Book Collecting

Lucy Maud Montgomery – First Edition Books: Identification Guide

L. M. Montgomery
L. M. Montgomery

Lucy Maud Montgomery OBE (1874 – 1942), published as L. M. Montgomery, was a Canadian author best known for a series of novels beginning in 1908 with Anne of Green Gables. The book was an immediate success. The title character, orphan Anne Shirley, made Montgomery famous in her lifetime and gave her an international following.

The first novel was followed by a series of sequels with Anne as the central character. Montgomery went on to publish 20 novels as well as 530 short stories, 500 poems, and 30 essays. Most of the novels were set in Prince Edward Island, and those locations within Canada’s smallest province became a literary landmark and popular tourist site – namely Green Gables farm, the genesis of Prince Edward Island National Park. She was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1935.

Despite the fact that Montgomery published over twenty books, “she never felt she achieved her one ‘great’ book.” Her readership, however, has always found her characters and stories to be among the best in fiction. Mark Twain said Montgomery’s Anne was “the dearest and most moving and delightful child since the immortal Alice.” Montgomery was honoured by being the first female in Canada to be named a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

However, her fame was not limited to Canadian audiences. Anne of Green Gables became a success worldwide. For example, every year, thousands of Japanese tourists “make a pilgrimage to a green-gabled Victorian farmhouse in the town of Cavendish on Prince Edward Island.” In 2012, the original novel Anne of Green Gables was ranked number nine among all-time best children’s novels in a survey published by School Library Journal, a monthly with primarily U.S. audience. The British public ranked it number 41 among all novels in The Big Read, a 2003 BBC survey to determine the “nation’s best-loved novel.” The British scholar Faye Hammill observed that Montgomery is an author overshadowed by her creation as license plates in Prince Edward Island bear the slogan “P.E.I. Home of Anne of Green Gables” rather than “P.E.I. Birthplace of L.M Montgomery. Much to Montgomery’s own annoyance, the media in both the United States and Canada tried to project the personality of Anne Shirley onto her.

L. M. Montgomery’s work, diaries, and letters have been read and studied by scholars and readers worldwide.

Lucy Maud Montgomery – First Editions Identification Guide

Notes: L. M. Montgomery’s works were reprinted by the A. L. Burt and Grosset & Dunlap publishers during her lifetime, retaining the original publication date on the copyright page. They are not First editions. The Canadian’s editions from McClelland & Stewart also kept the same Copyright date on later reprints on a few titles in different bindings. You’ll need to compare the bindings instead of solely depend on the copyright date for identification.

