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Andrew McNally and William H. Rand bought the job office of the Chicago Tribune in1864; in1871 (during the Chicago Fire), they bought the only surviving printing plant; incorporated 1873. General literature added in 1884. (Brief Studies). Adult trade books were discontinued in 1914 (DLB 49). Rand McNally acquired the W.B. Conkey Company in 1949, and the corporate archive of both companies is held by the Newberry Library (Chicago).

Index of Rand, McNally editions:
Acme Library: 1895-1896
Advance Library: 1902-1907
Alpha Library: 1897-1903
American Library: 1898-1901
Antique Library: 1899-1905
Atlantic Library: 1900-1911
Blue and Gold Series: [1894]-1896
Blue Bell Library: 1901-1902
Eclipse Library: 1896
Full Leather [i.e., morocco] Gift Books: 1895-1896
Full Leather [i.e., velvet leather] Library: 1906-1907
Greek Lamp Library: 1906-1911, 1913-1915
Half Calf Books for the Library: 1898-1902
Half Morocco Bound Books: 1895-1896
Independent Series/Library: 1901-1911
Twentieth Century Library/Series: 1896-1902
Two-Volume Sets: 1900-1902

1895 PTLA:

The Acme Library. A new library of standard books, by the best authors. Handsomely bound in cloth, gilt top, many being profusely illustrated. One Dollar.

Full Leather Gift Books. Finished in the handsomest manner throughout. Each book bound in morocco grained leather, and gilt edged. The best moderate priced full leather books on the market. Each in a separate box. Uniform price, $2.50.

Half Morocco Bound Books. These handsomely bound half morocco books are gilt top, with neat back and side stamps in gold, each book put up in a substantial paper box and particularly well adapted for libraries. Price, $1.50 each.

1896 PTLA:

The Acme Library [as 1895]: A new library of standard books, by the best authors. Handsomely bound in cloth, gilt top, many being profusely illustrated. One Dollar.

The Blue and Gold Series. Exquisitely bound in various colors of best English linen cloth. Handsome gold design on front cover. Gilt top. Each in separate box. The best series offered at the price. $1.35 each. [Cut].

----. 1894. 125x195mm, 337p. Light green cloth stamped in gold. Teg. Floral printed endpapers, gold over green and cream. S&EH.

The Eclipse Library. A new select library of standard books, by the best authors. Handsomely bound in blue cloth, many being profusely illustrated. 75 cents each.

Full Leather Gift Books [As 1895]: Furnished in the handsomest manner throughout. Each book bound in morocco grained leather, and gilt edged. The best moderate priced full leather books on the market. Each in a separate box. Uniform price, $2.50 .[with cut of Lucile].

Half Morocco Bound Books [as 1895; with cut]: These handsomely bound half morocco books are gilt top, with neat back and side stamps in gold, each book put up in a substantial paper box and particularly well adapted for libraries. Price, $1.50 each.

The Twentieth Century Library. This series comprises titles carefully selected from the standard works of the world's greatest authors, suitable for any library and attractive to readers of the most refined tastes. The books are printed from new plates on extra laid paper, equal to and indistinguishable from the best hand-made, and are bound in red buckram, with richly ornamental and artistic gold side and back stamp, and gilt topped. [Cut].

----, 1896-1902. nd. 132x199mm, 337p. Titlepage printed red and black. Red linen-finish buckram stamped gold. Plain endsheets. BAP RM1, copy 1: inscribed August 8, 1900; copy 2: inscribed Xmas 99; copy 3: water damaged; S&EH.

1897 PTLA:

The Rand-McNally Alpha Library. A series of standard and popular works, carefully selected from the best authors. Bound in attractive green cloth cover, gold back and side stamps. Gold top. [Price not given].

----. nd. 127x193mm, 337p. "Alpha Library" at top of titlepage. Green cloth stamped blind and gold. Teg. Plain endsheets. S&EH.

