Bibliophemera

Here is an interesting cover with a nice advertising cameo in the upper-left corner for Chicago publisher S.C. Griggs and Co. As a bonus, the addressee, with a little research, provides additional interesting book-related history. Founder Samuel C. Griggs (1819–1897) started the business in Chicago in 1844 as W.W. Barlow & Co. and a few years later became S.C. Griggs & Co. The publishing concern grew into a major distributor of literature and educational texts in the Midwest and Western states. Tragedy struck twice with devastating fires that wiped out their inventory in 1868 and again in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. No doubt, the second fire factored in Griggs’ decision to sell his share of the company to Jansen, McClurg & Co. the next year. That firm evolved into the well-known A.C. McClurg & Co. The Griggs cameo on the cover helps with dating the cover. As the postmark is illegible, the cover was posted prior to 1872, the year Griggs sold his company. Notation...

Today, February 12th, is Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Here's a 1944 press photo from the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop in Chicago, Illinois, which I wrote about on this blog three years ago today. Enough time has gone by now and this seemed a good time to repost it, given all the attention Lincoln has gotten recently in books and film. The back of the photo has a typed sheet of paper that appears to be dated 2-8-44. Other notation, for the record: A-37690 and Wide World. The title of the release is "Lincoln's Words Live On." Here's the press release transcribed from the typed sheet (typos and errant punctuation intact): CHICAGO, ILL.-To the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, started on Abraham Lincoln's Birthday 11 years ago by Ralph Newman come writers, ans (SIC) scholars bent on research, and everyday people of all sorts to who the great statesman is still an inspiration. Carl Sandburg used the shop when he was writing his "Life of Lincoln". Four...

Abraham Lincoln was born 201 years ago today. Last year, for the bicentennial observance of his birth, I wrote about an interesting post card from the State House Book Shop in Philadelphia, which curiously sported an image of Lincoln (Franklin seemed more appropriate). This year, I have a different piece that hits a little closer to home for Lincolniana. Here's a press photo from the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop in Chicago, Illinois. The back of the photo has a typed sheet of paper that appears to be dated 2-8-44. Other notation, for the record: A-37690 and Wide World. The title of the release is "Lincoln's Words Live On." Here's the press release transcribed from the typed sheet (typos and errant punctuation intact): CHICAGO, ILL.-To the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, started on Abraham Lincoln's Birthday 11 years ago by Ralph Newman come writers, ans (SIC) scholars bent on research, and everyday people of all sorts to who the great statesman is still an inspiratio...