W. A. Leary, Philadelphia
Leary, Getz & Co., Philadelphia

William A. Leary (1816-1865), was a native of Baltimore, who set up his book selling business in Philadelphia in 1836. His tremendously popular bookstore sold mostly used books. The bookstore developed a national reputation. Apparently Leary was more of a salesman than a bibliophile. According to one who knew him "He dealt in books the way a grocer deals in sugar and candles, more by weight..". Nonetheless the bookstore had an inventory of more than 900,000 books and was active well into the 1960's.

Leary published books with the William A. Leary imprint as early as 1839. His "New Colored Books" were published in 1846 by W. A. Leary. It appears that Leary incorporated in 1849. The Grandfather Leary's Nursery Stories were published by W(illiam). A. Leary & Co. in 1849.

By 1850 he was publishing with Francis W. Getz as Leary & Getz. They produced small, hard cover pocket books which were known as Leary's bricks because of their "thick paper and dumpy in appearance". Beginning in late 1859 the firm was named Leary, Getz and Co. In 1862 Leary. Getz & Co. had a name change to F. W. Getz & J. R. Senior. In June, 1863 F. W. Getz dissolved his partnership with John R. Senior and carried on as F. W. Getz & Co. The following month Getz advertised the sale of plates and copyright of his former company.

Summary:
W. A. Leary 1839-1849
W. A. Leary & Co. 1849
Leary & Getz 1850-1859
Leary, Getz & Co. 1859-1862

138 North Second Street