PUBLISHER: T.Y Crowell & Co., New York, 1876-1979.
ABOUT: See Crowell introduction page
LUCILE’s ISSUED BY T.Y Crowell & Co.: The Crowell company issued Lucile and Meredith's Poetical 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 below 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. See Crowell's Poets.
Presented on this page 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. All editions seem to have been printed from the same set of plates with 360 pages. They varied therefore in frontispiece and other illustrations, titlepages, bindings, and endsheets.
T. Y Crowell & Co. Handy Volume Editions
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.
Handy Volume Classics, Half Calf, 1892-1893, 1895-1898. 1892 PTLA: Half Calf, gilt top, boxed. $2.00.
Handy Volume Classics, Half Levant, 1892-1893. 1892 PTLA: gilt top, boxed. $2.50.
Handy Volume Classics, Silk, 1892-1896. 1892 PTLA: Stamped in gold, full gilt edges, boxed, 18mo., $1.50.
1893 PTLA: Handy Volume Classics. An entirely new line of standard books in prose and poetry. Handy in size, carefully printed on good paper, and bound in faultless styles. Each volume is illustrated with a frontispiece and title-page, in photogravure, and most of the volumes have numerous additional illustrations by the best artists. This attractive series is sure to be a favorite with those desiring something new and dainty for gifts or for the drawing room table, and with the general reader or student who prefers his reading in small, companionable volumes. / All of the volumes in the series are bound uniformly in the following styles: Cloth, vellum finish, neat gold border, gilt top, boxed, 18mo,$.75. [Also Full Leather Edition, 1893-1894, $2.00.] 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: 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; for additional information, see the ful list of series titles listed at Summary of Handy Volume Classics].
Handy Volume Classics, Fancy Tree Calf, 1895. 1895 PTLA: Fancy Tree Calf ($3.00).
Handy Volume Classics, Flexible Levant Edition, 1895. 1895 PTLA: Flexible Levant, $3.75.
Handy Volume Classics, Parti-colored Cloth Edition, 1892-1896. 1892 PTLA: White back, gilt side, boxed, 18mo., per vol., $1.00.
Handy Volume Classics, White Backs, 1898-1901. 1898 PTLA: [listed in summary of editions at $.50 but neither described or illustrated under this title in the catalog].
Vellum Finish Cloth, 1892-1897. 1892 PTLA: Neat gold border, full gilt edges, boxed. 18m0. Per vol., $1.00. See also Handy Volumes Classics, Two Volume Sets above and Cloth Gilt Top Edition, 1898-1901 below.
Adelphi Edition (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 Edition, 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 Edition, 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 as:] 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 Edition (limp leather), 1911-1912. 1911 PTLA: Ancona Edition. Limp Leather, ornamental gold stamping, gilt top, book marks, boxed. $1.25.
Arcadia Classics, 1904-1906. 1904 PTLA: The Arcadia Classics. These beautiful books are printed on fine paper, with fancy titles, photogravure frontispieces, and other illustrations. Bound in full flexible cochineal levant grain leather, with gilt tops, silk markers, gold tooling on back and sides, and fancy end leaves. Each book in a box. Thirty-nine volumes, 16mo. $1.25.
Aurelian Edition (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 diamond grain leather, full gilt edges, round corners, gold tooling on back and side. Each book in a box. 16mo. $1.25.
Bangalore Edition, 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 markers, gilt top, special end leaves, dainty binding. Each book in a box. 30 vols. $1.25. [1905 PW Sep 30 has identical ad. See also 12mos. Pyrogravure Edition].
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 Edition,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 Edition, 1898-1901. See also Handy Volume Editions, Vellum Finish Cloth 1892-1897 above.
Colonial Edition, 1900-1901. 1900 PTLA: The Colonial Library. A new line of literary gems carefully edited and printed, wide margins, with photogravure frontispiece, and attractive title-pages. Daintily illustrated and bound in new designs. 56 vols., 16mo., $.60.
Copley Edition (limp hand decorated leather), 1912-1913. 1912 PTLA: Copley Edition. Limp hand decorated leather, special end leaves, boxed. $1.25.
Ecrasé Edition, 1919-1924. 1918 PTLA: Ecrasé 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 Edition, 1896-1897. 1896 PTLA: Embossed Celluloid. Decorated with gold and delicate tints. A very taking novelty. Each book in a box. $1.25.
Etruscan Edition (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. [1917-1921 cut has differing cover title stamp as shown on right.]
Faïence Library (cloth), 1895-1902. 1895 PTLA: The Faïence Library. / A new line of literary gems, carefully edited and printed, with wide margins, photogravure frontispieces, and attractive title-pages, Daintily illustrated and bound, being in every respect models of bookmaking. 12 vols, 16mo, cloth, gilt top, $1.00; Full Leather, embossed, full gilt edges, $1.50.
Faïence Leather (full leather), 1895-1897.
Faïence Leather (agate calf), 1898. 1898 PTLA: Faïence Library, Agate Calf. Full gilt edges, round corners, 16mo., boxed. 20 vols., $2.00.
Faïence Library (agate morocco), 1901-1902. Inlaid, limp, full gilt edges. Round corners. Each book in a box. 20 vols., 16mo. Per vol., $2.25.
Faïence Library, Hand Painted Binding, 1896-1897.1896 PTLA: Faïence Library, Hand Painted Binding. Cloth back, celluloid sides; full gilt sides, full gilt edges, each book in a box, 12 vols., $1.50. [Lucile only].
Faïence Vienna Leather Edition, 1899. 1899 PTLA: Vienna Leather, full gilt edges, boxed. $2.50.
