    NOW WE ARE SIX
    III A. First edition, regular trade copies: 1927

  • NOW WE ARE SIX ∣ BY A. A. MILNE WITH ∣ DECORATIONS BY ∣ ERNEST H. SHEPARD ∣ [illustration] ∣ METHUEN & CO. LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET ∣ LONDON W. C.

  • Collation: [1]8 2-68 72 (71+88); pp. [i-vi] vii-x [xi-xii] 1-103 [104]; 190 x 126 mm.; printed on thick wove paper.
  • Contents: p. i, half-title 'NOW WE ARE SIX'; p. ii, list of books by the same author and artist (five titles); p. iii, title; p. iv, 'First Published in 1927 ∣ PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN'; p. v, dedication to Anne Darlington; p. vi, blank; pp. vii-viii, author's introduction; pp. ix-x, contents; p. xi, fly-title 'NOW WE ARE SIX'; p. xii, blank; pp. 1-102, text; p. 103, illustration; p. 104, 'PRINTED BY ∣ JARROLD AND SONS LTD. ∣ NORWICH'.
  • Illustrations: Pen and ink drawings by Ernest H. Shepard throughout text.
  • Binding: Smooth rose cloth. Figure of Christopher Robin playing with a toy train stamped in gilt on front cover, enclosed within a gilt single rule border; spine stamped in gilt '[double rule] ∣ NOW ∣ WE ∣ ARE ∣ SIX ∣ ‧ ∣ A. A. ∣ MILNE ∣ METHUEN ∣ [double rule]'; figures of Piglet and Pooh at ticket window stamped in gilt in lower right corner of back cover. Top edge gilt, others untrimmed; pink wove end-papers with illustrations printed in blue. Light green wove dust jacket printed in blue.
  • Copies examined: Lilly Library (2); Texas (4); New York Public Library

    III B. First edition, large paper copies on hand-made paper: 1927

  • NOW WE ARE SIX ∣ BY A. A. MILNE WITH ∣ DECORATIONS BY ∣ ERNEST H. SHEPARD ∣ [illustration] ∣ METHUEN & CO. LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET ∣ LONDON W. C.

  • Collation: [1]8 2-78 84; pp. [2] [i-vi] vii-x [xi-xii] 1-103 [104] [2]; 222 x 178 mm.; printed on hand-made paper, watermark: 'A. MILLBURN & C° ∣ BRITISH HANDMADE'.
  • Contents: [2]; p. i, half-title 'NOW WE ARE SIX'; p. ii, blank; p. iii, title; p. iv, 'This Edition on Hand-made Paper, published in 1927, islimited to 200 numbered and signed copies, of which this isNo. 13 ∣ A:

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    A: Milne ∣ Ernest H. Shepard [autograph number and signatures in blue ink] ∣ PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN'; p. v, dedication to Anne Darlington; p. vi, blank; pp. vii-viii, author's introduction; pp. ix-x, contents; p. xi, fly-title 'NOW WE ARE SIX'; p. xii, blank; pp. 1-102, text; p. 103, illustration; p. 104, 'PRINTED BY ∣ JARROLD AND SONS LTD. ∣ NORWICH'; [2].
  • Illustrations: Pen and ink drawings by Ernest H. Shepard throughout text.
  • Binding: Half tan cloth, brownish-orange paper boards. White paper label printed in black '[within a single rule border] NOW WE ARE ∣ SIX ∣ BY ∣ A. A. MILNE ∣ DECORATIONS BY ∣ E. H. SHEPARD ∣ Methuen & Co. Ltd. London'. All edges untrimmed, white wove end-papers. Light blue wove dust jacket. Extra paper label tipped in back.
  • Copies examined: Texas

    III C. First edition, Japanese vellum copies: [*] 1927

  • NOW WE ARE SIX ∣ BY A. A. MILNE WITH ∣ DECORATIONS BY ∣ ERNEST H. SHEPARD ∣ [illustration] ∣ METHUEN & CO. LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET ∣ LONDON W. C.

