New Librarian - question about original publication dates

[Eve]

Hello,
I'm a brand new librarian and thought I'd start by editing the books in my own shelves. When I organise my books by year published, The Rover by Aphra Behn sticks out in the 1960s when it's actually a restoration comedy. The edition gives the copyright as 1969 but the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography says that it was 'anonymously published in 1677'. Which date should be used in the original publication date field? Apologies if this is a silly question but I don't want to make a mistake on my first edit!

Eve

[rivka, Former Moderator]

It looks like the second part was actually published 1681. So I'd call the original pub date 1677 for any versions containing solely the first part, and 1681 for any containing both (or just the second).

Also, definitely not a silly question. :) And welcome!

[Shay]

Something I never thought of... if something like The Rover (which is obviously in the public domain) is rereleased with a new introduction, does that change the copyright date? Because the introduction is new, original text? See link- that particular version has a new intro.

http://www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/index....

[rivka, Former Moderator]

It would affect the pub date for the specific edition, but not for the work overall.

[Eve]

Thank you for this. As far as I can see, there is no mention of part two on this page http://www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/index.... so I have changed it to 1677. My first edit :)