Known Editions And Publication Dates
The Original Tales were published from 8th November 1834 in weekly installments through to 24th October 1840, by which time 312 editions had been published containing 474 tales.
Wilson originally self-published the tales, but the publishing rights were sold out to John Sutherland of Edinburgh shortly after his death.
There were various “reprints” as the ongoing publishing continued and they were subsequently available in 6, 3 and 2 volume sets, of similar dimensions to a family bible.
Smaller format versions subsequently became available in the late 1800s, principally published by the Walter Scott Publishing Co., who’s edition extended to 24 Volumes.
A one volume selection of The Tales were published in 1934, the centenary of their first publication, which was released again in 1947.
Publishing rights seem to have been owned by various companies over the years and indeed in different parts of the world. There were certainly American, Australian, Canadian and even a German edition in both English and German!
Not all editions actually include the publication date, but research of copies in private ownership, public libraries and available through on line book sellers seem to suggest publications subsequent to the originals in:
1830s
John Sutherland, Edinburgh
1840s(?)
Robert R Sutherland, Edinburgh
1840s
James Ainsworth, Manchester
1848
Robert T Shannon, New York.
1857-59
Revised edition, edited by Alex Leighton. W P Nimmo.
1857
Ward & Lock
William P Nimmo
Thomas & Niven (Australian editions)
1860s(?)
Adam & Co.
John G Murdoch, London & Melbourne
Johnson, Fry & Co. (American edition)
W.R. McPhun & Son, Glasgow & London
1869
The Walter Scott publishing Co.
1870s(?)
William Mackenzie
The Grand Coliseum Warehousing Co.
(Founded by Walter Wilson in 1869)
Croome & Co, London
James Gemmel
Richard Edward King, Ltd, London
James Semple, Glasgow
1870
The Tyne Publishing Co.
1877
Ward Locke & Bowden
1880
Gall & Inglis
1881
The Edinburgh Publishing Co.
edited with notes by James Tait
Joseph Irving
1883
McCready
1884
S Cowan & Co.
1884
Cassell & Co. Cassell’s “Red Library”
1885(?)
Gressner & Schramm, Leipzig
Brook & Chrystal, Manchester
James Askew, Manchester “Gems of Literature Series”
Richard Edward King
1888
Walter Scott
1889
Walter Scott
Alexander Deane & Co. 3 Bath Street, Glasgow
W G Horner, Toronto
1890
Adam & Co.
1892
Walter Scott
1895
Gall & Inglis
1899
Ward, Locke & Bowden
1907
Gall & Inglis
Gall & Inglis, Published as part of “The Stirring Tales Series”. The Faa’s Revenge by J M Wilson and others.
1911
Gall & Inglis
1934
The Moray Press
1947
The Ettrick Press
1991
Mainstream Publishing, edited by Michael Brander,
“The Tales” were seldom out of print in the 1800s and were still being given as school prizes in the early 20th century.
“Print on demand editions” can be purchased on the internet , based on scans of the originals for around £30, but as single volumes of original issues can be picked up for less than this, an original would seem a better buy.
The Wilson's Tales project started publishing their edited revival editions in 2014.
[updated 07.06.2025]