THE HYDE PARK BOOK STORE'S

INDEX OF PUBLISHING HOUSES

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Laidlaw Bros. 1919

Laird & Lee 1883

Lamson, Wolffe 9999

Lane Publishing 1946

Lea & Febringer 1802

Lee & Shepard 1861

Leslie Publishing 1855

Leypoldt & Holt 1873

Lippincott 1836

Little, Brown 1837

Little and Ives 1980

Loeb, James 1911

Loring & Mussey 1933

Lothrop 1868

Lovell 1876







1837---LITTLE, BROWN & CO.

This Boston firm was founded by James Brown (died 1855) and Charles Little (died 1869), and James' son, James P. Brown.

Over the years there was long list of partners, James W. McIntyre, John Murray Brown, Charles W. Allen, John Bartlett, but it was Augustus Flagg who developed the firm into a major publishing house.

Little, Brown began as a publisher of law books. By 1865 it the world's largest producer of books and texts on the law.

In that year, 1865, Little, Brown published the works of Francis Parkman.

1878, became the American Agent for Encyclopedia Britannica.

Original publisher of Admiral Mahan's The Influence of Sea Power upon History.

Fannie Farmer's The Boston Cooking School.

First fictional work: Henry Sienkiewicz's Quo Vadis, in a variety of styles and prices.

Editor-in-cheif James W. McIntyre published a 60 volume set of the works of Dumas. McIntyre persuaded the partners to purchase Roberts Brothers in 1898.

Richard Grant White's Shakespeare Edward Everett Hales' Man Without a Country (From Roberts Brothers??)

In 1903, signed E. Phillips Oppenheim.

McIntyre died in 1913.

Herbert Jenkins signed Thornton Burgess, Erich Maria Remarque (All Quiet on the Western Front). A.J. Cronin (Hatter's Caste).

The modern age of Little, Brown is said to have begun when McIntyre's son, Alfred McIntyre, became head of the firm. Alfred was the force behind the publication of Hutchinson's If Winter Comes (1921), one of the biggest sellears of the decade.

Warren's Supreme Court in U.S. History, 1922, won Pulitzer Prize, 1923. Owen David's Icebound won Pulitzer Prize in 1922. Gibb's Soundings best seller 1925. Kelly's Craig's Wife won pulitzer Prize.

1925, purchased Atlantic Monthly Co., which had published the "Atlantic Monthly" and several prize winning books, including, Adam's Pulitzer Prize winning Founding of New England, and the Newberry Award winning Dork Frigate(?) by Howe.

1927, established Atlantic Novel Contest which produced several new authors: Kathyrn Hulme, Edwin O'Connor, Mari Sandoz, and others.

Little, Brown's stable of writers included: James Hilton, Erich Maria Remarque, Walter D. Edmonds, Charles Nordhoff & James Norman Hall, and A.J.Cronin.

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1836---J.B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.

Some date this Philadelphia company back to 1793 when Benjamin Johnson founded a publishing house under his name. In 1836, it was purchased and renamed by Joshua B. Lippincott.

In 1850, Lippincott purchased Grigg and Elliott Publishers.

In 1855, published Lippincott's Pronouncing Gazetteer of the World.

Published Merriam-Webster's dictionary until 1876 when Lippincott switched to Merriam's rival, Worcester's dictionary. (See G. & C. Merriam for the "War of the Dictionaries".)

1867, issued "Lippincott's Magazine".

1871, "Variorum Edition" of the works of Shakespeare. Also known as the Furness Edition after the editor, Dr. H.H. Furness.

Issued first nursing book in the United States, 1878, A Hand-Book of Nursing.

Expanded to England, 1875.

Lippincott died 1886; his son Craige took over.

Issued sets of Dickens, Thackeray, and Scott in optional bindings to fit decor and price range. Queen Victoria ordered a special set of History of the Indian Tribes in six folio volumes bound in Turkey Morocco for $100,000. President Fillmore also received a set.

At the other end of the scale, Lippincott issued what is held by some to be the first modern romance, Amelie Rives' The Quick or the Dead, 1888. This trend was topped in 1908 with the publication of the first novel from Grace Livingston Hill, Marcia Schuyler.

A fire in 1899 destroyed everything, including plates, making Lippincott books before this date much more valuable. To produce income while rebuilding, Lippincott began the "American Journal of Nursing", 1900.

