Lee and Shepard, Boston

Charles A. B. Shepard (1829-1889) was born in Salem, Massachusetts. Early on he worked with the Jewett publishing firm in Salem as well as in Boston. Along with H. A. Clark and E. C. Walker he founded Shepard, Clark and Co. in 1855. In 1857 E. C. Walker left the firm and E. W. Brown joined the newly established Shepard, Clark and Brown publishing house. In December,1859 because of financial liabilities, the company went out of business.

William Lee was born in Boson. He worked in the bookstore of Samuel G. Drake as a youngster but at the age of 18 he took a job as a clerk in the Phillips and Sampson publishing firm. Within just a few years he was made a partner. In 1857 health concerns caused him to sell his interest. He returned to the publishing world in 1860 becoming a partner in Crosby, Nichols and Co. which became Crosby, Nichols, Lee and Co. He left that publishing house in 1861.

In 1862 several years after Shepard, Clark and Brown failed, Shepard and Lee formed a partnership and Lee and Shepard was born.

In 1904 Lee and Shepard purchased the bankrupt business of the Lothrop Publishing house and established Lothrop, Lee and Shepard.

William Lee	Charles A. B. Shepard

Lee and Shepard was one of the most prolific publishers of juvenile series in the 19th century. Numerous sets, series and libraries were produced by this firm. All published series between 1863 and 1900 are listed here. Not listed here are some of the educational series as well as any adult series. In addition to the individual series, this firm published quite a number of "Publisher's series" which included titles from previous series. Multivolume publisher's series were published beginning in 1891 with the Star Series. Others of these series followed in the 1890's.

The One Dollar, Seventy-Five Cent and Fifty-Cent Juvenile series were published beginning in 1885. These are reprinted previously published titles and series with new cover formats.

Here is some ephemera related to Lee and Shepard:

Below is a list of all the series known of at this time. Several of them may border on juvenile to adult but they are included for completeness. This firm is one of the larger by number of series in this bibliography. Pictures and information will be added as it is discovered. Edits, corrections and information is solicited and appreciated.