Book Collecting

G.W. Carleton & Co. / G.W. Dillingham

The company was established in 1857 by George W. Carleton and Edward P. Rudd. After the death of Rudd in 1861, Carleton carried on the business alone under his own name until 1871 when he partnered with George W. Dillingham and changed the company named to G.W. Carleton & Co. When Carleton retired in 1886, Dillingham became head of the firm until his death in 1895. Under the management of Dillingham’s son, Frank, the company was incorporated as G.W. Dillingham Co. in 1896. The business went bankrupt in 1916.

Some notable works and authors include the first American (and first English) edition of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, English translations of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, and works by P. T. Barnum.

First Edition Identification

First editions from G.W. Carleton & Co. either have the same date on the title page and the copyright page or the date on the title page is one year later than the date on the copyright page with no additional listings printed.

G.W. Dillingham publications display no statement on first editions.