1.

The Crowning of Florence Nightingale.

The first Dime Dialogue was published by Irwin P. Beadle from 137 William Street, and in its earliest form bears no serial number. The imprint is Irwin P. Beadle, and not Irwin P. Beadle & Co. Erastus Beadle had come to New York in the autumn of 1858 and, with Robert Adams, had established the office of The Home — Beadle & Adams, Publishers — at 333 Broadway, but on the first of May, 1859, removed to 137 William Street. Irwin, also at 333 Broadway, removed at the same time, for his Dime Song Book, No. 2, was published July 27, 1859, and bears the 137 William Street address. The first Dialogue was filed for copyright July 20, 1859, but had been announced in Song Book No. 2, as ready July 13. This unnumbered issue is a small volume, 5 7/8 by 3 ¾ inches in size, with trimmed edges and stabbed binding, in pale cream wrappers which bear the cut of a dime on the front, but no other illustration. The title page reads: "The Dime Dialogues. Designed especially for schools, exhibitions, and families, by Louis Legrand, M.D." The book has 72 pages and several pages of advertisements of Irwin P. Beadle's Handbooks, namely, a Cook Book, a Recipe Book, a Dime Dialogue, a Dime Speaker, and two Dime Song Books.

Later, the book was reissued by Irwin P. Beadle & Co., 137 William Street. It has buff covers, with no illustration on the front, and is somewhat different in design from the preceding. There is additional material, the pages do not correspond in appearance to the original, for new type was used, and the title page was marked "Revised and Enlarged Edition." The contents of the first 76 pages are identical with the 72 of the original edition, but page 6, the first page of dialogues, becomes page 10, and new material was added at the end to bring the number up to 99. The book was deposited in the copyright office April 28, 1864. The size is 6 3/8 by 4 1/8 inches.

Still later, No. 1 was issued in cream colored covers of the same form as the preceding, by Beadle & Co., 118 William Street, and was deposited for copyright on January 16, 1864. After that it came out with an illustration on the front cover, "The Crowning of Florence Nightingale," and had the usual orange wrappers. It is 6 ½ by 4 ¼ inches in size, and has the same contents as the former revised version. Still more recent imprints are those of Beadle & Co., 98 William Street, and Beadle & Adams, 98 William Street, the latter on both good and pulp paper. Finally M. J. Ivers & Co. reissued it (copyrighted December 29, 1898) on pulp paper, in the same form as the preceding. The cut of the dime does not occur on the front wrapper.

2.

Who Speaks of Trailing the American Flag in the Dust.

The first edition of No. 2 is of the same size as the first edition of No. 1. It has a grayish-cream cover of the same design, and the title page is also similar. There are 80 pages. Louis Legrand is given as the editor, and Irwin P. Beadle & Co., 141 William Street, as publishers. Later the book was advertised November 3, 1860 by the firm under its new name, Beadle & Co., but from the same address.⁽¹⁾ Still later copies have wrappers with the new address, but the title pages of many, perhaps all, copies retain the Irwin P. Beadle & Co. imprint, either because the stereotype was not changed, or, more probably, because these copies had already been printed, and new grayish wrappers only were put on.

The second edition of No. 2, marked "Revised and enlarged edition," has the first 80 pages exactly the same as the preceding, but 16 pages were added. The cover is cream colored, wrapper and title page read Beadle & Co., 118 William Street, but the name Louis Legrand is omitted as editor. The copyright date is December 8, 1863.

The third edition has the usual orange wrappers of the Dime Novels, and has a picture on the front illustrating the dialogue with the title given above. The format is slightly larger and is the same as that of the Dime Novels and the succeeding dialogues. The publishers were Beadle & Co., 118 William Street. There are 97 pages of dialogues, one blank page and two of advertisements. Actually the number of pages is less, for Beadle cheated a bit on preliminary pages.

Still later editions bear whatever firm name and address was current at the time of issue.

3.

All Hail! Our Queen of May.

