Question of the Day - Thursday, August 7th, 2025

[casportpony]

Today's question is from @Evadig:

What’s the copyright decade of the oldest book in your house?

I have no idea!

 

[NotabitaiI]

All of my books are packed right now but I do have a first edition Wizard of Oz and I think that's the oldest book I own.

 

[muddy75]

I have an old school primer from my grandparents. I’m not sure of the date. My book collection was destroyed by mice while in storage

 

[Finchbreeder]

Goodness knows - there are all sorts here from Russell Kingston's 1st Finch Book to some Comics that came out before my kids were born.

 

[Sammster]

I have an old school primer from my grandparents. I’m not sure of the date. My book collection was destroyed by mice while in storage

I'm sorry about your books. But the Primer- what a treasure!

 

[sourland]

 

[CCsGarden]

I don't know!

 

[azurbanclucker]

Off the top of my head, I'd say the printing of Macbeth from the 1880's (and even that's really the printing date, Shakespeare was in the public domain long before that was a thing). Most of my books are packed and the ones that are out are all modern f/sf paperbacks.

 

[C Siena]

We have these two, which are easily accessed. First 3 pictures are of The Holy Bible, 1850AD.
The second book is from 1890AD, The White House Cookbook. It's hard to make out the date in the picture. The first printing was 1887, the second 1890. It's enjoyable to just read this cookbook.

We have more Catholic prayer books from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Sorry for the sideway pictures.

 

[pikapika]

I love this question!

Oldest copyright date is 1882, but it's a recent reprint: Practical Dog Training by S.T. Hammond

Oldest physical book is from 1944: How To Train Dogs by Henry R. East.

I collect vintage dog training books, hence the subject matter.