People’s Series
Peck’s Irish Friend

Stanton and Van Vliet Company

No Made in U.S.A. noted on copyright page.

This little four page newspaper (12″ x 18″) was published by W. R. Caulkins in Boston. It has advertisements for Atkinson and Gilbert’s Peck’s Bad Boy Play, excerpts from the Bad Boy books, an advertisement for “The Groceryman and Peck’s Bad Boy” book as well as numerous other items touting patent medicines and local products.

The circulation on the upper right is stated as 4.5 million. This would appear to be a major exaggeration. After all, the largest United Staes newspaper by circulation in 2013 was the Wall Street Journal at 2.3 million.

Since the “Groceryman” ad notes how many books were published in the first six months, the newspaper probably dates from 1884.

J. S. Ogilvie & Co.
Here is a paperback book published between 1883 and 1886. It has the later last page. (shown here)

More trade cards for Atkinson’s Jollities.

For more information, see Atkinson’s Jollities.

These three cards were used to advertise productions at the People’s Theatre in St. Louis. One of the cards actually is dated: Feb’y 21, 1886.

Peck’s Fun – Unknown Series

The Fairy Tale Series is a seventeen volume series published between 1905 and 1908. The titles were priced at 50 cents each. The covers are stereotyped except for the title and the appliqué picture. The books are 7.5 x 5.25 (12 Mo.) and originally came with a dust jacket. Peck’s Uncle Ike and the Red Headed Boy is the only Peck volume in the series.

For more information, see Hurst and Company.

These cards were inserted inside a pack of Susini and Bock Ovalados Cigars. The cards shown here feature photographs from the Peck’s Bad Boy movie which was released in 1921.

For more information, see Peck’s Bad Boy (1921).

Here are more trade cards from Dan Sully’s Corner Grocery.

For more information, see The Theatre.