Mayhew & Baker, Boston 1858-1860
M. A. Mayhew, Boston 1860
Matthew A. Mayhew had his own namesake publishing and stationer firm
before (1852-1858) and after (1861-1868) he associated with George M.
Baker.
George M. Baker (1832-1890) was born in Portland, Maine. He entered the
publishing business as a partner in Mayhew & Baker. In 1862 he
started a work relationship as a “literary man” with Lee & Shepard
which continued until 1889. He was well known in addition as an author
of plays.
In addition to publishing this firm also had a very popular circulating
library.
Only one juvenile series was published by these firms.
Fireside Picture Books
| 1. Wonderful Adventures of the Little Man and His Little Gun |
(Copyright 1858) Illustrated by Morte |
| 2. Robber Kitten |
(Copyright 1859) |
| 3. Headlong Career and Woeful Ending of Precocious Piggy |
written and illustrated by Thomas Hood |
These titles were published initially by Mayhew & Baker and then
in 1860 reprinted by M. A. Mayhew. I believe title #1 is a first
edition.
Later these volumes were part of the six book "Fireside Picture Books"
published by Lee & Shepard. 19th
Century Juvenile Series - Fireside Picture Books
Wraps. Common decorative pattern in blue and red. 7" x 5.5"
These books either had colored illustrations (25 cents) or black and
white illustrations (12.5 cents)
