Penguin First Editions :: Early First Edition Penguin Books

Penguin Books produced Classified Lists of their publications. The lists included all books in stock at the time of publication, with some information about forthcoming books. The Classified Lists were organised with sections according to subject matter, some listing the books in different Penguin Series, and with an index of Titles and Authors.

Penguin also produced Classified Lists in the U.S.A., and a range of other lists, such as for King Penguins, Puffins and Classics - which are also included below.

On other pages (links above) you can find issues of Penguin News and the Penguin Stocklists which Penguin produced "for use by book-traders only".

Information and cover photographs of Penguin Classified Lists Series:

Classified List 1946	Issue: May 1946 Title: CLASSIFIED LIST Pages: 64pp. plus covers Printer: Hunt, Barnard and Co Ltd The second image shows the inside cover and title page of the booklet The third image shows the contents page and first page of Classified List The fourthimage shows the back cover with a list of 'Agents and Associated Companies' of Penguin Books Ltd in 1946
Classified List April 1949	Issue: April 1949 Title: CLASSIFIED LIST Pages: 24pp. Printer: Hunt, Barnard and Co Ltd Size: 3¼" x 4¾" Second image shows back cover.
Classified List October 1949	Issue: October 1949 Title: CLASSIFIED LIST Pages: 24pp. Printer: King and Hutchings Ltd
Classified List 1949-1950	Issue: c. 1949-1950 Title: PUFFINS PROGRESS Pages: 16pp. Printer: The Vase Press The second image shows the complete cover
Classified List of King Penguins 1950	Issue: 1950 Title: KING PENGUIN BOOKS: A COMPLETE DESCRIPTIVE LIST 1950 Pages: 16pp. Printer: The Curwen Press Ltd The second image shows an order form for King Penguins. The third image shows a specimen page (colour plate) which was also included in the King Penguin booklet alongside the order form.
Classified List 1951	Issue: 1951 Title: THE YEAR'S PENGUINS: A list of Penguins, Pelicans and Puffins issued by Penguin Books Ltd during 1951 Pages: 8pp. Printer: King and Hutchings Ltd
Classified List USA 1951	Issue: Fall 1951 Catalogue (USA) Title: PENGUIN BOOKS AND RELATED SERIES Pages: 32pp.
Classified List Spring 1952	Issue: Spring 1952 Title: CLASSIFIED LIST Pages: 48pp. Printer: Hunt, Barnard and Co Ltd
Classified List Autumn 1952	Issue: Autumn 1952 Title: CLASSIFIED LIST Pages: 48pp. Printer: King and Hutchings Ltd
Classified List Spring 1953	Issue: Spring 1953 Title: CLASSIFIED LIST Pages: 56pp. Printer: King and Hutchings Ltd
Winter List 1953	Issue: 1953 Winter Title: A SELCTION OF BOOKS FOR WINTER 1953 Pages: 24pp. Printer: C. Nicholls and Co Ltd The second image shows a copy of the front of the order form 'Give Penguins at Christmas'
Classified List 1954	Issue: 1954 Title: CLASSIFIED LIST Pages: 72pp. Printer: C. Nicholls and Co Ltd The second image shows the design on the back of the booklet
Classified List 1955	Issue: 1955 Title: CLASSIFIED LIST Pages: 96pp. Printer: Harrison and Sons Ltd
Classified List USA 1955	Issue: 1955 Title: TEN YEARS OF THE PENGUIN CLASSICS Pages: 16pp. Printer: Westerham Press, Great Britain Published: by Penguin Books Inc, Baltimore Probably published at the start of 1955. The second image shows the design on the back of the booklet with printer. The third image shows some of content, USA prices, and contains a statement that a particular book "will be published early in 1955".
List October 1955	Issue: 27 October 1955 Title: THE NEW PENGUINS ready 27 October 1955 Pages: 12pp.
Classified List 1956	Issue: 1956 Title: CLASSIFIED LIST Pages: 96pp. Printer: C. Nicholls and Co Ltd
Classified List USA mid 1950's	Issue: c. mid 1950's? Classified Catalogue (USA) Title: CLASSIFIED CATALOGUE - PENGUINS, PELICANS, CLASSICS, KINGS, PUFFINS and RELATED SERIES Pages: 38pp.
Puffins List mid 1950's	Issue: c. mid 1950's Title: PUFFINS GALORE Pages: 8 page/16 side fold-out
Classified List 1957	Issue: 1957 Title: CLASSIFIED LIST Cover design: by Edwin Fabian Pages: 96pp. Printer: C. Nicholls and Co Ltd The second image shows the design on the back of the booklet
USA Classified 1957/58	Issue: USA Catalogue 1957/58 Title: PENGUIN PELICAN CLASSIFIED CATALOGUE 1957/58 REVISION Cover design: by M. Glaser Pages: Printer: Garamond Press, Baltimore Booklet sent to Hans Schmoller
