Editing Harvard Classics (section)

== Printing history ==
[[File:Colliers Weekly 1909 - "The Harvard Classics-The Publishers' Statement, " January 8, 1910.pdf | thumb|left | Publishers' announcement of soon-to-be-completed 50 volumes of The Harvard Classics, ''Collier's Weekly'', January 8, 1910]]
Volumes 1-49 of The Harvard Classics include reprints of hundreds of authors' works that may have been in the public domain (e.g., because of expired [[copyrights]]) or covered by existing copyright holders such as other publishing companies. In either case, Collier filed copyrights for the 49 volumes and for The Harvard Classics complete series in 1909<ref name = "copyrights1909">{{cite magazine | title=Catalogue of Copyright Entries, Part 1: Books | magazine=Collier's | via = archive.org | publisher = Library of Congress. Copyright Office | year = 1909 | location = Washington, DC }}</ref> and 1910<ref name = "copyrights1910">{{cite magazine | title=Catalogue of Copyright Entries, Part 1: Books | magazine=Collier's | via = archive.org | publisher = Library of Congress. Copyright Office | year = 1910 | location = Washington, DC }}</ref> and obtained, when necessary, permission to reprint selected works included in one of the 49 volumes. Collier's copyrighted Volume 50 was in 1910, the ''Lectures on The Harvard Classics'' in 1914,<ref name = "copyrights1914">{{cite magazine | title=Catalogue of Copyright Entries, Part 1: Books | magazine=Collier's | via = archive.org | publisher = Library of Congress. Copyright Office | year = 1914 | location = Washington, DC }}</ref> and ''Fifteen Minutes a Day - The Reading Guide'' in 1916.<ref name = "copyrights1916">{{cite magazine | title=Catalogue of Copyright Entries, Part 1: Books | magazine=Collier's | via = archive.org | publisher = Library of Congress. Copyright Office | year = 1916 | location = Washington, DC }}</ref>

P.F. Collier & Son asserts in many early adverstisements of The Harvard Classics that 20,000 sets of The Harvard Classics were first printed to offer a "tremendous savings" to buyers and that these first printings include the word "Eliot" as a watermark on every page.<ref name="HCad23jul1910"/>  To help the chronological obsession about the print runs of The Harvard Classics, clues regarding how many of first edition printings are offered in a trademark dispute case between P.F. Collier and E. Milton Jones in 1909 that was later ruled on in appeal in 1910 (in favor of P.F. Collier & Son).<ref name="New York Supreme Court"/> In testimony, Robert J. Collier states that the first sets of The Harvard Classics printed and sold were "bound in full morocco...one set, bound in three-quarters morocco...and the remaining set, bound in buckram...".<ref name="New York Supreme Court"/> Advertisements in 1910 also state Collier prepared editions for those who demand luxurious limited editions as well as for the readers who want less expensive sets.<ref name="HCad23jul1910"/>

The first editions of The Harvard Classics were known as "De Luxe" sets. Most were limited-quantity print runs and some "autographed" editions (only Volume 1 is autographed) include signatures by Eliot and in some cases Robert J. Collier. The first print runs in 1909 were for volumes 1 to 25. Another print run was needed in 1910 for volumes 26 to 50 because those volumes were not selected and edited by Eliot until the middle of 1910. The first editions include Japanese vellum paper with "Eliot" watermarks (made by S.D. Warren & Co. of Boston), deckled pages, silk moire endpapers, sewn in bookmarks, and top edged gilt pages.<ref name="New York Supreme Court"/> Each was appealing to buyers for the elaborate illustrations, frontispieces, plates, portraits, facsimiles, and crimson silk page markers (features unlikely to be found in later printings).<ref name="HCad12nov1911"/> The colophon found on the ultimate page of content of first editions notes these sets were "planned and designed by William Patten" (the Book Manager at P.F. Collier & Son).<ref name="New York Supreme Court"/>

The exact numbers of each of the three bindings making up the 20,000 first sets are unclear. Four different sets in full morocco leather were printed with raised bands, Harvard University insignia, and volume names in gilt lettering on the spines. The four variations in full leather include: (1) the "Alumni Autograph Edition" limited to 200 numbered sets (Volume 1 is autographed by Eliot), (2) the "Eliot Edition" limited to 1,000 numbered sets (Volume 1 is autographed by Eliot), (3) the "Alumni Edition De Luxe" (unsigned) limited to 1,000 numbered sets, and (4) the "Edition De Luxe" sets that are numbered and stated as being limited editions (but the number printed is not shown). The full morocco sets sold for at least $345.<ref name="New York Supreme Court"/> The Edition De Luxe sets in full morocco leather were sold many years (after the limited-quantity runs were sold out) as some include the "Lecture" volume added in 1914.

