Peck's Boss Book

Peck's Boss Book was first published by Belford, Clarke and Company in 1884. It consists of 72 vignettes in 252 pages. H. E. Patterson did the eleven illustrations in the book. This book appeared in a single title format as well as being in a combination book. The combination book contains How Private Peck Put Down the Rebellion as well as Peck's Boss Book.

Interestingly this title is the only Peck book in several series published by Conkey and Homewood. See below for details.

Here are the publishers that printed this title:
Belford, Clarke and Company, Chicago 1884-1890
Butler Brothers, New York and Chicago 1889
Donohue, Henneberry Company, Chicago 1890
John W. Lovell Company, New York 1891
Morrill, Higgins and Company, Chicago 1892
W. B. Conkey and Company, Chicago
Homewood Publishing Company, Chicago

Publishers of the combination book:
W. B. Conkey Company
Homewood Publishing Company
Thompson and Thomas
Charles C. Thompson Company

Since Homewood reprinted Conkey books, it is presumed that the Homewood and Conkey formats are the same. This book only has 96 pages of Peck's Boss Book. The combination book from Thompson and Thompson and Charles C. Thompson Company has the first 172 pages of Peck's Boss Book.

Homewood Publishing Company (ca. 1902-1905)
Thompson and Thomas (1900-1908)
Charles C. Thompson Company (1909-1913)

Belford, Clarke and Company

This publisher printed the first edition of Peck's Boss Book in 1884. Between 1884 and 1888 several hardcover editions without any format change were published. In 1889 and 1890 there were new covers for this title.

This title was also published in wraps. The wraps' books were 25 cents while the hardcover was $1.00.

1884 first edition - a number of different color covers have been seen.

First edition title page

1889 Caxton Edition - Belford, Clarke and Company

1890 Edition from Belford-Clarke Company (Note the publisher's name change between 1889 and 1890)

Butler Brothers, New York and Chicago 1889
Butler Brothers published a multivolume paperback series, the Electric Series, which had more than 500 titles.

Six Peck books were part of this series
#89 Peck's Bad Boy and His Pa
#90 Peck's Bad Boy, No. 2
#91 Peck's Sunshine
#92 Peck's Fun
#93 Peck's Boss Book
#94 Peck's Compendium of Fun

This series was published in the 1889-1890 time frame. During its run the Electric Series used more than one numbering system. Peck's Boss Book has been seen as #139 in an alternative numbering for this series.

Donohue, Henneberry and Company
This firm published Peck's Boss Book in two of its series.
1. Caxton 12 Mos. 1890
2. Aetna Series mid-late 1890's

The Caxton Edition of 12 mos. is a large multivolume multiauthored series of reprints. Seven Peck titles are included in this series including Peck's Boss Book.

The Aetna Series is a 300 plus book multivolume multi authored series that consists of reprints of fiction, essays, poetry, etc. Only one Peck book was published in this series: Peck's Boss Book. This series was also published by this firm's successors- Donohue Brothers and the M. A. Donohue and Company.

The Aetna Series was being published in mid-late 1890's.

These 12 mos. books have a stereotypical cover which has been seen in several different colors.

John W. Lovell Company, New York 1891
Lovell published seven Peck books in its Oxford Edition Series. This series was introduced with 200 volumes in 1890. By the following year there were 254 titles. Peck's Boss Book was number 234.

This is a representative cover picture from this series.

Morrill, Higgins and Company, Chicago 1892
This publisher printed eight different Peck books including Peck's Boss Book. The format of Peck's Boss Book as well as the other Peck books printed by this publisher is presently unknown.

W. B. Conkey and Company, Chicago 1893-1905
This publisher printed Peck's Boss Book in a number of its series which were printed both in wraps and hardcover. The known series and formats are shown below. For more information on this publisher click here.

In Wraps:
- White City Series (wraps) 1893
- Franklin Series (wraps)- 1893/ ca.1903
- People's Series-3 Formats (1895)
  a. wraps
  b. Half imitation Morocco- plain edges
  c. Half imitation Morocco- gold gilt top and edges

White City Series
Peck's Boss Book was published in this series as Volume 1, Number 7 in April, 1894. It is 7.5 x 5.5.

Franklin Series
Peck's Boss Book was part of the later (1903) Franklin Series. These paperback books were 25 cents.

People's Series 1895
In 1895 this series of 50 books contained seven Peck books (Number 41 is Peck's Boss Book). They were published in three different formats. (7 x 4.75)
- Enameled paper Covers -25 cents
- Half imitation Morocco, fancy sides, plain edges- 50 cents
- Half imitation Morocco, fancy gilt suites and linings, gilt tops - 75 cents

Hard Cover Series
- Harvard Series (pre-1900)
- New Cameo Series- ca.1903
- Copyright Series-ca.1903
- New Abbey Series- ca, 1900-1904
- Homewood Series
- Humorous Series
- Young Folks' Standard Classics (ca. 1903)

Harvard Series
This 12 mos. series of reprints (late 1890's) included Peck's Boss Book as one of seven included Peck books.

New Cameo Series ca. 1903
This is another publisher's series that only published one Peck book- Peck's Boss Book.

Copyright Series (ca.1902-1904)
This publisher's series of 12 mos. books included the usual seven Peck books (including Peck's Boss Book). These books were sold for 25 cents.

New Abbey Series ca. 1900-1904
This publisher's series included Peck's Boss Book(7.5 x 5).

This series was published with several different covers. Each is specific for a particular year. Two different covers are shown below. The year patterns are still being worked out. Peck's Boss Book appeared in both formats shown here.

New Abbey Series 1902

New Abbey Series 1904

Homewood Series ca. 1902
This 12 mos. series of reprints only included one Peck book - Peck's Boss Book. This series was published with several different format covers.

One cover is shown in the page from a Conkey catalogue. The other book is a representative picture of another Homewood Series cover.

Humorous Series (post-1900)
Peck's Boss Book was one of the seven Peck books which were included in this series of works of contemporary "funny men". Other included authors were Bill Nye, Eli Perkins, and M. Quad. The books are 12 mos. and sold for 50 cents. The format for this title is unknown.

Homewood Publishing Company (1902-1905)
Peck's Boss Book was published in at least four of this company's series.
Franklin Series
Abbey Series
Oxford Series
Homewood Series

Franklin Series had seven Peck books. This appears to be identical to the earlier Conkey published series. This series was printed in wraps.

Abbey Series
This 391 title series of reprints only included one Peck book- Peck's Boss Book. The books are 12 mos. and were priced at 25 cents. This series also appears to be an identical reprint of the Conkey Series.

Peck's Boss Book was published in Homewood's Oxford and Homewood Series. It is presumed that the formats of these series are the same as the Conkey series with the same names but it is unclear at this time.