1898 PTLA: The Rand-McNally American Library. 8vos. Every Selection for this Series Is an Acknowledged Classic. Entirely new decorative features have been introduced, which are sure to please the taste of all cultivated Americans. The National emblems are artistically blended with other chaste and elegant designs on title-page and cover. Nothing approaching the novel and charming effects produced has ever been offered to the reading public of America. / These volumes are made uniform in size and style. They are printed in large type from new plates, on extra-wove paper, with deckle edges, having all the appearance of hand-work. They are exquisitely bound in a new style of English art-linen, with an insertion of rich moire silk ribbon made solid with the binding, crossing the front cover diagonally. The tops, side stamps, and back title are in gold. / The present is an opportune time for placing on the market this latest and greatest triumph of American bookmaking art. [Cut].

----, 1898-1901: nd. 138x210mm, 337p. Elaborate red and black titlepage (same as RM2). Tan cloth stamped gold (American eagle motif), diagonal strip of dark brown cloth across top board). Teg, foredge and bottom untrimmed. Plain endsheets. BAP RM3.

Standard Books for the Library in Half Genuine Calf Bindings. 12mo size. This series comprises titles carefully selected from the standard works of the world's greatest authors, suitable for any library and attractive to readers of the most refined tastes. / The books are printed on extra laid paper, with deckle edges, and title pages in two colors. They are bound in half genuine calf with richly ornamental back stamps in gold, and gilt top, and are carefully hand-finished. They embody perfect style and design, superb finish, and great durability, at a moderate cost. Each volume boxed. Retail price, $1.75 per vol. [Cut]. / The Rand-McNally Twentieth Century Series [as 1897; cut]. / The Rand-McNally Alpha Library [as 1897].

The Rand-McNally Twentieth Century Series. 12mos. This series comprises titles carefully selected from the standard works of the world's greatest authors, suitable for any library and attractive to readers of the most refined tates. The books are printed on extra laid paper, deckle edge, equal to and indistinguishable from the best hand-made, and are bound in red polished buckram, with richly ornamental and artistic gold side and back stamp, and gold topped. [Cut as 1896].

1899 PTLA:

The Rand-McNally American Library [as 1898; cut].

The Antique Library of Standard and Popular 12mos. This series comprises titles carefully selected from the standard works of the world's greatest authors, suitable for any library and attractive to readers of the most refined tastes. The books are well printed on extra laid paper, trimmed edge, equal to and indistinguishable from the best hand-made, and are bound in olive silk ribbed cloth, with richly ornamental and artistic gold and embossed side and back stamp, and gold topped. [Cut].

----, 1899-1906: 125x195mm, 337p. Same titlepage as BAP RM1. Vertical grained green cloth stamped red and gold. Teg, plain endsheets. S&EH.

Standard Books for the Library in Half Genuine Calf Bindings [as 1898; cut].

The Rand-McNally New-Alpha Library of 12mos. The titles selected for this series are quite above the ordinary 12mo lines in literary merit. Only the most popular authors are represented in it. / In this library the endeavor has been successfully carried out to furnish, at a moderate price, an elegant and comprehensive series of high-class books, suitable for the library shelves. / They are all in uniform style, being printed in large type from new plates, on extra laid paper, with trimmed edges, and bound in English silk corded cloth, titles in gold, gold tops.

The Rand-McNally Twentieth Century 12mos [as 1898; cut].

1900 PTLA:

The Atlantic Library of Standard and Popular 12mos. Price, $1.00 per volume. Regular discount to the trade. This series comprises titles selected from the standard and popular works of the world's greatest authors. The books are well printed on extra laid paper, trimmed edge, and are bound in olive silk ribbed cloth, with back stamp, and gold topped. [Cut].

Twentieth Century 12mos [as 1899; cut]. Retail $1.00 per volume.

New Alpha Library of 12mos [as 1899; cut]. Retail 75c per volume. Regular discount to the trade. [Cut].

----. 130x190mm, 337p. Dark blue cloth stamped white and red. Teg. Plain endsheets. S&EH: flyleaf inscription dated Christmas 1902.

The Antique Library of Standard and Popular 12ms. [as 1899; same cut]. Price, $1.00 per volume. Regular discount to the trade.

American Library [as 1899]. Retail, $1.50 per volume. Regular discount to the trade. [Primary illustration is same as 1898; second cut (shown right) appears at end of title list].