Classified List 1958	Issue: 1958 Title: CLASSIFIED LIST Cover design: by John Griffiths Pages: 96pp. Printer: C. Nicholls and Co Ltd The second image shows the design on the back of the booklet
Puffins List late 1950's	Issue: c. late 1950's Title: PUFFIN BOOKS FOR CHILDREN Pages: 24pp
Classified List 1959	Issue: 1959 Title: CLASSIFIED LIST Pages: 104pp. Printer: C. Nicholls and Co Ltd
Classified List 1959	Issue: first half 1959 Title: PENGUINS FOR SPRING Cover design: by Marc. Pages: 8pp.
Classified List 1960	Issue: 1960 Title: CLASSIFIED LIST Cover design: by George Him Pages: 104pp. Printer: C. Nicholls and Co Ltd The second image shows the design on the back of the booklet
Classified List USA c. 1961	Issue: c. 1961 USA Title: PENGUIN PELICAN BOOKS - CLASSIFIED CATALOG Pages: 62pp. Produced on 21st Birthday of Penguins in America
Classified List 1962	Issue: 1962 Title: CLASSIFIED LIST Cover design: by Brian Wildsmith Pages: 128pp. Printer: C. Nicholls and Co Ltd The second image shows the design on the back of the booklet
Classified List Poets 1962	Issue: Poets 1962 Title: PENGUIN POETS Cover pattern: by Stephen Russ Pages: 20pp. A small sized booklet
Classified List USA 1960's ?	Issue: early 1960's? Descriptive Catalogue (USA) Title: PENGUIN BOOKS: DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE - PELICANS, CLASSICS, KINGS, PUFFINS Pages:
Classics List 1963	Issue: Spring 1963 Title: THE PENGUIN CLASSICS: A CURRENT CATALOGUE Cover design: the front cover is adapted from the Odyssey, the back cover from Confessio Amantis Pages: 16pp. Printer: C. Nicholls and Co Ltd The second image shows the design on the back of the booklet
Classified List Puffins 1963-1964	Issue: Puffins 1963-1964 Title: THE PUFFIN CATALOGUE 1963-1964 Cover design: probably by, or in style of, Ronald Searle Pages: 32pp. Printer: Hazells Offset Ltd Booklet owned by Hans Schmoller
Modern Classics List c. 1963	Issue: c. 1963 Title: GREAT BOOKS OF OUR TIME: PENGUIN MODERN CLASSICS - A NEW SERIES Pages: 6pp., 3pp. x 2 sides fold-out
Classified List 1969	Issue: March 1969 Title: PENGUIN BOOKS: AUTHOR/TITLE; TITLE/AUTHOR; INDEX Pages: 110pp. Printer: Cox and Wyman Ltd
A Penguin Book List 1976-1977	Issue: 1976 - 1977 Title: PENGUIN HUMANITIES CATALOGUE: Art and Architecture, History, Music, Philosophy, Religion, World Literature Pages: 112pp. Printer: Hillingdon Press
Classified List 1979	Issue: January 1979 Title: PENGUIN: AUTHOR/TITLE TITLE AUTHOR INDEX - Includes Open Market, Kestrel and Allen Lane Titles, January 1979 Pages: 44pp. Printer: Surrey Fine Art Press Ltd 'International' index
Classified List 1983	Issue: 29 September 1983 Title: PENGUIN: AUTHOR/TITLE INDEX - A complete listing of all paperback books published under the Penguin imprints and available on 29 September 1983 Pages: 112pp.
Classified List 1984	Issue: 1984 Title: THE WORLD OF PENGUIN: THE PUBLISHER'S COMPLETE CATALOGUE Authors: Andrew Langley, Tessa Strickland and Elizabeth Lamont Design: by Logos Design and Advertising Illustration: photography by Basement Pages: 208pp. Printer: Typesetting by Richard Clay (The Chaucer Press) Ltd; Reproduction by Clarke and Sherwell Ltd; Printed by HunterPrint Ltd Price: £1.00
Classified List 1985/6	Issue: 1985/6 Title: THE BIG PUFFIN CATALOGUE 1985/6 Date Published: Spring 1985 Pages: 56pp. The second images shows the back cover. Images and additional information courtesy of Andy Rigby
Classified List 1991	Issue: 1991 Title: HAPPY BIRTHDAY PUFFIN - 1991 CATALOGUE - 50 YEARS Pages: 88pp.
Classified List early 1990's	Issue: early 1990's Title: PENGUIN CLASSICS: THE COMPLETE PENGUIN CLASSICS CATALOGUE Introduction: by Peter Carson, Editor-in-chief Cover illustration: shows 'Girl Reading' c.1910 by Roderick O'Connor Pages: 96pp.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: penguinfirsteditions.com gratefully acknowledges the kind permission of PENGUIN BOOKS LTD. (UK) to reproduce its book covers and, where incorporated, its various logos. We would remind users of this site that, as appropriate, Penguin Books Ltd. and its designers retain their copyright and/or intellectual property in the relevant material.