Jonathan Cape & Harrison Smith (New York, US)
Series dates: 1929-1930
Size: 4.75″ x 7″
Jonathan Cape (London, UK)
Series dates: 1937
Size: 4.75″ x 7″
Jonathan Cape & Harrison Smith was a New York publishing firm established in 1928. They published Faulkner and other notable American authors. They issued about 20 titles as the New Library in 1929-1930, all non-fiction and all true first editions, published for the first time in this series.
A copy of the first printing of Ernest Jones Psycho-Analysis (1929) in the New Library. The jackets are classic abstract art deco, common to books in this initial New Library series. “Reading Makes a Free Man.” The book is introduced on the front jacket flap. The series name is not indicated on the jacket spine, front or front flap.
The back jacket contains a prospectus for the series and lists 14 titles. One of the series titles (A History of Music) is advertised on the back jacket flap.
Black cloth binding with minimal red decorations.
The title page includes the series name.
Copyright page also includes printer information.
Jonathan Cape (London) revived the New Library in 1937 with a series from Cape’s back catalog. Ten titles were originally issued, the only titles issued in the series.
The 1937 series is printed on a common two-color jacket. Reviews of the book are on the front jacket flap in the case of this, number 4 in the series, Hugh Edwards’ All Night at Mr. Stanyhurst’s. Price (2s./6d.) is printed on the spine.
The first (and only) titles in the series are listed on the back of the jacket. The rear jacket flap is blank. The price is indicated again.
Covers are lime green cloth with the series logo on front. The series is indicated at the base of the spine.
The half title page indicates the artist, Eric Fraser, who illustrated the book. These illustrations are likely carried over from the original edition. The series name and number is indicated at the bottom of the page.
Another list of titles in the New Library faces the title page.
Publication and publisher data is indicated on the copyright page.
An illustration opens and closes the book.
A second jacket, Geraint Goodwin’s Conversations with George Moore, with a 3s./6d. sticker replacing the original price on the jacket spine and back.