How to Identify First Edition books by L. M. Montgomery
YearTitlePublisherFirst edition/printing identification points
1908Anne of Green GablesBoston: L. C. Page & Co, MDCCCCVIIIFirst edition. "Fist impression, April, 1908" stated on © page. Tan, light green or dark brown cloth, gilt lettering. Pictorial paste down on cover. Sepia frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial panel on front, rear ads "THE BEST NEW FICTION" with three titles: Captain Love, The call of the South and Matthew Potter. Front and rear flaps blank, clipped corners.
Notes: Subsequent reprints has the same date format as the first edition "Second Impressions, July, 1908" and so on. I've seen copies with only the copyright date as "Copyright 1908" stated on © page. With no impression date, these are published much later, in the 1910s.
1909Anne of AvonleaBoston: L. C. Page & Co, MDCCCCIXFirst edition. "Fist impression, September, 1909" stated on © page. Tan or light green cloth, gilt lettering. Pictorial paste down on cover. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial panel on front, rear ads: The Concentrations of Bees, Tag or the Chien Boule Dog, A Gentleman of Quality. Front and rear flaps blank. Subsequent reprints have the same date format as the First.
1910Kilmeny of the OrchardBoston: L. C. Page & Co, MDCCCCXIFirst edition. "Fist impression, April, 1910" stated on © page. Tan or light blue-grey cloth, gilt lettering. Pictorial paste down on cover. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard. Two states, priority as listed:
  • (A) Sentence "Eric, Eric, look behing you -- look behind you!" missiing from p. 239.
  • (B) page 239 cancelled and a new page was glued on with the missing sentence.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial panel on front, rear ads: Commencement of Days, My Heart and Stephanie, A Cavalier of Virginia. Front and rear flaps blank, corners clipped. Subsequent reprints have the same date format as the First.
1911The Story GirlBoston: L. C. Page & Co, MDCCCCXIIFirst edition. "Fist impression, May, 1911" stated on © page. Tan, light green or light blue-grey cloth, gilt lettering. Pictorial paste down on cover. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial panel on front, rear ads: George Thorne, Miss Billy, A Soldier of Valley Forge. Front flap ad: A Captain of Raleigh's; rear flaps ad: Under the Roof of the Jungle. Subsequent reprints have the same date format as the First.
1912Chronicles of AvonleaBoston: L. C. Page & Co, MDCCCCXIIFirst edition. "Fist impression, June, 1912" stated on © page. Tan or light green cloth, gilt lettering. Pictorial paste down on cover. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard. Two states, priority as listed:
  • (A) 3rd leaf of ads at the rear is a full page ad for "The Story Girl."
  • (B) 3rd leaf list thee works of R. N. Stephens.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial panel on front, rear ads: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, The Story Girl, Kilmeny of Orchard. Front flap ads:The Dominant Chord; rear flaps ads:Miss Billy, A New Miss Billy. Subsequent reprints have the same date format as the First.
1913The Golden RoadBoston: L. C. Page & Co, MDCCCCXIIIFirst edition. "Fist impression, August, 1913" stated on © page. Tan or light green cloth, gilt lettering. Pictorial paste down on cover.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial panel on front, rear ads: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Chronicles of Avonlea, The Story Girl, Kilmeny of Orchard. Front flap ads: Pollyanna, The Blossom Shop; rear flaps ads: Miss Billy, Miss Billy's Decision, The Turn of the Tide, Cross Currents. Price of "$1.25 / Net" on spine. Subsequent reprints have the same date format as the First.
1915Anne of the IslandBoston: L. C. Page & Co, MDCCCCXVFirst edition. "Fist impression, July, 1915" stated on © page. Tan or light green cloth, gilt lettering. Pictorial paste down on cover. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial panel on front, rear ads: Novels of L M. Montgomery (7 titles). Front flap ads for GLADD Books (3 titles); rear flaps ads for GLADD Books (six titles). Price of "$1.25 / NET" on spine. Subsequent reprints have the same date format as the First.
1916The Watchman and other PoemsToronto: McClelland, Goodchild & Stewart Pub., [1916]First American edition. "Copyright, Canada, 1916." stated on © page. Blue grey or grey cloth. Dust jacket: Two variants, probable priority:
  1. (A) Dark blue lettering on light blue background. Lengthy description of the book on front panel; Ad for The Worn Doorstep on rear panel. Front flap: ad for Jessie Alexander's Platform Sketches; rear flap: ad for Letters From My Home in India. Price "$1.25" on spine.
  2. (B) Same as above, but brown lettering on tan background.
ALSO: New York: Frederick A Stokes, [1917]. Copyright page blank. Brown cloth, gilt lettering. Dust jacket: Unknown.
1917Anne's House of DreamsNew York: Frederick A. Stokes, [1917]First American edition. "Copyright, 1917" stated on © page. Dark purple or periwinkle blue cloth, pictorial paste-down, gilt lettering. Colour frontis.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial front; rear ad for Anne's House of Dreams. Front flap: ad for Carmen's Messenger; rear flap: ad for Lydia of the Pines. Price "$1.40 Net" on spine.
ALSO: Toronto: McClelland, Goodchild & Stewart Pub., [1917]. First Canadian edition. "Copyright, 1917" stated on © page. Dark purple, lavender or periwinkle blue cloth, pictorial paste-down, gilt lettering. Colour frontis. Dust jacket: Unknown.
ALSO: New York: A. L. Burt Co, [1917]. "Copyright, 1917, by Frederick A. Stokes" stated on © page. A reprint, tan or grey cloth, same binding and format as the First American edition.
1919Rainbow ValleyNew York: Frederick A. Stokes, [1919]First American edition. "Copyright, 1919" stated on © page. Medium green cloth, pictorial paste-down, gilt lettering. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial front; rear ad for Rainbow Valley, Anne's House of Dreams. Front flap: ad for Golden Dicky; rear flap: Books by Olive Prouty (4 titles), latest published in 1919. Price "$1.60" on spine.
ALSO: Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Ltd., [1919]. First Canadian edition. "Copyright, 1919" stated on © page. Medium green cloth, pictorial paste-down, gilt lettering. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard. Dust jacket: Unknown.
ALSO: New York: A. L. Burt Co, [1919]. "Copyright, 1919, by Frederick A. Stokes" stated on © page. A reprint, blue or yellow cloth, same binding and format as the First American edition.
1920Further Chronicles of AvonleaBoston: L. C. Page & Co, MDCCCCXXFirst edition. "Fist impression, March, 1920" stated on © page. Tan or light green cloth, gilt lettering. Pictorial paste down on cover. B/W frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial panel on front, rear ads: Novels of L M. Montgomery (8 titles). Front flap ads Smiles, A Rose of the Cumberlands; rear flaps ads: Miss Billy, Miss Billy's Decision, Miss Billy -- Married, The Turn of the Tide, Cross Currents. Subsequent reprints have the same date format as the First.
1921Rilla of InglesideNew York: Frederick A. Stokes, [1921]First American edition. "Copyright, 1921" stated on © page. Navy cloth, pictorial paste-down, gilt lettering. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial front; rear ad for Rilla of Ingleside, Anne's House of Dreams. Front flap: ad for Rainbow Valley; rear flap: Books by Olive Prouty (4 titles), latest published in 1919.
ALSO: Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Ltd., [1921]. First Canadian edition. "Copyright, 1921" stated on © page. Navy or dark green cloth, pictorial paste-down, gilt lettering. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial front; rear ad for Rilla of Ingleside. Front flap: ad for Rainbow Vallery; rear flap: ad for Anne's House of Dreams.
Note: There are copies with the Copyright date of 1920, those were published after 1922s to 30s. .
1923Emily of New MoonNew York: Frederick A. Stokes,, MDCCCXXIIIFirst American edition. "Copyright, 1923" stated on © page. Navy cloth, pictorial paste-down, gilt lettering. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial front; rear ads for "Latest Stokes Fiction", 8 titles). Front flap: ad for Emily of New Moon; rear flap: ads for Emily of New Moon, Rila of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, Anne's House of Dreams.
ALSO: Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Ltd., [1923]. First Canadian edition. "Copyright, 1923" stated on © page. Navy or dark green cloth, pictorial paste-down, gilt lettering. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial front; rear ad for "Popular Canadian Fiction", 6 titles, all published 1923. Front flap: ad for Emily of New Moon; rear flap: ad for Rilla of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, Anne's House of Dreams.