1911, Craige's brother, J. Bertram Lippincott, took over company.

1926, J. Bertram retired and his son, Joseph Wharton Lippincott, author of children's books, took control of firm.

1940, purchased Carrick & Evans, Inc.

1941, purchased Frederick A. Stokes Co.

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1855---FRANK LESLIE PUBLISHING HOUSE

Frank Leslie, publisher of "Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper", published his first book in 1855. Frank Leslie's Portfolio of Fancy Needlework, edited by Ann Stephens, author of numerous Dime Novels. The book bore the imprint of STRINGER & TOWNSEND, but its success persuaded Leslie to issue future books under his own name.

First best sellers were two pictorials of the Civil War, issued 1861 and 62.

About this time there was a big scandal when an affair was rumored between Leslie and the wife of his editor, E.G. Squier. Eventually, Miriam divorced her husband and married Frank Leslie. The team of Frank and Miriam proved revolutionary in publishing.

With the motto "never shoot over the heads of the people", they became leaders in the production of so-called "railroad literature". "Frank Leslie's Home Library of Standard Works by the Most Celebrated Authors" was a series of 10-20 cent paperbacks.

Leslie produced every type of "literature", newspapers, magazines, flyers, joke books, woodcuts, photo books.

"The Chimney Corner", a series edited by Miriam in duodecimo boards sold for 50 cents each. Sample titles: Wife in Name Only, and Woman's Victory.

"Frank Leslie's Popular Library Series", 1876, octavo books, hardbound, 25 cents each.

"Frank Leslie's Boy's Library Series", 1876, paperbacks by Bracebridge Hemyng, featured Indian adventures, sea tales, and so forth.

Leslie books were distributed by American News Co., through news stands, street corner hawkers, at train stations.

Miriam wore diamonds and furs, while Frank invested in speculative land deals, most of which failed in Panic of 1877. While trying to pay off debts, Frank died suddenly in 1880.

Miriam Leslie assumed the business, paid off the remaining debts (by borrowing money form a rich friend) and changed her name legally to "Frank Leslie"---which produced the second big scandal in her life.

During the national mourning over the assassination of James Garfield, she speedily capitalized with a picture book on his life and death that made enough money to pay back her rich friend.

In 1881 Frank Leslie's Bubbles and Butterflies, 25 cents. Followed over the next few years with other big successes: Frank Leslie's Holiday Book Frank Leslie's Queen Titania's Book of Fairy Tales Frank Leslie's Christmas Book. This cost $1.00, contained color plates. 1896. Frank Leslie's Illustrated Famous Leaders & Battle Scenes of the Civil War.

Miriam Leslie, a beautiful woman, continued her lavish life-style with a fancy office, by wearing French gowns and glittering jewelry. She married and divorced three or four men. At one point she proclaimed herself Baroness de Bazus.

When she died in 1914 she left a multi-million dollar estate.


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1861---LEE & SHEPARD

William Lee, from Phillips, Sampson Co., and Charles Shepard, unemployed at the time he entered the partnership. Like Roberts Brothers, this firm started by publishing quality photograph albums.

Published Olvier Optic's "Boat Club" and "Riverdale Story Books" series. This established Lee & Shepard as the leading publisher of children's books.

Followed with Sophie May's "Little Purdy" series.

Published First American Edition of Alice in Wonderland, 1869.

Expanded into Amateur Plays with its subsidiary, Geo. M. Baker Co., and educational books.

Became increasingly "radical": published political opinions of such men as Wendall Phillips, Charles Sumner, Horace Mann, Rev. Charles Beecher and Boston school teacher William Taylor Adams.

Lee & Shepard persuaded Oliver Optic to write a series for girls. The result was several series of six titles each: Army and Navy Stories Great Western Series Lake Shore Series Onward & Upward Starry Flag Woodville Stories Yacht Club Young America

Sophie May also wrote several six volume series.

Colonel T.W. Higginson's Young Folk's History of the United States.

"Golden Floral" series of favorite poems and songs in deluxe bindings.

In 1870 Charles T. Dillingham joined the firm in New York. He had a few years earlier established "Felt & Dillingham", which he dissolved to join Shepard & Lee.