Half Genuine Calf Bindings. 12mo. Size [as 1899; cut]. Each volume boxed. Retail price, $1.75 per vol. Regular discount to the trade.

Two-Volume Sets. Boxed, per set, $2.00. A selection of the best-selling standard and popular works by leading authors. Printed in large, clear type on fine grade paper, and bound uniformly in rich cloth with original design. Gilt tops. [Lucile is paired with Arnold's Light of Asia; cut].

1901 PTLA:

American Library [as 1900; cut].

The Antique Library of Standard and Popular 12mos. [as 1900].

The Atlantic Library of Standard and Popular 12mos. [as 1900; cut].

The Blue Bell Library. Price $1.00 per volume. Regular discount to the trade. No library is complete until it contains all of the following books. The selection of titles and authors can not fail to please readers of the best books. The books are printed from large, clear, readable type on very fine laid paper, deckle edge, and are bound in heavy English book cloth, and have plain sides and fancy backs in gold. They are beautiful and valuable library books.

Half Genuine Calf Bindings [as 1899; cut]. / Two-Volume Sets [as 1900].

The Independent Series of 12mos. Illustrated. Retail Price $1.00. Regular Discount to the Trade. Is composed of titles selected with careful discrimination from the standard works of the best authors. The special features of this series are the varied stampings and assorted colors of cloth. FOUR ARTISTIC DESIGNS are used in embossing the covers, giving an attractive variety of colors of ink and gold, and SIX SUPERB SHARES OF CLOTH - gray, red, olive, green, blue, and brown - make it the most desirable library published. An elegant window or counter display can be made with this series alone. The decorations are all of the latest and most approved style, and the books are printed on extra laid paper, with trimmed edges and gold tops. This series will unquestionably meet with the approval of those who appreciate a high class of literature and the most refined product of the bookmaker's art. [Cut].

New Alpha Library of 12mos. [as 1900; cut].

Twentieth Century 12mos. [as 1900; cut].

1902 United States Catalog. Lucile. $1, $1.50, $1.75; $2.

1902 PTLA:

The Advance Library. Full Sized, 12mos. Retail, 50 cents per volume. Regular discount to the trade. The best titles from the pens of he most popular writers have been selected for this series. The mechanical part of the work is as near perfect as it is possible to make it. The books are printed on fine laid paper, free from ground wood and guaranteed not to become yellow with age. The text is in perfect, clear, readable type. The binding is linen book cloth, beautifully and artistically embossed in colors. In fact, it is the most attractive and durable series of standard publications on the market. [Cut].

----, 1902-1907. nd. 125x190, 337p. Titlepage has discreet flower just below center. Blue-green cloth. Lower two-thirds of board is an arch within which are flowers. Texas Arlington. [Scan to right made from photocopy].

The Antique Library of Standard and Popular 12mos. [as 1902; cut].

The Independent Series of 12mos. [as 1902; new cut].

The Atlantic Library of Standard and Popular 12mos. [as 1900].

The Blue Bell Library [as 1900].

Half Calf Bindings [as 1901; cut]. / Two-Volume Sets [as 1900].

New Alpha Library of 12mos. [as 1901; cut].

Twentieth Century 12mos. [as 1900; cut].

1903 PTLA:

Libraries of Standard and Popular Works. The Rand-McNally Libraries have long enjoyed the reputation of being the most satisfactory books at their prices published in America:

The Advance Library [as 1902; cut].

The Antique Library [as 1902; cut].

The Atlantic Library [as 1902; cut].

The Independent Library [as 1902; cut].

The New Alpha Library [as 1902].

1904 PTLA:

The Advance Library [as 1903; cut].

The Atlantic Library. Cloth, 12mo. Price, $1.00 per Volume. / Already to the front among the Rand-McNally libraries, The Atlantic Library is creating for itself a steadily increasing demand. It is another witness to the fact that there is always room in the market for good books when they can be supplied at a reasonable cost. The volumes included in the Atlantic Library hold a permanent and high place among the English Classics and they are, accordingly, issued in a form appropriate to the library. The books are printed on extra laid paper, with trimmed edges and gold tops and are bound in maroon silk-ribbed cloth [Cut].