Note: There are copies in plain green cloth with the copyright date of 1923. These are published at later date.
1925Emily ClimbsNew York: Frederick A. Stokes,, MDCCCXXVFirst American edition. "Copyright, 1925" stated on © page. Medium green cloth, pictorial paste-down, gilt lettering. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial front; rear ads for "Latest Stokes Fiction", 8 titles. Front flap: ad for Emily Climbs; rear flap: ads for Emily of New Moon, Rila of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, Anne's House of Dreams.
ALSO: Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Ltd., [1925]. First Canadian edition. "Copyright, 1925" stated on © page. Olive green cloth, pictorial paste-down, gilt lettering. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial front; rear ad for "Two Splendid New Novels", 6 titles, all published 1923. Front flap: ad for Emily of New Moon; rear flap: ad for Emily of New Moon, Rilla of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, Anne's House of Dreams.
1926The Blue CastleNew York: Frederick A. Stokes,, MDCCCXXVIFirst American edition. "Copyright, 1926" stated on © page. Plain grey cloth, blue lettering. Dust jacket: Unknown.
ALSO: Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Ltd., [1926]. First Canadian edition. "Copyright, 1926" stated on © page. Plain grey cloth, blue lettering.
Dust jacket: Blue wrapper, illustration and lettering in blue. Blue castle illustration on front; rear ads for Rilla of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, Anne's House of Dreams. Front flap: ad for The Blue Castle; rear flap: Books by H.A. Cody, 8 titles.
1927Emily's QuestNew York: Frederick A. Stokes,, MDCCCXXVIIFirst American edition. "Copyright, 1927" stated on © page. Medium green cloth, pictorial paste-down, gilt lettering. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial front; rear ads for "Latest Stokes Novels", 6 titles, including this one. Front flap: ad for Emily's Quest; rear flap: ads for L.M. Montgomery Books, seven titles including this one.
ALSO: Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Ltd., [1927]. First Canadian edition. "Copyright, 1927" stated on © page. Medium green cloth, pictorial paste-down, gilt lettering. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial front; rear ad for L.M. Montgomery books, 7 titles, including this one. Front flap: ad for Emily's Quest; rear flap: ad for books by Maria Keith & H.A. Cody. Notes: There are copies in plain green cloth with the copyright date of 1923. These are published at later date.
1929Magic for MarigoldNew York: Frederick A. Stokes,, MDCCCXXIXFirst American edition. "Copyright, 1929" stated on © page. Medium green cloth, pictorial paste-down, gilt lettering. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Cream wrappers, pictorial front; rear ads for "New Stokes Novels You Will Enjoy", 7 titles, including this one. Front flap: ad for Magic for Marigold; rear flap: ads for L.M. Montgomery Books, seven titles, the latest Emily's Quest.
ALSO: Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Ltd., [1929]. First Canadian edition. "Copyright, 1929" stated on © page. Medium green cloth, pictorial paste-down, gilt lettering. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard. Dust jacket: Unknown.
1931A Tangled WebNew York: Frederick A. Stokes,, MDCCCXXXIIIFirst American edition. "Copyright, 1931" stated on © page. Plain medium green cloth, gilt lettering.
Dust jacket: Yellow wrappers, black lettering. Front panel: Starburst design in red & orange; rear panel ads for "New Stokes Novels You will Enjoy", 8 titles. Front flap: ad for A Tangle Web; rear flap: Hathaway House.
ALSO: Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Ltd., [1931]. First Canadian edition. "Copyright, 1931" stated on © page. Plain orange cloth, yellow lettering, top-edge yellow.
Dust jacket: Yellow wrappers. Front panel: Starburst design in red & orange; rear ads for L. M. Montgomery Books, 8 titles, the latest for Magic for Marigold. Front flap: ad for The Tangled Web; rear flap: Books by Marian Keith and H.A. Cody
1933Pat of Silver BushNew York: Frederick A. Stokes,, MDCCCXXXIFirst American edition. "Copyright, 1933" stated on © page. Bright green cloth, silver lettering, top-edge green. Colour frontis w/ tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Pictorial wrappers; rear panel: ads for Magic for Marigold. Front flap: ad for Pat of Silverbush; rear flap: ads for L.M. Montgomery Books, 7 titles, the latest Emily's Quest.
