W. B. Conkey Company, Chicago

This Chicago publisher printed Peck's Bad Boy books for the first time in 1893 when Conkey purchased the plates of the Peck titles formerly owned by Morrill and Higgins, another Chicago publisher.

The first Peck books that Conkey published came directly from that purchase and were published in 1893. They included three Peck books in wraps:
Peck's Bad Boy, No. 1 25 cents
Peck's Bad Boy, No. 2 25 cents
Peck's Bad Boy, Complete 50 cents (Both in cloth at $1.25 and wraps)

Thereafter, between 1893 and 1905 it printed Peck titles that mostly were part of its larger publisher's series. These books were printed both in wraps and hardcover. Conkey also published a number of combination books (Two or more Peck stories).

Combination books which included more than one Peck story are at the bottom of this page.

The other Peck books published by Conkey are:
Peck's Bad Boy, No. 1 (and His Pa)
Peck's Bad Boy, No. 2 (and the Groceryman)
Peck's Fun
Peck's Sunshine
Peck's Boss Book
Peck's Irish Friend
How Private Peck Put Down the Rebellion

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
- Peerless Series (ca. 1903)

White City Series (1893-1894)
It is unclear how many Peck books there were in this series. I suspect however that since other series in wraps included seven books that this series also had the same seven books. For titles see just below.

November, 1893

Franklin Series (1893 /ca. 1903)
This series was published in several formats over the years. The 1893 series included the publication of Peck's Bad Boy Complete. (8" x 5.5")

In 1899, the seven Peck books were published with yellow covers. (7.5" x 5.5")

The later (ca. 1903) Franklin multivolume paperback series included seven Peck books. The books were 25 cents each. The Homewood Publishing Company published this series after Conkey.
02. Peck's Boss Book
07. Peck's Sunshine
08. Peck's Irish Friend
09. How Private Geo. W. Peck Put Down the Rebellion
10. Peck's Bad Boy and the Groceryman
11. Peck's Bad Boy and His Pa
12. Peck's Fun

After 1911 the format of the Franklin Series changed. The covers have a line drawn picture and the book's paper is cheaper.

People's Series 1895
In 1895 this series of 50 books contained seven Peck books. 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

Vol. 3. No. 37. Peck's Bad Boy, No. 1
38. Peck's Bad Boy, No. 2
39. Peck's Fun
40. Peck's Sunshine
41. Peck's Boss Book
42. Peck's Irish Friend
43. How Private Peck Put Down the Rebellion

Peerless Series (ca. 1903)
This series only had one Peck book. Peck's Bad Boy Complete. This book included both Peck's Bad Boy No. 1 and No. 2 (Groceryman).

Non Series in wraps.
This post 1900 Peck's Bad Boy is not clearly part of a series. It's classification presently is a mystery.

Hard Cover Series
- Harvard Series (pre-1900)
- New Cameo Series- ca.1903
- Copyright Series-ca.1902-1904
- New Abbey Series
- Homewood Series
- Humorous Series
- Young Folks' Standard Classics (ca. 1903)

There are a number of post-1900 published books that are undoubtedly part of a series but the exact series is unclear at this time. Those books are shown below.

Copyright Series (ca. 1902-1904)
This publisher's series of 12 mos. books included the usual seven Peck books. This cover was also used in the American Wit and Humor Series. Those books were sold for 25 cents.

Peck's Bad Boy, No. 1 (and His Pa)
Peck's Bad Boy, No. 2 (and the Groceryman)
Peck's Fun
Peck's Sunshine
Peck's Boss Book
Peck's Irish Friend
How Private Peck Put Down the Rebellion

Humorous Series (post-1900)
Seven Peck books 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 mo. and sold for 50 cents.
Peck books:
Peck's Bad Boy, No. 1 (and His Pa)
Peck's Bad Boy, No. 2 (and the Groceryman)
Peck's Fun
Peck's Sunshine
Peck's Boss Book
Peck's Irish Friend
How Private Peck Put Down the Rebellion

(Post-1900)

Homewood Series ca. 1903
This 12 mos. series of reprints only published one Peck book - Peck's Boss Book. This series was published with several different cover formats. Another early 1900's cover for another book (Tom Brown) is shown below.

New Cameo Series ca. 1903
This is another publisher's series that only published one Peck book- Peck's Boss Book. American Wit and Humor which was co-authored by Peck was also included in this series.

Harvard Series
This 12 mos. series of reprints (late 1890's) included the seven Peck books:
Peck's Bad Boy, No. 1 (and His Pa)
Peck's Bad Boy, No. 2 (and the Groceryman)
Peck's Fun
Peck's Sunshine
Peck's Boss Book
Peck's Irish Friend
How Private Peck Put Down the Rebellion
American Wit and Humor (Contributions by Peck) See: http://georgewpeck.com/amerwit1883.html

New Abbey Series ca. 1900-1904
This publisher's series contained at least the four Peck's books shown below. It is unclear at this time whether it included the usual seven titles or not. I suspect it did. (7.5 x 5)

This series was published with several different covers. Each is specific for a particular year. Different covers are shown below. The year patterns are still be worked out.

New Abbey Series 1902

New Abbey 1904

Young Folks' Standard Classics
This series included Peck's Bad Boy and His Pa Complete. This book was priced at $1.00

Unknown Series
1. This series undoubtedly included the usual seven Peck books. It appears that each book has its own unique cover (Bad Boy No. 1 and No.2 probably have the same cover format) but a stereotypical spine design. The books are 8 x 5.5.

Peck's Bad Boy, No. 1 (and His Pa)
Peck's Bad Boy, No. 2 (and the Groceryman)
Peck's Fun
Peck's Sunshine
Peck's Boss Book
Peck's Irish Friend
How Private Peck Put Down the Rebellion

2. Only one book with this format has been seen as of this time. It is a post 1900 book.

3. Only one book with this format has been seen as of this time. It is a post 1900 book.

4. Humorous Series of Cloth Covered Books
The seven George W. Peck books were combined with books authored by other humorists to make up this series. Conkey labeled these books as Series F.

A number of different covers and spines have been seen. The books are basically 12 mo. but were published in two sizes- 7.25 x 5.25 and 7.75 x 5.5.

Of note is that the faces spine has been seen with later Peck books published by the Homewood Publishing Company.


(7.25 x 5.25)

These two books are 7.75 x 5.5

Here are another four books from this series.

Non Series Books

Peck's Bad Boy and His Pa Complete. This book was published in the late 1890's. It included both the No. 1 and No. 2 books. It is 8.25 x 6.

Peck's Bad Boy and His Pa and Compendium of Fun was published between the late 1890's and early 1900's. It included Peck's Bad Boy and His Pa No. 1, Peck's Bad Boy No. 2 and Peck's Sunshine. Two different formats have been seen. Both are priced at $1.00

The contents of both books are identical although the numbering is slightly different due to the number of lines printed per page.

The earlier format was copyrighted in 1893 and published between that year and 1900. It is larger than the later book at 9.25 x 7.

Earlier

This is the later book which was copyrighted in 1900 and published in the early 1900's. 8.5 x 6.75.

Unknown Series
See: http://georgewpeck.com/amerwit1883.html