  • Collation: [1]8 2-78 84; pp. [2] [i-vi] vii-x [xi-xii] 1-103 [104] [2]; 221 x 175 mm.; printed on Japanese vellum.
  • Contents: [2]; p. i, half-title 'NOW WE ARE SIX'; p. ii, blank; p. iii, title; p. iv, 'This Edition on Japanese Vellum, published in 1927, islimited to 20 numbered and signed copies, of which this isNo. 16 ∣ A: A: Milne ∣ Ernest H. Shepard [autograph number and Shepard's signature in blue ink; Milne's signature in black ink] ∣ PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN'; p. v, dedication to Anne Darlington; p. vi, blank; pp. vii-viii, author's introduction; pp. ix-x, contents; p. xi, fly-title 'NOW WE ARE SIX'; p. xii, blank; pp. 1-102, text; p. 103, illustration; p. 104, 'PRINTED BY ∣ JARROLD AND SONS LTD. ∣ NORWICH'. [2].
  • Illustrations: Pen and ink drawings by Ernest H. Shepard throughout text.
  • Binding: Full vellum stamped in gilt on front cover 'NOW WE ARE SIX ∣ A. A. MILNE'; all edges untrimmed, Japanese vellum end-papers.
  • Copies examined: Alfred C. Berol

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    THE HOUSE AT POOH CORNER
    IV A. First edition, regular trade copies: 1928

  • THE HOUSE AT POOH ∣ CORNER BY A. A. MILNE ∣ WITH DECORATIONS ∣ BY ERNEST H. SHEPARD ∣ METHUEN & CO. LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET ∣ LONDON W C.

  • Collation: π8 1-118; pp. [i-vi] vii [viii] ix-xi [xii] 1-178 [179-180]; 189 x 123 mm.; printed on wove paper.
  • Contents: p. i, half-title 'THE HOUSE AT POOH CORNER'; p. ii, list of books by the same author and artist (seven titles); p. iii, blank; p. iv, frontispiece; p. v, title; p. vi, 'First Published in 1928 ∣ [publisher's design] ∣ PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN'; p. vii, dedication, eight line poem to Mrs. Milne; p. viii, blank; pp. ix-x, author's note headed 'CONTRADICTION'; p. xi, contents; p. xii, blank; pp. 1-178, text; p. 179, illustration; p. 180, 'PRINTED BY ∣ JARROLD AND SONS LTD. ∣ NORWICH'.
  • Illustrations: Pen and ink drawings by Ernest H. Shepard throughout text.
  • Binding: Smooth salmon cloth. Figures of Christopher Robin, Pooh, and Piglet stamped in gilt on front cover, enclosed within a gilt single rule border; spine stamped in gilt '[double rule] ∣ THE ∣ HOUSE ∣ AT POOH ∣ CORNER ∣ ‧ ∣ A. A. ∣ MILNE ∣ METHUEN ∣ [double rule]'; top edge gilt, others untrimmed; salmon wove end-papers with illustrations printed in black. Peach wove dust jacket printed in blue.
  • Copies examined: Lilly Library; Texas (2); New York Public Library

    IV B. First edition, large paper copies on hand-made paper: 1928

  • THE HOUSE AT ∣ POOH CORNER BY ∣ A. A. MILNE WITH ∣ DECORATIONS BY ∣ ERNEST H. SHEPARD ∣ METHUEN & CO. LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET ∣ LONDON W. C.

  • Collation: π8 [1-3]8 4-78 [8-11]8; pp. [i-vi] vii [viii] ix-xi [xii] 1-178 [179-180]; 221 x 178 mm.; printed on hand-made paper, watermark: 'A. MILLBURN & C° ∣ BRITISH HANDMADE'.
  • Contents: p. i, half-title 'THE HOUSE AT POOH CORNER'; pp. ii-iii, blank; p. iv, frontispiece; p. v, title; p. vi, 'This Edition on Hand-made Paper, published in 1928, islimited to 350 numbered and signed copies, of which this isNo. 237 ∣ A: A: Milne ∣ Ernest H. Shepard [autograph number and signatures in blue ink] ∣ PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN'; p. vii, dedication, eight line poem to Mrs. Milne; p. viii, blank; pp. ix-x, author's note headed 'CONTRADICTION'; p. xi, contents; p. xii, blank; pp. 1-178, text; p. 179, illustration; p. 180, 'PRINTED BY ∣ JARROLD AND SONS LTD. ∣ NORWICH'.

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  • Illustrations: Pen and ink drawings by Ernest H. Shepard throughout text.
  • Binding: Half blue cloth, white paper boards with watermark 'PMF ∣ (ITALIA)'; white paper label printed in black '[within a single rule border] THE HOUSE ∣ AT ∣ POOH CORNER ∣ BY ∣ A. A. MILNE ∣ DECORATIONS BY ∣ E. H. SHEPARD ∣ Methuen & Co. Ltd. London'. All edges untrimmed; white wove end-papers. Blue wove dust jacket printed in blue.
  • Note: The only copy examined had the word "Tigger" reset in the running head on p. 117.
  • Copies examined: Texas

    IV C. First edition, Japanese vellum copies: 1928

  • THE HOUSE AT ∣ POOH CORNER BY ∣ A. A. MILNE WITH ∣ DECORATIONS BY ∣ ERNEST H. SHEPARD ∣ METHUEN & CO. LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET ∣ LONDON W. C.

