In its present form the first volume is dedicated anonymously to Mr. Arthur Maynwaring, while the second has the other three dedications. One, to Edward Wortley Montague, signed Isaac Bickerstaff, has the note: "The Dedication foregoing belongs to the Second Volume of Tatlers in Octavo; which begins with N^o 51, and ends with N^o 114". One, to William, Lord Cowper, signed Richard Steele, has the note: "The foregoing Dedication belongs to the Third Volume of Tatlers in Octavo, which begins with N^o. 115, and ends with N^o. 189." The last one, dedicated to Charles, Lord Halifax, also signed by Steele, has a note which reads: "This Dedication belongs to the Fourth Volume of Tatlers in Octavo, which begins with N^o 190, and ends with N^o 271."
Aitken tells us that, "Like other publications of the time, the successive numbers of the Tatler were reprinted in Dublin and Edinburgh, as they came out. The Dublin issue was in quarto form, the Edinburgh paper a folio sheet, rather smaller than the original, and with a fresh set of advertisements of interest to local readers."
In No. 102, our editor says of the octavo edition:
"Whereas I am informed, That there is a ſpurious and very incorrect Edition of theſe Papers printed in a ſmall Volume; Theſe are to give Notice, That there is in the Preſs, and will ſpeedily be publiſhed, a very neat Edition, fitted for the Pocket, on extraordinary good Paper, a new Brevier Letter, like the Elzevir Editions, and adorned with ſeveral Cuts by the beſt Artiſts. To which is added, a Preface, Index, and many Notes, for the better Explanation of theſe Lucubrations. By the Author. Who has reviſed, amended, and made many Additions to the Whole." In the last number he says again: "The Third Volume of theſe Lucubrations being juſt finiſh'd, on a large Letter in Octavo, ſuch as pleaſe to ſubſcribe for it on a Royal Paper, to keep up their Sets, are deſired to ſend their Names to Charles Lillie, Perfumer, at the Corner of Beauford-Buildings, in the Strand, or John Morphew near Stationers Hall, where the Firſt and Second Volumes are to be deliver'd."
The price of the corrected work in four quarto volumes, if bought of the printer, was £1 per volume on royal paper, and ten shillings on medium paper; and it is gratifying to learn that the work met with so great a success that there was hardly a name eminent at the time which was not subscribed.