No copy of this issue has been seen by me with the Irwin P. Beadle & Co. imprint on title page and wrapper. The Home for October, 1859, says that No. 3 is "In press," but the New York Tribune, February 15, 1862, still lists only two numbers of the Dialogues. Apparently this number was not issued until long after the firm had become Beadle & Co., and had moved to 118 William Street in 1863. While the Library of Congress copy has written in it the date of deposit for copyright as February 2, 1865, the booklet was actually issued on January 3, 1865, according to newspaper advertisements. The cover of the first edition is cream colored, but the booklet is of the size of the Dime Novels. There are 96 pages plus several of advertisements of other Beadle publications. Louis Legrand is still given as "Editor."

Later editions of No. 3 have but 97 pages, plus 11 of advertisements. The book was entirely reset, but the contents are the same. It was copyrighted in 1868 by Beadle & Co., who were then at 118 William Street. Subsequent editions are similar to those issued for No. 2. The latest copyright date is 1887 by Beadle & Adams. The cover cut illustrates the dialogue whose title is given above.

4.

The Frost King and Summer Queen.

This number still appeared originally in cream or buff wrappers, although later editions were enclosed in orange. From now on, the Dialogues contain from 85 to 96 pages and average over 90. Louis Legrand was still given as editor of No. 4, but thereafter his name was omitted. Beadle & Co. published No. 4 from 118 William Street. It was put on sale April 13, 1866, ⁽²⁾ and was deposited for copyright June 15, 1866. The cut on the cover illustrates the dialogue whose title is given above.

Reissues of this and all succeeding numbers came from the various publishing addresses as mentioned above.

5.

Sentiment.

Beginning with this number, the wrappers are typical dime-novel orange, even in the first editions. There is no title given to the cut on the cover, but a picture, illustrating one of the dialogues in each booklet, appears in all succeeding numbers. Louis Legrand's name is omitted from the title page of this and all the following numbers. The booklet was copyrighted ⁽³⁾ April 13, 1867, but put on sale February 8, 1867. ⁽⁴⁾ A later edition, (c) 1887, has only 86 pages, but the contents are the same but set in different sized type. Beadle & Co., 118 William Street, were the publishers.

6.

The Libel Suit. Advertised as "Ready" April 28, 1867. Beadle & Co., 118 William Street, Publishers.

Hereafter, reprints are not listed, it being understood that as the stock of the earlier booklets became exhausted, they were reprinted with the current address of the publishers on the title page and wrappers.

7.

Boarding School Accomplishments.

On the first of May, 1868, Beadle & Co. moved to 98 William Street, and subsequent Dialogues bear this address. It will, therefore, not be repeated under the following numbers. Dialogues No. 7 was deposited for copyright May 30, 1868. It has the usual orange covers and 96 pages.

8.

Getting a Photograph.

Advertised as "In Press" in November, 1869, consequently probably appeared late in the year, (c) 1869. 94 pages.

9.

Mrs. McLackland's Economy. (c) 1870. "Ready" September 1, 1870. ⁽⁵⁾ Ninety-six pages plus six pages of advertisements.

10.

Lord Dundreary's Visit. (c) 1871. Announced ⁽⁶⁾ for April 1, 1871, but the advertisement in the front of Speaker No. 12, says it was "Published, Saturday, April 15." Ninety-six pages.

This number contains an apparently unrecorded dialogue by Mark Twain, "Mrs. Mark Twain's Shoe," which is probably its first appearance in book form. The publishers' imprint on both wrapper and title page of first editions and early printings, is Beadle & Co.

11.

Masterpiece. (c) 1871. Advertised ⁽⁷⁾ January 6, 1872. Ninety-four pages.

12.

When I was Young. (c) 1872. "Now ready," May 11, 1872. ⁽⁸⁾ Ninety-four pages.

13.

A Curbstone Moral. (c) 1872. "Just published," December 14, 1872. ⁽⁹⁾ 94 pages.

On the 1st of July, 1872, the old firm name, Beadle & Adams, used in the publication of The Home in 1859, was resumed. No. 13 and all succeeding number, of the Dialogues, as well as all reprints made after this date, until the dissolution of the firm, bear this imprint.

14.

More than One Listener. (c) 1874. Advertised ⁽¹⁰⁾ April 18, 1874, as "New." Ninety-six pages.

15.

