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The Crowell company issued Lucile and Meredith's Works in a great variety of printings and bindings -- on the order of 200 identifiably different formats -- between 1876 and 1931. After 1884, most of the series bindings in which Lucile and/or the Works appeared were illustrated in the catalogs Crowell submitted annually to Publishers' Trade List Annual. Those illustrations are inserted here beside the PTLA series descriptions.

The Works (or Poems) were never offered in Handy Volume size. "Crowell's Poets" -- larger in size (4to, 8vo, 12mo -- 5x7" or larger) typically (but not always) offered both Lucile and Meredith's Works. Click for Crowell's Poets.

Presented here is information about Crowell's smaller format --16mo or 18mo (pocket-size, about 4x6") -- The Handy Volume Classics, introduced in 1892 and reprinted vigorously until the 1930s. It seems now that all editions were printed from the same set of plates with 360 pages. They varied therefore in frontispiece and other illustrations, titlepages, bindings , and endsheets. Scans of and information about reported copies of each edition have been linked to the series descriptions -- click on the high-lighted series titles to access this more detailed record. Series not highlighted here are not yet represented by a recorded copy.

The Handy Volume Classics
1892 PTLA: Handy Volume Classics. An entirely new line of standard books in prose and poetry. Handy in size, carefully printed on good paper, and bound in faultless styles. Each volume is illustrated with a frontispiece and title-page, in photogravure, and most of the volumes have numerous additional illustrations by Fredericks, Fenn, Harper, Garrett, Merrill, Copeland, and other artists. / All of the volumes are bound uniformly in the following styles: Parti-colored cloth, white back, gilt side, gilt top, boxed, 18mo., $1.00; Cloth, Vellum Finish, neat gold border, full gilt edges, boxed, 18mo., $1.00; Silk, stamped in gold, full gilt edges, boxed, 18mo., $1.50; Half calf, gilt top, boxed, 18mo., $2.00; Half Levant, gilt top, boxed, 18mo., $2.50.

1893 PTLA: Handy Volume Classics. An entirely new line of standard books in prose and poetry. Handy in size, carefully printed on good paper, and bound in faultless styles. Each volume is illustrated with a frontispiece and title-page, in photogravure, and most of the volumes have numerous additional illustrations by the best artists. This attractive series is sure to be a favorite with those desiring something new and dainty for gifts or for the drawing room table, and with the general reader or student who prefers his reading in small, companionable volumes. / All of the volumes in the series are bound uniformly in the following styles: Cloth, vellum finish, neat gold border, gilt top, boxed, 18mo,$.75; Parti-colored cloth, white back, gilt sides, gilt top, boxed, 18mo, $1.00; Half Leather and corners, gilt back, gilt top, boxed, 18mo, $1.25; Silk, stamped in gold, full gilt edges, boxed, 18mo, $1.50; Half Calf, gilt top, boxed, 18mo, $2.00; Half Levant, gilt top, boxed, 18mo, $2.50; Full Leather, gilt top, boxed, $2.00

1894 PTLA: Handy Volume Classics. Two Volume Sets in Fancy Bindings, Gilt Tops, boxed, $2.00. / These dainty little sets are in every way unique. The style of binding is new, and the attractive box is a special feature. They are admirably adapted for Holiday, Wedding, and Birthday gifts. [Lucile is boxed with Evangeline. It seems likely this is the Handy Volume Classics (see 1892) binding described as "vellum finish, neat gold border," recycled here as a two volume set].

Handy Volume, White Backs, 1898-1901. 1898 PTLA: [listed in summary of editions at $.50 but not described or illustrated in the catalog].  

Adelphi (padded novelty leather), 1906-1909. 1906 PTLA: Adelphi Edition. Finely printed on good paper, with frontispieces, fancy end papers, padded novelty leather, full gilt edges, red under gold, each book in a box. Twenty-five volumes. $1.50.

Aleppo, 1907-1908. 1907 PTLA: Aleppo Edition. The season’s novelty – finely printed, good type, attractive frontispieces, new and pleasing effects in binding. 40 volumes. Gilt top, boxed. $1.25.

American Seal, 1899-1900. 1899 PTLA: American Seal, padded covers, new gilt stamping, full gilt edges. One of the daintiest books ever published. Each book in a box. 30 vols. 18mo. $1.00. [Same binding illustration is continued 1901-1905 PTLA:] Padded Leather, 1901-1905. 1901 PTLA: Padded Leather Binding, new gilt stamping, full gilt edges. One of the daintiest books ever produced. Each book in a box. 40 vols., 18mo. $1.00.

Ancona (limp leather), 1911-1912. 1911 PTLA: Ancona Edition. Limp Leather, ornamental gold stamping, gilt top, book marks, boxed. $1.25.