The Independent Library. Cloth, 12mo. Illustrated. Price $1.00 per Volume. The special features of the Independent Library are the varied stampings and assorted colors of cloth. Six artistic designs used in embossing the covers, and six shades of cloth - gray, red, olive, green, blue and brown - make it the most attractive and desirable library published. An elegant window or counter display can be made with this series alone. The decorations are all of the latest and most approved style, and the books are printed on extra laid paper, with trimmed edges and gold tops. This series will unquestionably meet with the approval of those who appreciate good literature and good bookmaking. [Cut].

1905 PTLA:

The Advance Library [as 1903; cut].

The Atlantic Library [as 1904; cut].

The Independent Library [as 1905; cut of array of 24 bindings].

1906 PTLA:

The Advance Library [as 1903; cut].

The Atlantic Library [as 1904; cut].

The Greek Lamp Library. The One Hundred Best Standard Books, Cloth, 12mo, price 50 cents per volume. / A particularly handsome book for libraries. Durably bound and printed from new clear plates on a fine laid paper free from ground wood. The selection of titles has been carefully made and everything possible has been done to make this the most popular selling line on the market.

----. nd. 127x197mm, 337p. Dark blue-green linen-finish cloth stamped red, oil lamp centered in panel on front board. Plain endsheets. Printing plates seem worn. On p337, under "withdrew" in the final line are the characters "22". BAP RM4. [Scan to right made from photocopy].

Full Leather Library. Illustrated. 12mo. Price, $2.50. An artistic novelty in standard fiction. Large size deckle edge, 12mo, bound in flexible velvet tan leather, edges extended, and handsomely embossed in original design in exact imitation of pyrography.

----. nd. 135x208mm, 337p. Elaborate red and black titlepage (same as RM3) designed by Denslow, with his sea horse devise. Limp ooze stamped black with nouveau water lilies; yapp edges overlap the text block by 10mm top and bottom, 20mm at foreedge. [Cover stamping also designed by Denslow?]. Teg. Marbled endsheets, fore- and lower edges untrimmed. BAP RM2: chemise and blue cloth slipcase; S&EH.

The Independent Library [as 1905; cut of array].

1907 PTLA:

The Advance Library [as 1903; cut].

The Atlantic Library [as 103; cut].

Full Leather Library [as 1906].

The Greek Lamp Library [as 1906; cut].

The Independent Library [as 1905; cut of array].

1908 PTLA:

The Atlantic Library [as 1903; cut].

The Greek Lamp Library [as 1906, with number of titles increased to 150; cut].

The Independent Library [as 1905; cut of five bindings].

1909 PTLA:

The Atlantic Library [as 1905; cut].

The Greek Lamp Library [as 1908; cut].

The Independent Library [as 1905; cut of five bindings].

1910 PTLA:

The Atlantic Library [as 1905; cut].

The Greek Lamp Library [as 1906, with number of titles increased to 200; cut].

The Independent Library [as 1905; cut of five bindings].

1911 PTLA:

The Atlantic Library [as 1905; cut].

The Greek Lamp Library [as 1910; cut].

The Independent Library [as 1905; cut of five bindings].

1912 United States Catalog. Lucile. 50c; $1.

1913 PTLA:

The Greek Lamp Library embraces a selected list of popular standard titles. Cloth, 12mo, 50 cents per volume. A particularly handsome edition for libraries. Durably bound and printed from new, clear plates on a fine laid paper free from ground wood. The careful selection of titles has made this series the most popular selling line on the market. Adapted to schoolroom use. [Cut].

1914 PTLA:

The Greek Lamp Library [as 1913; cut].

1915 PTLA:

The Greek Lamp Library [as 1913, with added note: "average wt. 18 oz.; cuts of seven bindings, including styles from Twentieth Century and Advance Libraries (This was probably a remaindering of all series under one series name].

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[edition not identifed]. nd. 127x190mm, 337p. Spine: LIBRARY EDITION. Maroon cloth, spine titles in gold. NYPL NL 0594670. [Scan to right made from photocopy].

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