176. Distinguish editions by the number, the name of the editor,
translator, etc., and by mentioning in parentheses (not brackets) after
the imprint the collection, library, series, to which it belongs, or
the name of the society by which it is published.
_Ex._ 4th ed., 10th thous., New ed., ed. by T. Good, (Bohn’s standard
library), (Weale’s series, v. 20), (Camden Soc., v. 3). It is shorter
and nearly as useful to give Bohn, Weale, etc., as publishers in the
imprint,—London, _Bohn_, 1867. O.
The various editions of different volumes may be stated thus:
«Hales», Stephen. Statical essays. (Vol. 1, 3d ed.) London, 1738, 33. 2v. O.
The specification of edition is necessary: (1) for the student, who
often wants a particular edition and cares no more for another than he
would for an entirely different work; (2) in the library service, to
prevent the rejection of works which are not really duplicates. And
the number of the edition is a fact in the literary history of the
author worth preserving under his name; under the subject it is some
guarantee for the repute, if not for the value, of the work.
177. Full will note carefully whether there is any change in a new
edition, or whether it is merely what the Germans call a title-edition
(the same matter with a new title-page). Medium and Short generally
content themselves with noting the number of the edition. Short often
takes no notice of the edition. {74}