Aunt Polly's Lesson. (c) 1874. Advertised August 11, 1874. Ninety-six pages.

16.

Stratagem. (c) 1875. "Ready, October 15, 1875." ⁽¹¹⁾ Ninety-two pages.

17.

Little Folks' Speeches and Dialogues. Cover illustration is of a little boy declaiming, (c) 1876. It was "In Press" ⁽¹²⁾ March 25, 1876, and "Ready," April 1. Ninety-three pages.

18.

Too Greedy by Half. (c) 1876. Ninety-five pages.

19.

The California Uncle. (c) 1877. "New," ⁽¹³⁾ May 5, 1877.

20.

Couldn't Read English. (c) 1877. Advertised ⁽¹⁴⁾ February 16, 1878. Ninety-two pages.

21.

Wit against Wit. (c) 1878. Advertised March 19, 1878. Ninety-two pages.

22.

The Dark Cupid. (c) 1878. Advertised ⁽¹⁵⁾ June 15, 1878. Ninety-two pages.

23.

Rhoda Hunt's Remedy. (c) 1878. Advertised ⁽¹⁶⁾ January 4, 1879. Ninety-one pages.

24.

The Goddess of Liberty. (c) 1879. Advertised ⁽¹⁷⁾ May 3, 1879. Ninety-two pages.

25.

The Societies of the Delectables and Les Miserables. (c) 1879. "Just published," ⁽¹⁸⁾ November 29, 1879.

26.

The Canvassing Agent. (c) 1880. Advertised ⁽¹⁹⁾ May 22, 1880. Ninety-five pages.

27.

Patsy O'Dowd's Campaign. (c) 1880. Advertised ⁽²⁰⁾ December 18, 1880. Ninety-two pages.

28.

An Agreeable Profession. (c) 1881. Deposited for copyright May 17, 1881. Advertised ⁽²⁰⁾ May 7, 1881. Ninety-two pages plus advertisements.

29.

Who Shall Have the Dictionary? (c) 1881. Advertised ⁽²²⁾ December 24, 1881. Ninety-two pages.

30.

A Fortunate Mistake. (c) 1883. Advertised ⁽²³⁾ February 24, 1882. Ninety-one pages.

31.

Sloman's Angel. (c) 1884. "Just out," ⁽²⁴⁾ April 5, 1884. Ninety pages.

32.

A Persecuted Man. (c) 1885. "Just published," ⁽²⁵⁾ March 28, 1885. Ninety pages.

33.

The Wrong Trunk. (c) 1886. "Just published," ⁽²⁶⁾ March 20, 1886.

34.

A Much Misunderstood Man. (c) 1887. Advertised ⁽²⁷⁾ April 23, 1887. Ninety pages.

35.

Mrs. Bigson's Victory. (c) 1887. Advertised ⁽²⁸⁾ December 24, 1887. Ninety-one pages.

36.

Philomalian Literary Society. (c) 1889. "Just out," ⁽²⁹⁾ March 23, 1889. Ninety pages plus advertisements.

37.

The McFlackertys and McDoozlers. (c) 1890. "Just out," ⁽³⁰⁾ March 1, 1890. Ninety-one pages plus advertisements.

38.

What Happened to Hannah. (c) 1890. "Now ready," ⁽³¹⁾ December 27, 1890. Ninety pages plus advertisements.

39.

Hospitality. (c) 1891. Advertised ⁽³²⁾ December 5, 1891. Ninety-two pages plus advertisements.

40.

The Widow's Might. (c) 1892. Advertised ⁽³³⁾ December 10, 1892. Ninety-one pages plus advertisements.

41.

The Thirteen Original States. (c) 1894. "Just published," ⁽³⁴⁾ November 24, 1894. Ninety-two pages plus advertisements. This is the first and only number of the Dialogues which, on first appearance, did not have the cut of a dime in the title of the series.

Perhaps Readings and Dramas should be included here, although it does not belong to the numbered series. Evidently it was the intention of Beadle & Adams to issue a new series, for this publication was advertised ⁽³⁵⁾ as a "New 20 Cent Series," November 13, 1875. However, this seems to be the only number ever issued. It contained 164 pages, and was edited by Prof. A. M. Russell.