Lee & Shephard filed bankruptcy in 1875 following financial losses in Panic of '73 and refusal of James R. Osgood to accept credit terms.

Dillingham split off New York operation as DILLINGHAM & CO.

Company continued in Boston during its bankruptcy and in 1877 published That Husband of Mine, which in its first year sold 150,000 paperbound copies at 50 cents each. The title stayed in print for over twenty years and spawned several sequels and imitations, most notably, That Wife of Mine.

Shepard died in 1889. Lee sold the subsidiary Geo. M. Baker & Co. to George's brother, Walter.

Lee retired in 1898. Warren Gregory, head of the educational division became head of the firm.

In 1904, company purchased Lothrop Publishing Co. and renamed the firm LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD.

In 1943 the firm was purchased by Crown Publishers.


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1868---D. LOTHROP & CO.

Founder: Daniel Lothrop, a descendant of John & Priscilla Alden.

Took control of older brother James' drugstore and added books to its inventory.

Began publishing books in 1868 for the growing Sunday School market. Expanded into general children's books.

Published Edward Everett Hale, Thomas Nelson Page. Margaret Sidney (Lothrop's wife), Five Little Peppers.

1875, started children's magazine, "Wide Awake". Editor was Mary Mapes Dodge.

Lothrop died in March 1892 and the firm began a slow decline.

July 1900, moved more into adult reading matter with Irving Bachellor's Eben Holden.

Firm was sold in 1904 to Lee & Shepard.

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1876---JOHN LOVELL

John W. Lovell was the son of one of Canada's best known printer/publishers. Something of a child prodigy of printing, by 21 John W. was in charge of one of his father's branches on the American side of the border.

Immediately (1873) he ran afoul of authorities in both nations when he tried ot apy American workers with Canadian currency and bring in employees form Canada. he also ignored copyrights, publishing American books for the Canadian market and Candaian books for the American market.

In 1876, he quit his father's firm, took American citizenship, and founded his own company, LOVELL, ADAMS & CO. First partner, G. Mercer Adam, from a Toronto firm---Adam, Steveson & Co.---founded by John Lovell's father to produce cheap books. When a second partner, Francis L. Wesson, came on board, the company's name was changed to LOVELL, ADAM, WESSON, & CO.

Issued "Lake Champlain Press Series", reprints of classics.

Partnership dissolved in 1877.

As JOHN LOVELL & CO. he pirated works of others, including, Charles Knight's Popular History of England Dickens, Thackeray, Milton, et. al.

He issued several series: "Popular Twelvemos" "Student Histories" "Caxton Classics" "Lovell's Editions of the Poets" "Lovell's Library", his most successful, started in 1882 in 10cent, 20 cent, and 30 cent editions. Called "Good Literature for the Masses", the series had over 1,500 titles by 1890. Most of these were paper covers, but he also issued simultaneously cloth bindings for those who detested paper wrappers.

In a stroke of genius, he managed to qualify his paperbacks as 2nd class mailings, the same as newspapers. He was soon mailing over 7,000,000 cheap books a year. He earned the nickname, "Book-a-Day Lovell". (Not all his titles were pirated. WHen he paid royalties, he issued those titles as "Authorized Editions".)

His list of series also continued to grow. "Rugby", "Universal", "Franklin", "Red Line", "Foreign Literature Library", "Occult and Illustrated Series", "Lovell's American Novelists Series". He published "Tid-Bits", a magazine.

He distributed books from New York with several branches: Boston, Chicago, London. The last was managed by Wolcott Balestir, who was as crooked as Lovell. He stole (from MacMillan) Robert Elsmere, by Mrs. Humphrey Ward, which Lovell then published in America. When it became a million seller, Lovell sent $500 to Mrs. Ward. Through similar pirating, Lovell actually introduced many British authors to American readers in these cheap editions.

Claiming to be a democratic reformer, one who elevated the common man through his high quality literature in cheap editions, he began publishing "Lovell's Plitical and Scientific Series" to express his political beliefs. THese influenced the growth of the American Labor Movement...authors such as Jean Baptiste, Andre Godin, Albert Owen (founder of utopian communities), Henry George, Eleanor Marx Aveling.

He was the first to publish Madam Helena Petrovna Blavatsky's Universal Brotherhood Theosophical Society, which led to Lovell's Occult series.

