Natural Science for Young People

Published by D. Lothrop & Co./ D. Lothrop Company
1. Eyes Right by Adam Stwin (Copyright 1873)
2. Overhead by Laura D. Nichols/ Annie Moore (Copyright 1878)
3. Four Feet, Wings and Fins by A. E. Anderson-Maskell (Copyright 1878)
4. Underfoot by Laura D. Nichols (Copyright 1881)

In 1879 D. Lothrop & Co. announced three "Books on Philosophy, Astronomy and Natural History"
Previously "Eyes Right" had been published in non series formats.

Underfoot was added to this series in 1881.

This series was also noted as "Young Folks' Science Stories".

These volumes were published in cloth as well as boards.

Format 1
Cloth. Various colors. Gilt letterbox and illustration on the cover.
(Whether the other titles were published in the same cloth format as "Overhead" just below is not known.)


There is no known priority between Format 2 and Format 3. But since Underfoot the last book in the series which was copyrighted in 1881 is seen in Format 3, it may be that Format 2 predates Format 3.

Format 2
Cloth with full cover applique.
(The Lothrop logo at the base of the spine as used in the late 1870's)


Format 3:
Illuminated board covers. Cover is the same for all the titles. 8.625" x 7".


In 1884 the "Popular Science for Young Folks” included four books:

1. Eyes Right by Adam Stwin
2. Overhead by Laura D. Nichols/ Annie Moore
3. Underfoot by Laura D. Nichols
4. Four Feet, Wings and Fins  

Double lithographed covers

The "Popular Science for Young Folks" probably was a name used interchangeably with the "Illustrated Science Stories" in the early 1880's.

Illustrated Science Stories

1. Eyes Right by Adam Stwin
2. Overhead by Laura D. Nichols/ Annie Moore
3. Underfoot by Laura D. Nichols
4. Up Hill and Down Dale by Laura D. Nichols
5. Nelly Marlow in Washington by Laura D. Nichols (Copyright 1886)

This series was introduced with titles #1-4 by D. Lothrop & Co. at Christmas, 1885. It had previously been mentioned in an 1882 ad.
Volume #5 was added to the series in 1886. The "Circle" cover on the cloth bound books was continued throughout the life of the series into the 1890’s as more titles were added.

It is unclear which board cover editions had priority and when they were published is not precisely known. All the board books below were published by D. Lothrop & Co. (1887 or earlier). No board cover books published by D. Lothrop Company have been seen.

In 1888 this "circle" cloth book cover format was noted as an eight volume series. The ninth volume was added in 1889.
At this time the books were published by D. Lothrop Company.

1. My Wonder Story by Anne Benedict (Copyright 1888)
2. Look About Club by Mary E. Bamford (Copyright 1887)
3. My Land and Water Friends by Mary E. Bamford (Copyright 1886)
4. Overhead by Laura D. Nichols/ Annie Moore (Copyright 1878)
5. Underfoot by Laura D. Nichols (Copyright 1881)
6. Up Hill and Down Dale by Laura D. Nichols (Copyright 1886)
7. Nelly Marlow in Washington by Laura D. Nichols (Copyright 1886)
8. Eyes Right by Adam Stwin (Copyright 1873)
9. Second Year of the Look About Club by Mary E. Bamford/ Illustrated by Hiram P. Barnes (Copyright 1889)


In 1889, the same cover format was once again advertised as the "Illustrated Science Stories”. In 1891 "Four Feet, Wings and Fins" was added back to the series to make the set eleven volumes. By 1892 the series had twelve volumes with the addition of "Fairy Land of Chemistry". Both cloth and board covers were advertised. (8 vo.) Editions were published by D. Lothrop Company.

This series contained:

1. My Wonder Story by Anne Benedict (Copyright 1888)
2. Lotus Bay by Laura D. Nichols (Copyright 1889)
3. My Land and Water Friends by Mary E. Bamford/ Illustrated by L. J. Bridgman (Copyright 1886)
4. Overhead by Laura D. Nichols/ Annie Moore (Copyright 1878)
5. Underfoot by Laura D. Nichols (Copyright 1881)
6. Up Hill and Down Dale by Laura D. Nichols (Copyright 1886)
7. Nelly Marlow in Washington by Laura D. Nichols (Copyright 1886)
8. Eyes Right by Adam Stwin (Copyright 1873)
9. Look About Club by Mary E. Bamford
10. Second Year of the Look About Club by Mary E. Bamford
11. Four Feet, Wings and Fins

12. Fairy Land of Chemistry by Lucy Rider Meyer (Copyright 1887)

Days and Nights in the Tropics by Felix Leopold Oswald (Copyright 1887) (added to the series in 1890/ deleted from the series in 1891)
Talks by Queer Folks by Mary E. Bamford (Copyright 1893) has been seen in this cover format.


Several illuminated board book covers have been noted for these titles.
All of these books directly below were published by D. Lothrop & Co. i.e. published in 1887 for earlier.


This cover has only been seen with this title and it is unknown if the book belongs to a series (if so, which one) or not.