Robert Carter & Brothers, New York
Robert Carter

Robert Carter (1807-1889) was a native of Scotland. He came to New York in 1831 and after a short teaching career purchased a bookseller’s stock and opened a store. Shortly thereafter he moved to 58 Canal Street address and began his publishing career with religious and theological books. Subsequently in 1849 he moved to 285 Broadway and in 1856 to his final publishing address at 530 Broadway where he stayed until 1889.

His brothers Walter (1823-1897) and Peter joined him in 1848 necessitating the name change from Robert Carter to Robert Carter & Brothers. Robert died in 1889 and the firm's stock and plates were sold at auction in 1890.

The firm's main output was religious titles and books for juveniles.
Carter's Cabinet Library and the Fireside Library were two major publisher's series. The former is not included in this bibliography since most of the volumes were intended for adults. The latter has numerous books for young adults and is included in Carter's series that are listed here.

Robert Carter & Brothers published more than 70 juvenile series and libraries. Well known authors include A. L. O. E., Susan and Anna Warner, S. S. Robbins, and Julia and Joanna Mathews.

Below is the series list. Appreciate that many of the titles which appear in the later series were previously published in non-series formats or in the Fireside Library. As more information becomes available, the bibliography will be supplemented.

Also what must be appreciated is that many of these multivolume series/libraries do not indicate a series name on the books. They were sold in boxes which stated the library or series name on the box cover. Unfortunately the boxes are almost impossible to find. Thus, to determine the format of these publisher's series/libraries multiple titles within the group that have common covers must be found. This is a work in progress.