James S. Claxton
Alfred Martien

William S. Martien (1798-1861) became a publisher in the early 1830's. In 1830 he published the "Presbyterian" and in 1833 he established a business which initially published religious books. Alfred Martien (1828-1911), William’s son, joined the firm in 1856. It was renamed William S. and Alfred Martien. William S. and Alfred Martien published a number of books for juveniles that were subsequently published by James S. Claxton as well as Alfred Martien but they were not within sets/series.

In January, 1865 James S. Claxton purchased the entire stock of books, plates, etc. of William S. and Alfred Martien. Interestingly Alfred Martien continued to publish the Presbyterian as Alfred Martien and Co.

In July, 1869 Alfred Martien purchased all of the books, plates, etc. from James S. Claxton and resumed his book publishing career. Martien had still been publishing the Presbyterian (as Alfred Martien and Co.) and had started a children's weekly called "The Young Folks' News" in December, 1868. It is listed as being published as late as 1884.

In 1873 Martien added about 80 juvenile (and more than 250 in total) books from J. P. Skelly and Co. to its list. At that time Alfred Martien began publishing a number of Skelly's series/sets. Martien officially withdrew from Alfred Martien and Co. (and The Presbyterian) in 1873 but continued to publish books but not juvenile series. Alfred Martien died in 1911.

The books:
When James S. Claxton began publishing the Wm. S. & Alfred Martien volumes, most of the books were not in series but rather sold as individual titles (like its predecessor had done). These books usually have the embossed Claxton initials in the cover. The series books which were publishing beginning in about 1867 generally were blindstamped with no embossed initials on the cover.

All the James S. Claxton series were subsequently published by Alfred Martien in 1869-1870 and thereafter. Subsequently Martien published new series of book that it copyrighted as well as a number of sets previously published by J. P. Skelly & Co. Martien published no series after 1874 (except for the "Cheap Sunday School Library")

The Alfred Martien books (in 1869-1870) were mostly blindstamped. In the 1870-1874 publications several different line drawn front cover patterns have been appreciated. Many of the series went through several formats during this time. The books are for the most part dated.