  • Collation: π8 [1-3]8 4-78 [8-11]8; pp. [i-vi] vii [viii] ix-xi [xii] 1-178 [179-180]; 221 x 175 mm.; printed on Japanese vellum.
  • Contents: p. i, half-title 'THE HOUSE AT POOH CORNER'; pp. ii-iii, blank; p. iv, frontispiece; p. v, title; p. vi, 'This Edition on Japanese Vellum, published in 1928, islimited to 20 numbered and signed copies, of which this isNo. ---- ∣ A: A: Milne ∣ Ernest H. Shepard [autograph number and signatures in blue ink] ∣ PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN'; p. vii, dedication, eight line poem to Mrs. Milne; p. viii, blank; pp. ix-x, author's note headed 'CONTRADICTION'; p. xi, contents; p. xii, blank; pp. 1-178, text; p. 179, illustration; p. 180, 'PRINTED BY ∣ JARROLD AND SONS LTD. ∣ NORWICH'.
  • Illustrations: Pen and ink drawings by Ernest H. Shepard throughout text.
  • Binding: Full vellum stamped in gilt on front cover 'THE HOUSE AT POOH CORNER ∣ A. A. MILNE'; all edges untrimmed, Japanese vellum end-papers.
  • Copies examined: Description checked against copy in the British Museum.

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TABLE I

                                                                             
TITLE AND EDITION  DATES OF TYPESETTING AND/OR PREPARATION OF ELECTROPLATES  DATE OF PRINTING ORDER  NUMBER OF COPIES 
When We Were Very Young  
first edition  Original type setting  17 September 1924  113 
large paper copies  17 September, 1924 
first edition  17 September 1924  5,175 
regular trade copies 
first edition, second impression (first impression from plates)  Electroplates prepared from original  12 November 1924  5,182 
regular trade copies  setting, 7 November, 1924 
second edition  Type reset, new electroplates  2 June 1927  30,750 
prepared 2 June, 1927 
third edition  Type reset, new electroplates  13 December 1940  10,112 
prepared 13 December, 1940 
Winnie-the-Pooh  
first edition  Two sets of electroplates  16 August 1926  372 
large paper copies  prepared 13 August, 1926 
first edition  16 August 1926  27 
Japanese vellum copies 
first edition  17 August 1926  35,067 
regular trade copies 
second edition  Type reset, new electroplates  9 March 1942  12,663 
prepared 9 March, 1942 
Now We Are Six  
first edition  Electroplates prepared  3 August 1927  218 
large paper copies  21 July, 1927 
first edition  3 August 1927  26 
Japaneses vellum copies 
first edition  3 August 1927  50,048 
regular trade copies 
second edition  Type reset, new electroplates  9 June 1942  12,710 
prepared 9 June, 1942 
The House at Pooh Corner  
first edition  Electroplates prepared  14 August 1928  373 
large paper copies  14 August, 1928 
first edition  14 August 1928  28 
Japanese vellum copies 
first edition  14 August 1928  75,204 
regular trade copies 
second edition  Type reset, new electroplates  9 June 1942  12,734 
prepared 9 June, 1942 

Notes

 
[*]

This study is based upon the Methuen Stock Ledgers in the Lilly Library. I would like to express my appreciation to David A. Randall, Librarian, and William R. Cagle, Assistant Librarian, for permission to quote from those records and for their assistance with the preparation of this paper.

[1]

A. A. Milne, "Some Important Fall Authors Speak for Themselves," New York Herald Tribune Book Review, (October 12, 1952), 10.

[2]

Total number of copies printed by Methuen as of 3 July 1968:

         
Hardback  Paperback 
When We Were Very Young   967,000  450,000 
Winnie-the-Pooh   959,000  600,000 
Now We Are Six   649,000  450,000 
The House at Pooh Corner   764,000  500,000 

[3]

Printing was completed as follows: 3 October, 3000 copies; 13 October, 1000 copies; 5 November, 1175 copies.

[4]

Edition — the whole number of copies of a book printed at any time or times from one setting-up of type (including copies printed from the stereotype or electrotype plates made from that setting-up of type). Impression — the whole number of copies printed at one time.

[5]

Printing of the regular trade copies was completed as follows: 23 August, 40,000 copies; 8 September, 5000 copies; 10 September, 5000 copies (with 48 overs).

[*]

My appreciation to Alfred C. Berol of New York City for permission to examine his copy of Now We Are Six printed on Japanese vellum.


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