F. M. Lupton and a Dust Jacketed Book

The F. M. Lupton Publishing Company was one of a myriad of houses that published numerous reprints of older works in a multitude of series. These series were distinguished generally by nice decorative bindings. Lupton did series both in paperback and hardcover but most of the series contained mostly the same titles. Among the titles and authors were Alice in Wonderland, Doyle's A Study in Scarlet, reprints of Charles Dickens, Henty and Shakespeare.

Despite frequent listings to the contrary, all of Lupton's non paperbacks were issued in boxes or in dust jackets. So it is safe to snicker at those dealers who note in their ads: "No jacket as issued".

This New York publishing house was founded by Frank Moore Lupton (1854-1910) Lupton grew up on Long Island. He initially apprenticed to a printer in Greenport. Thereafter he worked for S.W. Green. With several friends he started a monthly periodical called The Cricket on the Hearth. In 1882 he founded his own company. At that time the imprint was F.M. Lupton. He continued to add titles, series and authors' sets throughout the years. In 1892 he incorporated and the imprint changed to F. M. Lupton Publishing Company. The firm changed its name to the Federal Book Company in 1902.

In 1910 Frank Lupton committed suicide as per his obituary. It stated that the reason was "overwork, prolonged ill health and melancholia". If you want some gruesome details , one obituary reported that his throat was cut and an open penknife was by his side. Apparently he was quite depressed by a stomach condition that was not improved by health spas he had visited in Europe.

Here is a typical example of a Lupton publisher's series book. This is the Daisy Series. This series was published in the late 1890's. As is frequently the case, no mention of the series can be found within the book-only on the reverse of the dust jacket. Thus, if you do not know which series the book belongs to , then without the jacket you never will.

We can date this book fairly closely based on the address on the reverse of the dust jacket. Lupton moved to 52-58 Duane street in 1899. In 1902 it moved to 23-27 City Hall Place. Thus this book was published between 1899 and 1902.