ALSO: Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Ltd., [1935]. First Canadian edition. "Copyright, 1935" stated on © page. Bright green cloth, silver lettering, top-edge green. Colour frontis w/ tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Pictorial wrappers; rear ads for L. M. Montgomery Books, 9 titles, the latest for The Tangled Web. Front flap: ad for Pat of Silverbush; rear flap: Books by Marian Keith and H.A. Cody, the latest published in 1931.
1935Mistress PatNew York: Frederick A. Stokes,, MDCCCXXXVFirst American edition. "Copyright, 1935" stated on © page. Bright green cloth, silver lettering, top-edge green. Colour frontis w/ tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Pictorial wrappers, black lettering; rear panel: ads for L. M. Montgomery Books, 9 titles, the latest this book. Front flap: ad for Mistress Pat; rear flap: ads for L.M. Montgomery Books, 7 titles, the latest Pat of Silverbush.
ALSO: Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Ltd., [1935]. First Canadian edition. "Copyright, 1935" stated on © page. Bright green cloth, silver lettering, top-edge green. Colour frontis w/ tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Pictorial wrappers; rear ads for L. M. Montgomery Books, 9 titles, the latest Pat of Silverbush. Front flap: ad for Pat of Silverbush; rear flap: ad for Courageous Woman.
1936Anne of Windy PoplarsNew York: Frederick A. Stokes,, MDCCCXXXVIFirst American edition. "Copyright, 1936" stated on © page. Beige cloth, maroon lettering, top-edge dark purple.
Dust jacket: Pictorial wrappers; rear panel: ads for L. M. Montgomery Books, 9 titles, the latest Mistress Pat. Front flap: ad for Anne of Windy Poplars; rear flap: ads for L.M. Montgomery Books, 9 titles, the latest Mistress Pat.
ALSO: Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Ltd., [1936]. First Canadian edition. "Copyright, 1936" stated on © page. Beige cloth, maroon lettering, top-edge dark purple.
Dust jacket: Pictorial wrappers; rear ads for L. M. Montgomery Books, 10 titles, the latest Pat of Silverbush. Front flap: ad for Anne of Windy Poplars; rear flap: ad for Mistress Pat
1937Jane of Lantern HillNew York: Frederick A. Stokes,, MDCCCXXXVIIFirst American edition. "Copyright, 1937" stated on © page. Bright green cloth, gilt lettering, top-edge green. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Pictorial wrappers, black lettering; rear panel: ads for L. M. Montgomery Books, 9 titles, the latest Mistress Pat. Front flap: ad for Jane of Lantern Hill; rear flap: ads for Anne of Windy Poplars.
ALSO: Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Ltd., [1937]. First Canadian edition. "Copyright, 1937" stated on © page. Bright green cloth, gilt lettering, top-edge green. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Pictorial wrappers, gilt lettering; rear ads for Home Grown, The Country Kitchen. Front flap: ad for Jane of Lantern Hill; rear flap: ad for L. M. Montgomery Books, 12 titles, the latest Anne of Windy Poplars
1939Anne of InglesideNew York: Frederick A. Stokes,, MDCCCXXXIXFirst American edition. "Copyright, 1939" stated on © page. Medium blue cloth, gilt lettering, top-edge greenish-blue. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Pictorial wrappers, yellow lettering; rear panel: ads for L. M. Montgomery Books, 8 titles, the latest Jane of Lantern Hill. Front flap: ad for Anne of Ingleside; rear flap: ads for Anne of Windy Poplars.
ALSO: Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Ltd., [1939]. First Canadian edition. "Copyright, 1939" stated on © page. Medium blue cloth, gilt lettering, top-edge greenish-blue. Colour frontis w/ caption tissue guard.
Dust jacket: Pictorial wrappers, yellow lettering; rear ads for Anne of Ingleside. Front flap: re L. M. Montgomery; rear flap: ad for L. M. Montgomery Books, 13 titles, the latest Jane of Lantern Hill.

Lucy Maud Montgomery – First Printing Dust Jackets Identification Guide

Gallery of First state Dust Jackets of L. M. Montgomery’s works. Only includes the first appearance in book form. Either the US or Canadian editions and does not include later printings.

Reference:

  • Wikipedia
  • Ruth Weber Russell, D. W. Russell, Rea Wilmhurst – Lucy Maud Montgomery: A Preliminary Bibliography
  • Frank & Juanita Lechowik – A Collector’s Guide to L. M. Montgomery First

BOOKSTORE: Rare, Antiquarian, First editions, Illustrated Children's Books

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