Book Block Plate Varieties (Regular Editions)

On occasion Modern Library found it necessary to replace worn out plates from which book blocks were printed. In the process the page count would sometimes change—even radically—even though no (or minimal) content changes occurred. The following table lists these varieties.

Note that the real essential difference in these printings was the page count and not the content.

If you know of other titles with new plate printings that resulted in a modified page count without other change to content, please let us know.

Thanks to Bill Hornick for all his research and hard work on this project. Additional contributions from Vincent Civiletti.

Tole #
Author
Title
Plates/Edition
Dates
Page Count
13.1 Butler The Way of All Flesh Original 1917-1939
410
New 1940-1950
562
275.1 Conrad Nostromo Original 1951-1967
631
New 1967-1969
566
327.1 Gide The Counterfeiters/Journal Original 1962-1969
431
New 1969-1975
467
17.1 Hardy The Mayor of Casterbridge Original 1917-1947
318
New 1947-1950
432
109.1 Lawrence Sons And Lovers Original 1922-1928
517
Revised 1928-1932
New 1933-1961
491
27.2 Maugham The Moon And Sixpence Original 1935-1945
314
New 1946-1969
341
176.1 Maugham Of Human Bondage Original 1930-1945
766
2nd 1946-1967
760
3rd 1967-1975
684
14.1 Meredith Diana Of The Crossways Original 1917-1930
365
New 1931-1975
447
154.1 Rostand Cyrano De Bergerac Original 1929-1953
322
New 1953-1968(?)
300
97.2 Whitman Leaves of Grass Original 1929-1944
311
New 1945-1950
410
142.1 Zola Nana Original 1928-1944
517
New 1945-1963
545

We don't know the difference between these two printings. If you know the difference, please let us know.