A number of subscription firms
published Peck's Compendium of Fun.
Russell Publishing Company, Albany, New
York
1883-1884
A. L. Bancroft and Company, San Francisco
1883
Caxton Publishing Company, Chicago
1883-1885
Manhattan Publishing Company 1885
Canadian Subscription Company, Montreal
1884
Baker & Co., Buffalo, New York
(ND)
Peck's Compendium of Fun is an
oversized 540 page collection of vignettes written by George W. Peck.
It is edited by Elmo (Thomas Handford). The contents include 284
stories. There are 100 illustrations by Gean Smith (Peck's Bad Boy and
His Pa illustrator) and miscellaneous others.
The stories were previously published in Peck's Bad Boy, No. 1(1883),
Peck's Fun (1879) and Peck's Sunshine (1882).
Belford, Clarke and Company published the first edition of this
compilation. A number of subscription firms reprinted it. They are
listed above. These books are dated between 1883-1885.
Two bindings have been seen
1. Extra silk finished cloth
2. Leather Library style with marbled edges.
A Caxton Publishing Company Salesman Sample is shown below. The two
possible bindings are displayed. Although this "sample" states that
there are 544 pages in the book, I have only seen books with 540 pages.
Leather Library Style
|
Extra Silk Finished Cloth
|
Subscription firm's title pages
Salesman Sample Book
|