The second binding type of the first editions of The Harvard Classics were printed in three-quarters morocco leather binding over cloth boards. The first edition three-quarters morocco leather sets have similar variations as the full morocco leather sets including a (1) set limited to 1,000 numbered and autographed "Cambridge Editions" signed by Eliot and, interestingly, the publisher Robert J. Collier also signed the sets numbered from 412 to 973 over mottled cream boards, (2) set limited to 1,000 numbered and autographed "Eliot Edition" books over green cloth boards, and (3) a set limited to 1,000 (unsigned) called the "Alumni Edition" on the spine bound over crimson boards, and (4) a set of unknown number called the "Library Edition" (stated as limited edition, but number of printings is not shown) over crimson boards. The "Library Editions" do not paper with "Eliot" watermarks, but appear to have the same high-quality Japanese vellum paper. Each of these limited-quantity three-quarter morocco sets sold for $195.<ref name="New York Supreme Court"/>
[[File:Book pricing.JPG | thumb|left | Testimony from Robert J. Collier and John F. Oltroggege, NY Supreme Court, Oct 21, 1910 (Appellate Division-First Department), in Collier V Jones, ps. 39, 45, 60]]

The third type of binding of the first editions of The Harvard Classics were printed in fine buckram (green and crimson). The green buckram set of "Alumni Edition" printings is a numbered set limited to 1,000 numbered copies. The green buckram has gilt lettering with crimson and gold Harvard insignia on both the spine and front board. The first editions show "Alumni Edition De Luxe" are numbered and limited to 1,000 sets and include embossed bands on the spine. The remaining first edition set of The Harvard Classics, printed in fine crimson buckram cloth, is another version called the "Eliot Edition" - a limited quantity printing of 1,000. The crimson buckram "Eliot Edition" with Eliot's signature on the front board is printed with raised bands on the spine, "Eliot" watermarked pages, and include illustrations, frontispieces, plates, portraits, and facsimiles. This set does not include page markers. Both buckram first edition sets sold for $100.<ref name="New York Supreme Court"/>  Another set almost identical to the limited-quantity green buckram sets, is also in green buckram and has "Alumni Edition" on the spine.  This set was sold for many years and was limited to 10,000 printings. These second print runs of this set are almost identical to the first editions except the pastedown papers have much more faint printings, the limited edition page shows the editions as "Edition De Luxe," and watermarked "Eliot" pages are not included. 
[[File:Collier 1910 dec 3 ad renaissance edition add.JPG  | thumb|left | advertisement in 1910 of the Renaissance edition of The Harvard Classics, ''Collier's'', December 3, 1910]]

In 1910, Collier began printing The Harvard Classics in a limited quantity set called the Renaissance edition. This beautifully bound set includes 10 different bindings consisting of reproductions of the artistic bindings of Royal Monarchs of Europe from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries. Collier also began printing the National (1910) and Popular (1912) editions with lower price points in an effort, claimed by Collier in many advertisements, to honor the wishes of Eliot that The Harvard Classics are priced within everybody's reach.<ref name = "HCad28may1910">{{cite magazine | last = Collier | first = Robert J. | date = 28 May 1910 | title=Dr. Eliot's Five-Foot Shelf of Books (advertisement)|magazine=Collier's | url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044092735687 | publisher = P.F. Collier & Son | page = 35 | location = Springfield, Ohio | hdl = 2027/hvd.32044092735687 | access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref> An extremely popular crimson-colored silk cloth set similar to the look of the De Luxe Morocco edition began printing in 1914 and was called the Cambridge edition. Variations of the Cambridge edition were printed for over a decade in cloth over hardboards and later (after 1919) in an imitation leather binding material called [[fabrikoid]].

In 1919 Collier announced a new binding material for The Harvard Classic sets with the printing of a new set called the Southwark edition (in flexible dark green fabrikoid or imitation leather). The first set of the Southwark edition was printed in July 1919 and given to the [[DuPont (1802–2017)|Du Pont]] company. The set carries an inscription "This is the first set of Harvard Classics published by P.F. Collier & Son Company to be bound in DuPont Fabrikoid...".<ref name = "DuPont">{{cite magazine | date = September–October 1921 | title = Collier's Binds a Million Books in Fabrikoid | magazine = The DuPont Magazine | url = https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112057661495 | publisher = E.I duPont de Nemours & Co., Inc. | pages = 4–5 | location = Wilmington, Delaware | hdl = 2027/uiug.30112057661495 | access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref> The set was named after the birthplace of one of the founders of Harvard College, [[John Harvard (clergyman)|John Harvard]], who was born in London Borough of [[Southwark]]. The set is often referred to as the "Veritas" edition; however, the "Veritas" edition is bound in a dark crimson color promoted by DuPont. The new binding material, called [[fabrikoid]], offered less weight, flexible boards, and bindings that were more durable than the cloth or leather bindings of the early editions.  Fabrikoid bindings were used in editions published from the 1920s to 1950's such as the varicolored Gemston edition which has five different colors of bindings and for larger editions with increased font sizes called the (home) Library editions that were marketed as being easier to read.
[[File:Colliers - 1918 new cambridge edition - Nov 30.jpg  | thumb|right |Advertisement in 1918 of the (new) Cambridge edition of The Harvard Classics, ''Collier's'', November 30, 1918 (printed in slight variations for many years in both hardboard and fabrikoid bindings)]]

