The Sheldon and Company publishing house as noted yesterday printed a number of different formats of Rollo travels. This house also published numerous other books many of which were parts of juvenile series. In fact I have listed 23 Sheldon and Company series in my 19th century bibliography.
The company was started by Smith Sheldon (1811-1884). He grew up in the Albany area and his first career was in the mercantile field and he was quite successful. After 17 year in that career he retired to live the good life. In 1854 at the insistence of prominent Baptists he moved to New York City to begin working in the publishing industry.
Sheldon bought the interest of Law in the firm of Lamport, Blakeman and Law and thus was born Sheldon, Lamport and Blakeman in the spring of 1854. Soon thereafter the new firm bought out the religious publisher of Lewis Colby and Company. Now the new firm had quite a book list-religious books as well as text books. Lamport retired and the firm dropped his name in 1856 becoming Sheldon , Blakeman and Company. After Blakeman left the company, the new name was Sheldon and Company. Smith's son Isaac was also in the organization by then.
Sheldon amplified his list by purchasing Pratt , Oakley and Company in 1861 in addition to buying numerous works from Derby and Jackson. In the 1880's Sheldon's publishing concentration became school books. Thus many of their plates for popular juvenile books, reference works and other fiction were sold. See yesterday's post.
Smith Sheldon died in 1884 from an unspecified cardiac disease.
Above is a letterhead from 1859 the year Sheldon, Blakeman and Company became Sheldon and Company.
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What year did this company close?
ReplyDeleteI have a copy of Mary Bunyan, Dreamer's Blind Daughter published by Sheldon & Company of New York in 1860. Hardback, yellow gold cover with
ReplyDeletea picture of wife and children visiting Bunyan
in prison on the front. Where can I find out the
current value?
I have a copy of "Stoddard's American Intellectual Arithmetic", published by Sheldon & Company from New York and Chicago. How can I find out a value? I would appreciate any help.
ReplyDeleteI have a book titled "Pictures and Verses for Young People" with no year published. The first page says New York, Sheldon, Blakeman & Co. It is a darling little book that was in my mother's apartment at her memory care unit. I have no idea where it came from but in an effort to keep her room clean. my sister was going to throw it away. I took it my home. Anyone know of it?
ReplyDeleteI have 6 volumes of the complete works of Charles Dickens published by Sheldon in 1863. I would like information regarding other volumes, etc. Samuel Porter
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your articles. This is truly a great read for me. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteI am looking for information on a book called "The Doctor's Visit" by Sheldon and Co. It appears to be part of a series called Little Violet Stories.
ReplyDelete