The Seven Parent Publishing Houses
of McGuffey Readers
Truman & Smith

W.B. Smith

W.B. Smith & Co.

Sargent, Wilson & Hinkle

Wilson, Hinkle & Co.

Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co.

American Book Co.

1834 – 1843

1843 – 1852

1852 – 1863

1863 – 1868

1868 – 1877

1877 – 1890

1890 - 1920

BENCHMARKS FOR BOOK COLLECTORS

1836
1838
1853
1857
1863
1865, 1866
1879
1885
1901
1920
original edition including Primer and Speller
changes in Second and Third Reader under caption “Rev. and Improved”
“Newly Revised” (major change)
“New” (major change); Sixth Reader added
High School Reader added
minor changes
major change, completely remade, uniform binding in brown
minor change
re-copyrighted, slight changes
re-copyrighted, slight changes

Under Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co. the readers reached their peak of popularity.  The 1879 edition is highly regarded for its artistic excellence.  Henry F. Farny, prominent illustrator and Indian painter, was one of a group of artists commissioned.  Other artists included: James Carter Beard, George Wharton Edwards, Mary Hallock Foote, William Hamilton Gibson, Will H. Low, Thomas Moran, Howard Pyle, and Charles S. Reinhart.

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