The "Eliot Foundation of Adult Education" set, which appears to have been first printed around 1932 (based on included educational materials dated 1932 and later), is a rare numbered set bound in dark blue pebbled cloth. This set has gold gilt lettering with a profile of Eliot on the spine. The set was the focus of a set of materials for adult education with syllabi, instructions for study, and classroom discussions points. The set has an embossed symbol used in many of the education materials developed by the Eliot Foundation on the front board with ''Versitas Scientia Humanitas'' (trans. trust, knowledge, and culture). The number of printings of this rare set is unknown. Later editions (with names such as Gemstone, Deluxe Registered, Veritas, Home Library, and Great Literature editions) were not quite as unique as price points were further lowered to make the Harvard Classics more affordable. These later editions were printed in various sizes and binding materials such as cloth, fabrikoid, bonded leather, and even later in various types of imitation and genuine leather often printed to imitate earlier editions.

P.F. Collier & Son printed the 50th edition (that is, different set) of The Harvard Classics in 1956.  Owners and prospective buyers of The Harvard Classics editions are often interested in the printing year of a particular edition.  As mentioned before, not even the first editions were fully printed in 1909. First editions were printed in 1909 and 1910, and all subsequent editions were printed in 1910 or later. A [[printer's key]] could be used to describe the [[print run]], but these were not used in the U.S. until the middle of the twentieth century.  Copyright dates for book reprints are unlikely to identify the year of printing excepts for first four editions.  For The Harvard Classics series, copyright pages of The Harvard Classics have no information about the printing year (or run) until 1956 when the publisher began including information about the year of the print run.

Collier's renewed the copyrights for The Harvard Classics 28 years after filing the first copyrights for The Harvard Classics (as was customary at the time, as it offered some legal advantages) in 1936 and 1937.  Coliier's again renewed the copyrights in 1956 and 1959, and several times in the sixties as editions were printed in different page sizes and fonts (resulting is different pagination than described in initial copyright filings) and because some editions were printed and sold with fewer than 50 volumes.  In sum, copyright dates of The Harvard Classics editions offer misleading information about the printing date or printing year after the first editions were printed in 1909 and 1910.  For example, print runs following the publications of the first editions and until 1937 include copyrights dates of 1909 or 1910 although the printing year could be over 20 years later (or more).

Some clues about the printing history can help identify the print run year. For example, the inclusion of the "Lectures" began in 1914. Additionally, the "Editor's Introduction" in volume 50 includes a second "Editor's Introduction" that is dated in 1917. Fabrikoid was first used as binding for The Harvard Classics in 1919. Lastly, the publishing company marketed a larger size of books with the Home Library edition. This set of The Harvard Classics and subsequent editions are 15 percent larger than previous editions. None of these clues allow for an exact printing year, but each can be used to establish that the printing could not have occurred before a certain year, and of course, the printing cannot have occurred before the most recent copyright date.

The last edition of The Harvard Classics printed by P.F. Collier & Son (then a subsidiary of Crowell Collier & Macmillan, Inc.) was the 63rd printing in 1970 of a 22-volume called the "Great Literature Edition" in green fibrated (essentially bonded) leather with 22K decor that sold for $3.78 per volume ($1 each for the first three volumes).  The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint in 1972 against Crowell Collier for deceptive selling practices of The Harvard Classics.<ref name="FTCcollier">{{cite news | title = FTC accuses publisher of deception | url = https://www.newspapers.com/image/25918422 | work = Independent | location = Long Beach, California | page = 3 |date = 1 March 1972 | access-date  = 2 January 2021}}</ref>  In a statement responding to the complaint, Crowell Collier stated that it no longer sells The Harvard Classics.<ref name=FTCcollier/>  On March 24, 1973, the FTC provisionally accepted a consent order from Crowell Collier (now called Crowell, Collier and MacMillan, Inc.) that the publisher would stop trying to sell The Harvard Classics in one bulk shipment. The publisher ended the subscription plan used since 1909 and stated that it had no plans to sell The Harvard Classics one book at a time.<ref name="FTCcollier2">{{cite news | title = FTC, Book Company Agree On Halt of Some Sales Tactics | url = https://www.newspapers.com/image/398518357 | work = Atlanta Constitution | location = Atlanta, Georgia | page = 13-A |date = 24 March 1973 | access-date  = 2 January 2021}}</ref>