Aurelian (limp cochineal diamond grain leather), 1913-1914. 1913 PTLA: Aurelian Edition. These beautiful books are printed on fine paper, with frontispieces. Bound in limp cochineal grain leather, full gilt edges, round corners, gold tooling on back and side. Each book in a box. 16mo. $1.25.

Bangalore, 1905-1912. 1905 PTLA: Bangalore Edition. Limp ooze leather, decorated in gold and burnt designs. / A novel line of well printed volumes selected from the most popular classics. Each volume has a frontispiece, silk markes, gilt top, special end leaves, dainty binding. Each book in a box. 30 vols. $1.25. 1905 PW Sep 30 has identical ad.

Biltmore Series (padded leather), 1906. 1906 PTLA: Biltmore Series. A decided novelty in bookmaking. These beautiful volumes are the choicest works of the great masters of literature. They are carefully printed on fine paper, with wide margins, photogravure frontispieces, and title-pages in two colors. The books are bound in padded leather in new and fashionable colors, with rich decoration in gold and metal. 20 volumes. $2.00.

Birch Bark, 1900-1901. 1900 PTLA: Birch Bark Edition. Printed Wrappers. 88 volumes. 18mo. $0.50.

Caslon Classics (limp leather), 1906-1910. 1906 PTLA: Caslon Classics. These beautiful books are printed on fine paper, with fancy titles, photogravure frontispieces, and other illustrations. Bound in limp leather, with gilt tops, gold tooling on back and side. Each book in a box. 16mo. $1.00.

Cloth gilt top, 1898-1901

Copley (limp hand decorated leather), 1912-1913. 1912 PTLA: Copley Edition. Limp hand decorated leather, special end leaves, boxed. $1.25.

Ecrase, 1918-1924. 1918 PTLA: Ecrase Binding. Choice books by the most popular authors, well printed and edited, with frontispieces. Bound in full flexible leather, full gilt edges. Boxed. $2.00.

Embossed celluloid, 1896-1897. 1896 PTLA: Embossed Celluloid. Decorated with gold and delicate tints. A very taking novelty. Each book in a box. $1.25.

Etruscan  (limp yapp leather), 1914-1921. 1914 PTLA: Etruscan Edition. These beautiful books are printed on fine paper, with frontispieces. Bound in limp yapp leather, gilt top, special end leaves. Each book in a box. 16mo. $1.00.

Favorite (flexible leather), 1916-1919. 1916 PTLA: Favorite Edition. Choice books by the most popular authors, well printed and edited, with frontispieces. Bound in full flexible leather, full gilt edges. Boxed. $1.00.

Fancy Tree Calf, 1895. 1895 PTLA: Fancy Tree Calf ($3.00).

"Fleur de Lis" (silk), 1910-1911. 1910 PTLA: “Fleur de Lis” Edition. New silk binding, boxed.$.75.

Flexible cloth, 1898

Flexible Levant, 1895. 1895 PTLA: Flexible Levant ($3.75).

Flexible silk, 1907-1908. 1907 PTLA: Flexible Silk. Finely printed on good paper, with frontispieces, fancy end papers, gilt top, each book in a box. Twenty-five volumes. $1.00.

Full Leather, 1893-1894

Galahad (ooze leather), 1909-1915. 1909 PTLA: Galahad Edition. Flexible ooze leather, gilt top, silk marker, boxed. $1.00.

Grecian morocco, 1896-1901.

Half Calf, 1892-1893, 1895-1898. 1892 PTLA: Half Calf, gilt top, boxed. $2.00. See Handy Volume Classics at head of this file.

Half Leather, 1893, 1897-1898. 1897 PTLA: Half Leather Binding. Full gilt side and back, gilt top. One of the daintiest books ever produced. 25 vols., 18mo., $.75.

Half Levant, 1892-1893. See Handy Volume Classics at head of this file.

Handy Library (cloth?), 1908-1909. 1908 PTLA: Handy Library of Poetry and Fiction. This new series of poetical favorites will be found most attractive for presentation purposes. 18mo. $.50.

Heidelberg Classics (3/4 morocco), 1906-1907. 1906 PTLA: Heidelberg Classics. These beautiful books are printed on fine paper, with fancy titles, photogravure frontispieces, and other illustrations. Bound in three-quarter crushed morocco, with gilt tops, gold tooling on back and hand-made marble paper sides. Each book in a box. Twenty volumes. 16mo. $1.75.

Hildago (Mexican leather), 1911-1912. 1911 PTLA: Hidalgo Edition. Carved and colored Mexican leather, gilt top. Boxed. $150.

