W. A. Leary & Co., Philadelphia
Leary & Getz, Philadelphia
Leary, Getz & Co., Philadelphia

William A. Leary(1816-1865), was a native of Baltimore, who set up his book selling business in Philadelphia in 1836. His tremendously popular bookstore sold mostly used books. The bookstore had a national reputation. Apparently Leary was more of a salesman then a bibliographer. According to one who new him: "He dealt in books the way a grocer deals in sugar and candles, more by weight,..” Nonetheless, the bookstore had an inventory of more than 900,000 books and was active well into the 1960's.

Leary published books with the William A. Leary imprint as early as 1839. His "New Colored Books" were published in 1846 by W. A. Leary. It appears that Leary incorporated in 1849. The Grandfather Leary's Nursery Stories were published by W. A. Leary & Company in 1849.

By 1853 he was publishing with Getz. They produced small, hard cover pocket books which were known as Leary's bricks because of their "thick paper and dumpy in appearance". Beginning in late 1859 the firm was named Leary, Getz & Co. The firm dissolved in May of 1863. F. W. Getz & Co. succeeded it.

W. A. Leary ca. 1839-1849
W. A. Leary & Co.1849-1852
Daniels & Getz 1852
Leary & Getz 1853-1859
Leary, Getz & Co. 1859-1863

Addresses
1839 144 North Second Street
1840-1849 158 North Second
1849-1856 138 North Second Street
1857-1863 224 North Second Street

Leary/Getz published several T. S. Arthur books. All are reprinted from earlier editions.

Temperance Tales; or Six Nights with the Washingtonians published by W. A. Leary & Co. as two volumes in one in 1848, 1849 and 1850. Later by Leary & Getz. 18 mo. cloth, gilt. Cruikshank's eight illustrations from "The Bottle". 50 cents

1849
6" x 4".

The Tavern-Keeper's Victims; or, Six Nights with the Washingtonians was illustrated by George Cruikshank and published by Leary, Getz and Co. in 1860. It has 301 pages. The first edition was published as Six Nights with the Washingtonians. It is the same as the above "Temperance Tales" except it has five new stories.

Fanny Dale: or, A Year After Marriage 130 pages (Leary & Getz)/Leary, Getz & Co.

Some of the Leary, Getz & Co. Fanny Dale's also include The Young Music Teacher by Arthur. It is 18 mo in fancy cloth. Noted in 1861 book ad.

Young Music Teacher was published by Leary & Getz and Leary, Getz & Co. It is 16 mo, cloth and gilt. 50 cents

Lady at Home; or, Leaves from the Every-Day Book of an American Woman published by W. A. Leary & Co., Leary & Getz 1856 and later by Leary, Getz & Co. Some of the Leary & Getz and Leary, Getz & Co. books also include Elizabeth or Exiles of Siberia. It is 18 mo. in fancy cloth.

Fanny Dale, Lady at Home and Young Music Teacher all were published in a similar format at 16 mo. in cloth and gilt. for 50 cents each. (Leary, Getz & Co.)

Arthur's Temperance Tales in a Leary, Getz & Co. boxed set 6 volumes 18 mo called Youth's Folks' Cabinet Library. Advertised in an 1861 book ad.