Crosby and Nichols, Boston (1844-1852)
Crosby, Nichols and Company (1852-1860)
Crosby, Nichols, Lee & Company (1860-1861)
Crosby and Nichols (1861-1864)
Crosby and Ainsworth (1864-1868)
Information and a brief history about this firm and its successors
is at the bottom of the page.
Crosby and Nichols and its successors published one T. S. Arthur title.
The first edition of "All for the Best; or, The Old Peppermint Man" was
released in 1850. This title should not be confused with "All's for the
Best" which was published by J. B. Lippincott & Co. (copyrighted in
1868).
In 1850 and 1851 "All for the Best" was published as a non-series
single title. Beginning in 1853 with the third edition, it was part of
the six title Uncle Sam's Library, for The Boys and Girls of the U. S.
A.
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This library consisted of:
1. Christmas Eve
2. Geordie and His Dog
3. Stories and Legends
4. Picture Alphabets
5. All for the Best
6. Eskdale Herdboy
The series was published later into the 1870’s by Nichols & Hall
and James Miller.
Known editions of this title:
1850 First edition published by Crosby and Nichols
1851 Second edition published by Crosby and Nichols
1853 Third edition published by Crosby, Nichols and Company (other
copies published by this firm between 1854-1859)
1860-1861 presumed copy published by Crosby, Nichols, Lee and Company
(not seen)
1862 and 1863 Fifth editions published by Crosby and Nichols
Edition(s) published by Crosby and Ainsworth. These were printed
between 1864 and 1868 - exact years unknown.
It is not known when the fourth and fifth edition were first published
but most likely several years' books noted fifth edition on their title
pages.
These books have a number of full and half page line drawn engravings.
The illustrator is anonymous.
1850 first edition
Brown cloth. Blindstamped. Gold gilt spine. 6" x 5".
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1851 second edition
Brown cloth. Blindstamped. Gold gilt spine. 5.875” x 4.375'.
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Crosby, Nichols and Company editions:
1853 |
1854 |
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Crosby, Nichols and Company ca. 1855-1859. Green cloth. Embossed series
name and illustration on the cover with gold gilt spine lettering and
picture. 6.25" x 4.75".
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Crosby and Nichols. 1862 Fifth edition. Red cloth. Embossed series name
and illustration on the cover with gold gilt spine lettering and
picture.
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History of the firms:
William Crosby (1819-1907) was born in Charleston, New
Hampshire. He moved to Boston in 1832 and worked in the bookstore of
Leonard C. Bowles. He published on his own imprint between 1839 and
1844. In 1844 he established with his friend Henry P. Nichols the firm,
William (Wm.) Crosby and H. P. Nichols. (No relation to Samuel F.
Nichols of Nichols and Hall and the Chase and Hall firms). Joseph
Ainsworth was admitted to Crosby, Nichols and Co. as a partner in 1852.
In the late 1850’s the partners in Crosby, Nichols and Co. were Crosby,
Nichols, Joseph Ainsworth , William H. Piper, and Oliver S. Felt. In
1860 William Lee, previously of Phillips and Sampson joined the firm.
The partners in the new firm of Crosby, Nichols, Lee and Co. were
Crosby, Nichols, Ainsworth and Lee.
Henry P. Nichols (1817-1890) was a native of Salem,
Massachusetts. He died when he was run over by a public conveyance.
(Details are unknown to me)
Henry P. Noyes (1835-1908) joined the Crosby, Nichols and Co. firm as a clerk in 1855.
Joseph F. Ainsworth (1824-1888) was a native of Bethel, Vermont.
In 1862 the company had financial setbacks and divided into
three houses. Lee left and joined Charles A. B. Shepard to form Lee and
Shepard. Crosby and Nichols continued the firm in their names. Henry P.
Nichols along with Henry D. Noyes took over the retail side of the
company under the Nichols and Noyes banner. This latter firm dissolved
in 1870. It was succeeded by Noyes, Holmes and Co. when Nichols
retired. The copartners in this new firm were Noyes, John S. Lockwood,
John B. Holmes and Walter D. Brooks.
This firm dissolved in 1875 and the business was taken over by Lockwood, Brooks and Co.
Later Noyes reestablished his business as Henry D. Noyes and Co. at 13.5 Bromfield Street.
In 1864 Crosby and Nichols went their separate ways and the
company morphed into Crosby and Ainsworth. In 1868 Crosby retired and
the new firm of Woolworth, Ainsworth and Co. was born. This latter firm
only published three juvenile series-all written by Madeline Leslie
(Harriette Newell Woods Baker). Ainsworth’s subsequent firms: Potter,
Ainsworth and Co. and Potter, Knight and Ainsworth concentrated on
school texts.
In 1869 William Crosby with Charles Damrell (1826-1896)
formerly of James Munroe and Co. purchased the book and periodical
business of A. Williams and formed Crosby and Damrell, located at 100
Washington Street in Boston. This firm lasted about one year. No
juvenile books with this imprint have been noted.
After Crosby’s publishing career ended he became a partner
in a clothing firm and later he was a superintendent for a Children’s
Mission.
Summary of company dates:
Wm. Crosby and Co. 1839-1844
William Crosby 1844
Wm.(William) P. Crosby and H. P. Nichols (Also Crosby and Nichols) 1845-1852
Crosby, Nichols, Lee and Co.-- February, 1860-October, 1861
Crosby and Nichols 1861-1864
Crosby and Ainsworth 1864-1868