The first edition of Familiar Quotations, “quoted from 169 authors. The Bible and Shakespeare took up about a third of the text; the balance was chiefly English poetry. . . .A mere handful of Americans was included. . . .There were no quotations from Washington, John Adams, Jefferson, or even Emerson (who made it by the third edition three years later).”
This copy also quotes just 169 authors. This copy also excludes Emerson.
It is distinguishable from the described first edition in length—the first was said to be 258 pages, this, including addenda and index, runs 316 pages—and in its covering. The first is described as “a modest little volume, the size of a postcard, bound in cardboard.” This volume is the size of a postcard, but is bound in soft leather, presumably calfskin.
Bartlett published his first edition of 1000 copies in 1855 including in its 258 pages 169 authors but not Emerson. The third edition, which included Emerson, preceded the fourth edition of 1863 the year that Bartlett joined Little Brown and Company. All subsequent editions, including the 19th published in 2022, have been published by Little Brown.
Until persuaded otherwise, this copy is an apparent second edition. It quotes just 169 authors. It is 316 pages rather than the 258 of the first edition. Like the first, but unlike the third, Emerson is excluded. Unlike the fourth and each subsequent edition which were published by Little Brown, this edition was published by H.M.Caldwell Company of Boston and New York. It, along with similar copies for sale on line, bears no date.
The factual background concerning Bartlett and the first four editions of Familiar Quotations are based on Emily Morison Beck’s 1981 presentation to the Massachusetts Historical Society. Beck was Little & Brown’s editor for the 13th, 14th and 15th editions of Familiar Quotations appearing in 1955, 1968, and 1980. (Beck, Emily Morison. “Getting Familiar with Bartlett’s ‘Familiar Quotations.’” Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, vol. 93, 1981, pp. 95–108. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25080890. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024).
In addition to the factual data surrounding publication dates Beck describes the University Book Store in Cambridge, Massachusetts as Bartlett’s college. “At 16, straight from the public schools of his native Plymouth, he went to work there, and by the age of 29 became the store’s proprietor in 1849. His reputation for erudition and extensive reading plus, presumably, a remarkable memory caused him to be eagerly sought after to answer questions about quotations. He kept a commonplace book which became the basis for a collections of the most popular quotations, listed by author, chronologically, with sources. As a service to his friends and clients, he published it himself in an edition of 1,000 copies.”
After joining Little Brown in 1863, Bartlett became a partner in 1878, was awarded an honorary degree by Harvard in 1871, and continued to edit Familiar Quotations through its 9th edition, along with many other works.
This edition has an apparent calfskin cover with double ruled borders on both front and rear, a gilt title to the front, along with an ornate three inch medallion wherein the leather is tooled or cut all the way through to reveal a mauve textured fabric. The remaining leather overlay is tooled and decorated with gilt to make a floral pattern. The ends of the soft leather extend beyond the edges of the boards and are thus loose, flexible, and subject to fraying at its edges. Chips and tears at the head and tail and along the top edge suggest some chewing, but the medallion and titles are bright and attractive.
The frontispiece opposing the title page is missing from this copy. Its image—as shown below—facing an identical title page can be found on line within in two district covers. One cover is apparent calfskin nearly identical to this but sports just the title and no decorative medallion. The other (below) shows an urban scene depicting a tower. Both versions listings note they too are undated. Within the decoration on the title page which depicts swirling vines is a monogram, presumably the designer’s, showing a “W” surmounting a “J.”
A single page preface notes that the collection was “originally made without any view of publication” and concludes: “Should this be favorably received, endeavors will be made to make it more worthy of the approbation of the public in a future edition.”
The table of contents listing the 169 authors is in two columns on three pages. Beginning on page 263 is a two page addenda, an index beginning at age 265 fills the balance of the work. There is no other decoration.
A gallery of images of Familiar Quotations by John Bartlett. Click an image to reveal full sized photos.
