John E. Potter and Company, Philadelphia

(For more information see: John E. Potter)
Potter bought the plates and stock from Bradley and Company in March, 1867. This included the "Ten Nights in a Bar-Room" plates.

Arthur's six volume "Advice to Young People" Series included “Ten Nights”. This series was published in a number of different formats between 1867 and 1882. It was boxed. Cloth. 16 mo.

Nine different Potter cover formats are noted below.

Format 1
1867-approximately 1870.
This early blindstamped edition was published in three formats. This book has only the frontispiece illustrations- no internals. The earliest is shown here. The latest has Potter & Co. spelled out on the base of the spine. The second format has a slightly different company logo at the base of the spine. It is shown here in blue. The latest has Potter & Co. spelled out on the base of the spine.

The dates and chronological ordering of Formats 2-4  are unclear. They were printed between 1870 and about 1879.

Format 2. Four circles
This is the first format that has internal pictures. In addition to the Van Ingen frontispieces, there are six internal illustrations (Potter pictures). All the later Potter books have all the internals plus the two Van Ingen frontispieces.
1. It’s Joe Morgan’s Child
2. There it is now. Jump! Out of Bed, Quick.
3. Huzza for the Rummies
4. Willy Hammond Murdered by the gambler, Harvey Green.
5. One Long Scream of Horror
6. Frank Slade! You Have Murdered Your father!

Cloth. Various colors. Four circles open the cover. 7” x 4.5"

Format 3. Bow Cover
No information about this format known except for the cover.

Format 4. Decoration 2
Black decorative pattern on the front cover. 7.75" x 5.25"
This book has an 1877 inscription.

Format 5. Decoration 1.
Line drawn decoration on the front cover. Multiple spine decorations have been noted. 6.75" x 4.75".

Some books with this format have the old preface with the broken type in the word "room". Other books with this format have the new preface. Probably printed in the late 1870's-early 1880's.

Format 6. Stagecoach Format
Front cover has a stagecoach on the bottom right and a house on the upper left. 6.75" x 4.75". Several different spine pictures/ decorations have been seen. The significance is unclear. These books were published in the 1880-1883 era.

Format 7: Umbrella Girl
Cover has multiple pictures including one with an umbrella girl. 7.5" x 5.5".
This book either goes just before or just after Format 6. I think it is after because of the size of the volume and because the ads are identical to those found in the Keystone books.

Format 8. Keystone Format
This cover is the same as the Arthur covers on books published by Keystone, a subscription house. Title page addresses of both Sansom Street (Pre-1888) and 10th Street (1888-1889) have been seen. 7.5" x 5.5". 1885-1889
(The "Ten Nights" in this format has not been seen.)

Format 9. Sitting at the Table
The "Ten Nights" in this format has not been seen.
The address on the title page is on Tenth Street. Potter was there in 1888. In 1889 the Keystone Publishing Company of Philadelphia purchased the entire manufacturing establishment of John E. Potter & Co. Subsequently Keystone used this cover and the Format 8 cover for its Arthur books.