Faïence Library, (Venetian morocco), 1901-1902. 1901 PTLA:. Faïence Library Inlaid Padded Venetian Morocco, full gilt edges. Rounded corners. Each book in a box. 20 vols., 16mo. $2.00. [Lucile only].
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. $1.00.
"Fleur de Lis" Edition (silk), 1910-1911. 1910 PTLA: “Fleur de Lis” Edition. New silk binding, boxed.$.75.
Flexible Cloth Edition, 1898
Flexible Silk Edition, 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.
Galahad Edition (ooze leather), 1909-1910. 1909 PTLA: Galahad Edition. Flexible ooze leather, gilt top, silk marker, boxed. $1.00.
---- 1911-1915. [Same description, new cut].
Grecian Morocco Edition, 1896-1901.
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.
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. [The 16mo plates of this edition were also used to create a Crowell's Poets 12mo edition with the Heidelberg Series name bound in differing style.]
Hidalgo Edition (Mexican leather), 1911-1912. 1911 PTLA: Hidalgo Edition. Carved and colored Mexican leather, gilt top. Boxed. $1.50.
Leafcroft Edition (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 Edition (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 Edition, 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 Edition, 1898-1931.
Limp Lizard Edition, 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 Edition, 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. [The variance in title stamps is unusual but the blocks are duplicates: the title page imprints both lack an address, the frontispieces match as do the endpapers; spines are left blank and only the top edges are gilt. The more modest stamp first appears on a 1903 edition and is rarely used later; by contrast, the more ornate stamp first appears in 1899 but then appears frequently from 1904 to 1924.]
Lombardy Edition (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 Edition (novel style), 1907-1908. 1907 PTLA: Lucerne Edition. Finely printed on good paper, with frontispieces. Bound in novel style. 40 volumes. $.50.
Luxemoor Edition (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 Edition (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.
Matagamon Edition (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 Edition (vellum), 1910-1911. 1910 PTLA: Missal Edition. New vellum binding, 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.
Monadnock Edition (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. [For background on the "pre-ornamented cloth" on this binding, see the Krupp-Rosner article described on my Research Tools page.]
Oak Leaf Edition, 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.
Padded Leather Binding, 1901-1905. New gilt stamping, full gilt edges. One of the daintiest books ever produced. Each book in a box. 75 vols. 18mo. Per vol., $1.00.[Identical to American Seal Edition above where known copies are imaged. There is a new cut in 1904-1905 with same stamping but title change from Hiawatha to Prue and I, shown right. 1905 PW Sep 30 has identical ad.]
New Padded Leather Edition, 1906-1907. 1906-1907 PTLA: New leather, new designs, new end leaves, new box, 18mo. Full gilt edges, red under gold, round corners. 40 vols. Per vol. $1.00. [New cut].
New Padded Leather Edition, 1908-1909 1908-1909 PTLA: New Padded Leather Binding. New leather, new designs, new end leaves, new box, 18mo. Full gilt edges, red under gold, round corners. 40 volumes. $1.00.
1910 PTLA: New designs, new box. 18mo. 40 vols. $1.00.
1911 PTLA: 18mo. Per vol. $1.00. Series reduced to 31 titles]
1912 PTLA: 18mo. Per vol. $1.00. [Series reduced to 31 titles]
1913 PTLA: 18mo. Per vol. $1.00 [Series reduced to 24titles]
1914: Levant grain leather, full gilt edges, fancy end leaves, boxed. Per vol. $1.00. [Series reduced to 17 volumes]
Padded Ooze Leather Edition, 1905. 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 Edition, 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.
Persian Edition, 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 Edition, 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 Edition, 1901-1902. 1901 PTLA:. Pine Cone Edition. Daintily bound in a novel and artistic style, with printed wrappers. 95 vols. 18 mo. $.50.
Pocket Edition, 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 Edition, 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 Edition, 1898-1902. 1898 PTLA. White back, fancy paper sides. $.50.
Presentation Edition (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 Edition (leather), 1908-1909. 1908 PTLA: Presentation Edition. Leather. 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.
Pyrogravure Series. See Crowell's Poets at this title. The 400-page 16mo plates have been "printed with wide margins" and "bound in burnt leather" and has thus been described and imaged among the 12mos editions.]
Renaissance Edition, 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, "arie" calf, "ony" calf, etc. 16 volumes, boxed. $3.00. [1905 PTLA: Lucile only]. 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, boxed, per volume, $3.00.
Rococo Edition (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.
Ruskin Library, 1899. 1899 PTLA: Ruskin Library. A new line of literary gems carefully edited and printed, with wide margins, photogravure frontispiece, and attractive title-pages. Daintily illustrated and bound, in new designs. 50 vols., 16mo., cloth, $.60. [Lucile only].
Rylstone Edition (novelty leather), 1909-1910. 1909 PTLA: Rylstone Editon. Beautifully printed on excellent paper, with critical notes, copyrighted introductions, and frontispieces. Bound in novelty leathers. 16mo. 30 vols. $1.25.
Segovia Edition, 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.
Tuxedo Edition (ooze leather), 1910-1914. 1910 PTLA: Tuxedo Edition. New ooze leather binding, boxed. $1.25.
Vendome Classics, 1904-1905. 1904 PTLA: The Vendome Classics. A novel line of handy gilt books printed on fine paper, with photogravure frontispieces, fancy title-pages, half-tone illustrations, and silk markers. Bound in novelty calf, imitating wood and cork veneer, in delicate shades, with gold stamping and marble end papers. Each book in a fancy box. Sixteen volumes. 16mo. $3.00. [See also "Adelphi Edition" above.]
White and Gold Edition, 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.
Editions not identified in PTLA:
Last revised: 18 Jaanuary 2025