Leafcroft (limp leather), 1918-1923. 1918 PTLA: Leafcroft Binding. Limp leather, decorated in gold and embossed designs. / A novel line of well printed volumes selected from the most popular classics. Each volume has a frontispiece, silk marker, gilt top, special end leaves, dainty binding. Each book in a box. $2.00.

Leathercraft (limp leather), 1914-1922. 1914 PTLA: Leathercraft Binding. Limp leather, decorated in gold and embossed designs. / A novel line of well printed volumes selected from the most popular classics. Each volume has a frontispiece, silk marker, gilt top, special end leaves, dainty binding. Each book in a box. $1.25.

Limp Circuit, 1900-1901. 1900 PTLA: Limp Circuit, gilt edges, round corners, boxed. 25 vols, 18mo, $1.50. The novel and attractive style of cover in this series marks a new departure in the art of bookmaking, and will commend itself to lovers of tasteful and appropriate bindings.

Limp Leather, 1898-1931.

Limp Lizard, 1902-1903. 1902 PTLA: Limp Lizard, round corners, red under gold. 25 vols., $1.50. 1902 PW Sept 27, p650: Handy Volume Classics, Limp Lizard Edition, Each volume $1.50.

Limp Ooze Calf, 1903-1905. 1903 PTLA: Limp Ooze Calf. Beautifully bound in soft ooze leather with fancy end leaves, silk markers, and dainty box. One of the most attractive books ever issued. Fifty volumes. 16mo, gilt top. $1.00. 1903 PW Sept 26 has similar ad.

Lombardy (cloth), 1914-1915. 1914 PTLA: Lombardy Edition. A novel line of well printed volumes selected from the most popular classics. Each volume has a frontispiece, gilt top, dainty binding. Each book in a box. $.50.

Lucerne (novel style), 1907-1908. 1907 PTLA: Lucerne Edition. Finely printed on good paper, with frontispieces. Bound in novel style. 40 volumes. $.50.

Luxemoor (limp leather), 1913-1914. 1913 PTLA: Luxemoor Binding. Limp leather, decorated in gold and carved designs. / A novel line of well printed volumes selected from the most popular classics. Each volume has a frontispiece, silk marker, gilt top, special end leaves, dainty binding. Each book in a box. $1.25.

Lyric (padded leatheroid), 1912-1913. 1912 PTLA: Lyric Edition. Padded leatheroid, ornamental gold stamping, boxed. $.75.

Marbled Calf, 1901-1903. 1901 PTLA:. Marbled Calf, a novel flexible leather style. Round corners, gilt edges, silk bookmark. Each book in a box. 20 vols, 18mo. $1.25. 1902-1903 PTLA: Flexible marbled calf. [No illustration of binding].

Matagamon (ooze leather), 1906-1907. 1906 PTLA: Matagamon Edition. A new line of finely printed classics in novel and attractive leather bindings with gilt top. The designs are carefully worked out on ooze leather in popular colors. Each book contains a frontispiece, silk marker, and special end leaves. 30 volumes, boxed. $1.50.

Missal (vellum), 1910-1911. 1910 PTLA: Missal Edition. New vellum binding, boxed. $.75.

Monadnock (padded), 1909-1910. 1909 PTLA: Monadnock Edition. Beautifully printed on excellent paper, with critical notes, copyrighted introductions and frontispieces. Bound in new padded style. Gilt top. 16mo. 40 vols., boxed. $.75.

Mogador Classics (novelty leather), 1907-1908. 1907 PTLA: Mogador Classics. Finely printed on special paper with photogravure frontispieces. Beautifully bound in novelty leather. $2.00.

Oak Leaf, 1898-1900. 1898 PTLA: This is a decided novelty in binding. The veneer sides are made from the wood of a Japanese tree much valued for its many wonderful properties. The decoration in inks serves to bring out the natural beauties of the wood, and the back of green cloth harmonizes well with the side effects. Per volume, $.40.

New Padded Leather, 1905.-1906 1905 PTLA: New Padded Leather Binding. New leather, new designs, new end leaves, new box, 18mo. Full gilt edges, red under gold, round corners. 30 volumes. $1.00. 1905 PW Sep 30 has identical ad.

Padded Leather, 1907-1914. PTLA 1907: New designs, new box. 18mo. 40 vols. $1.00.

Padded Ooze Leather, 1906. 1905 PTLA: Padded Ooze Leather, with Metal Ornaments. 30 volumes, 16mo, gilt edges, round corners, red under gold, boxed. $1.50. 1905 PW Sep 30 has identical ad.