(Lovell personally experimented with alternative life-styles, and founded a utopian community in Mexico with Japanese citizens.)

Lovell was also a promoter of Women's Suffrage rights and to promote this cause he established a subsidiary to publish books on women's issues. Included: August Bebel's Woman; Margaret Lee's Divorce; works by Lillie Devereaux Blake and Ursuala N Gestafeld.

Lovell came up with the idea to combine all his cheap repreint competition into a single conglomerate. The UNITED STATES BOOK CO. was incorporated in 1890. Lovell purchased the plates for the cheap reprint rights of the works of the following companies: Hurst & Co. Worthington Co. W.L. Allison Alden Book Co. Pollard & Moss G.W. Dillingham Aldine Book Co. Estes & Lauriat DeWolfe, Fiske & Co. J.B. Lyon Donohue, Henneberry & Co. Belford, Clark & Co. J.B. Lippincott

He then issued books form these plates in a variety of series: Westminster Columbus Canterbury Metropolitan Leather Clad Seaside Oxford Edition of Twelvemos Universal Libraries

A subsidiary of United States Book Co. was LOVELL, CORYELL & CO., founded 1892. It issued fancy bound versions of the cheap books---leather, ribbons, gold gilt. Eventually his partner in this venture, Vincent M. Coryell, purchased the business and renamed it CORYELL & CO. Other subsidiaries of The United States Book Co.: Wayside Publishing Co. Seaside Publishing Co. National Book Co.---headed by John's brother, Edward Lovell Frank Lovell Co.---headed by brother Frank International Book Co.---headed by John Hovenden who, like Coryell, purchased it and renamed it after himself. Empire Publishing Co.---also headed by Frank Home Book Company---headed by Frand and Charles Lovell Prudential Book Co.---famous for its advertisements in tea packages.

Lovell, Gestefeld & Co.---the feminist arm was kept separate from the United States Book Co. and remained a subsidiary of Lovell & Co. After Lovell retired, the company was renamed GESTEFELD LIBRARY & PUBLISHING CO. Still later renamed METAPHYSICAL PUBLISHING CO.

By now, Lovell's continual pirating of the works of others and his forceful methods of trying to corner the market in cheap books earned him the reputation as "The Most Hated Man in Publishing."

His bold attempt to control the cheap book market failed because four of the largest players refused to sell to him: Rand McNally, Laird & Lee, A.L. Burt, and Street & Smith. He attempted three times (1895, 1897, and 1900) to take over these companies and failed each time. Additionally, the scheme was simply too big. Every time he added a new company, another would escape. Each new re-organization saw valued employees flee to more secure ground.

In 1891, the new International Copyright laws hurt his ability to pirate and steal. Further hindered by the Panic of 1893, the scheme began to crumble. Wall Street investors, in a secret meeting, booted Lovell out of the company. John M. Forbes replaced him. Manhatten Trust Co., which held the bank notes and mortguages, renamed the company AMERICAN PUBLISHERS CORPORATION (sarcastically referred to as "Publishers' Corpse"). In its final days it was named PUBLISHERS PLATE RENTING CO. The end came in 1904 when its assets, including Coryell Publishing, were sold at auction.

Meanwhile, John Lovell had hatched another scheme to wealth. He would corner the magazine market. His most successful acquistion was Godey's Lady's Book. But Scribner's and Century flatly refused to him at any price, so he abandoned the scheme.

One last attempt came when he established the Auto Book Concern.

He died at age 80, in 1932.


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1883---LAIRD & LEE

Founded by William Henry Lee, a mysterious man many said was a light skinned black, a claim he niether denied nor confirmed. If true, he would be one of the first black publishers in America.

He bought out his publisher in 1893, but retained the original name.

Published Zola's novels in fine editions with illustrations and special bindings.

Also published Conklin's Handy Manual, Uncle Jerimiah and His Family, World's Fair View.

All these were big successes, but the firm's reputation came from its many editions of dictionaries, designed for public school use.

Lee died in 1913, unmarried, without any known relatives, as mysterious a person as when he started in 1883.

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1908---J.J. LITTLE & IVES CO.

This firm was created by a merger of Lang Little & Co., Typesetters, and Edwin Ives & Sons, Bookbindery.

Joseph J. Little and his son, Arthur W. Little.

The company evolved into Ives & Washburn (???)

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