The Gold Hunter's Library by W. H. Thomes
| 1. The Gold Hunters' Adventures; or, Life in Australia |
Illustrated by Champney |
(Copyright 1864/ title page 1864) |
| 2. Bush Rangers: A Yankee's Adventures during his Second
Visit to Australia |
|
(Copyright 1865) |
| 3. The Gold Hunters' in Europe; or, The Dead Alive |
|
(Copyright 1868) |
The Ocean Life Series by W. H. Thomes
| 1. The Whaleman's Adventures in the Sandwich Islands and
California |
(Copyright 1871/ title page 1872) |
| 2. A Slaver's Adventures on Land and Sea |
(Copyright 1872/ title page 1872) |
| 3. Life in the East Indies |
(Copyright 1872/ title page 1873) |
Lee and Shepard published the first editions of all six of these
titles. Later Henry A. Sumner, Alex T. Loyd, and others published
reprints.
Although the second book (Bush Rangers) is a continuation of the first
title, the volumes did not comprise a Lee and Shepard series until the
third book, "The Gold Hunters in Europe", was published in 1869.
When "The Whaleman's Adventures" was released in 1872 (actually
December, 1871), some ads noted that it was part of the Gold-Hunter's
Library. The earliest book that I have seen which has a title page
date of 1872 notes "The Ocean Life Series" on the title page. In March
of 1872 the "Ocean Life Series" was being advertised.
Interestingly both series (beginning in 1873) have the same basic
illustrated title page. It has the name of the series, the titles of
the six books from the the two series and a picture of Thomes. See
below.
Gold Hunter's Series
Cloth. Green or brown. Blindstamped. Gilt decoration and
lettering on the spine. Illustrated. 7.75" x 5.25"
 |
 |
Ocean Life Series
Cloth. Green, red, and brown. Blindstamped. Gilt lettering,
decoration and a picture of a sailboat on the spine. 12 mo.
Illustrated.