Padded Silk, 1904-1905. 1904 PTLA: Padded Silk Binding. Finely printed on good paper, with frontispieces, fancy end papers, padded silk covers, full gilt edges, each book in a fancy box. Thirty volumes. $1.50. 1904 PW Sep 24: Handy Volume Padded Silk. A dainty series, made in artistic manner, with padded covers of fine figured silk. Each book boxed.

Parti-colored Cloth, 1892-1896. See Handy Volume Classics at head of this file.

Persian, 1904. 1904 PTLA: Persian Edition. Finely printed from clear type on good paper with frontispiece, bound in new style with charming color effects, gold title on side and back. Each book in fancy slip case. A most charming presentation series. 50 volumes, 18mo. Cloth, top gilt. $.0.60. 1904 PW Sep 24: Handy Volume Persian Edition. This popular series is here bound in novel style, with full side and back ornamentation in colors, gilt top, boxed.

Photogravure, 1897. 1897 PTLA: The Photogravure Edition. Beautifully bound in an entirely new and taking design with dainty photogravure on side of cover. 55 vols., 18mos., $.50.

Pine Cone, 1901-1902. 1901 PTLA:. Pine Cone Edition. Daintily bound in a novel and artistic style, with printed wrappers. 95 vols. 18 mo. $.50.

Pocket, 1902-1917. 1902 PTLA: Pocket Edition. Cloth. Beautifully printed on excellent paper, with critical notes and copyrighted introductions. Tinted top. Frontispieces and printed wrappers. 110 volumes. $.35.

Popular, 1895-1897. 1895 PTLA: The Popular Edition of Handy Volume Classics. / Beautifully printed on fine paper, and bound in a unique style, these popular books will doubtless have a large sale by reason of their attractive appearance and reasonable price. 47 vols., 18mo., $.50.

Popular, 1898-1902. 1898 PTLA. White back, fancy paper sides. $.50.

Presentation (cloth), 1908-1909. 1908 PTLA: Presentation Edition. Cloth. A new line of well printed volumes selected from the most popular classics. Each volume has a frontispiece, silk marker, gilt top, special end leaves, dainty binding. Cloth. $.60.

Presentation (leather), 1908-1909. 1908 PTLA: Presentation Edition. Lather. Finely bound in paste grain limp, with gold side and back, silk marker, gilt top, wrapped, and each book in a box. Printed on excellent paper, with critical notes, copyrighted introductions, and half-tone frontispieces. Gilt top, boxed. $1.00.

Renaissance, 1905-1906. 1905 PTLA: The Renaissance Series. A new line of novelty bindings. The books are finely printed and illustrated, and tastefully bound in “zebra” calf, “ariel” calf, “onyx” calf, etc. 16 volumes, boxed. $3.00. [Lucile only]. 1905 PTLA: 1905 PW Sep 30: The Renaissance Series. A new line of novelty bindings. The books are finely printed and illustrated and tastefully bound in "zebra" calf, "ariel" calf, "onyx" calf, etc. 16 volumes (including Lucile), boxed, per volume, $3.00.

Rhystone (novelty leather), 1909-1910. 1909 PTLA: Rhystone Editon. Beautifully printed on excellent paper, with critical notes, copyrighted introductions, and frontispieces. Bound in novelty leathers. 16mo. 30 vols. $1.25.

Rococo (limp fancy leather), 1911-1912. 1911 PTLA: Rococo Edition. Limp fancy leather, special end leaves,book marks, and boxed. $1.25.

Roman leather, 1899-1902. 1899 PTLA: Roman Leather, full gilt edges, boxed. $2.00.

Segovia, 1904-1905. 1904 PTLA: Segovia Edition. Flexible burnt leather with hand-painted autumn leaf decoration. These attractive books are finely printed on good paper with frontispeices, bound in the latest leather novelty, hand-painted, gilt top and silk marker, each book in a box. Thirty volumes, 16mo. $1.50.1904 PW Sep 24: Handy Volume Segovia Edition. Bound in flexible burnt leather, with hand-painted autumn leaf decorations. A new and beautiful binding.

Silk [black moire], 1892-1896. See Handy Volume Classics at head of this file.

Tuxedo (ooze leather), 1910-1914. 1910 PTLA: Tuxedo Edition. New ooze leather binding, boxed. $1.25.

Vellum Finish Cloth, 1892-1897 See Handy Volume Classics at head of this file; also Handy Volumes Classics, two volume sets, in alphabetical sequence.

Vienna, 1899. 1899 PTLA: Vienna Leather, full gilt edges, boxed. $2.50.

White and Gold, 1895-1896. 1895 PTLA: The White and Gold Edition of Handy Volume Classics. / Finely printed, beautifully illustrated, elegantly bound in a new and taking design of white and gold, and each book encased in a dainty box. 20 vols., 18mo., gilt top, $1.00.

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