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Defunct New York volume publisher

c. 1891 portrait of Albert Levi Burt

A. L. Burt (incorporated in 1902 as A. 50. Burt Visitor) was a New York-based volume publishing house from 1883 until 1937. It was founded by Albert Levi Burt, a forty year quondam from Massachusetts who had come to recognize the demand for inexpensive reference works while working as a traveling salesman. The visitor began past reprinting home reference works and reprints of popular and classic fiction, before expanding into the field of children's works, particularly series books.

A. L. Burt published both reprints and first editions, and targeted both adult and juvenile audiences. At the aforementioned time that it published works aimed at adults by authors such equally Zane Grey, Harold Bong Wright, and Joseph C. Lincoln, it targeted the juvenile market with works by such authors equally Horatio Alger, James Otis, Harry Castlemon, and Edward South. Ellis. The company repeatedly adapted with the market; it entered a popular paperback market, refocused on hardcovers when the paperback market place became saturated, and in 1911, in an effort to compete with the Stratemeyer Syndicate, began issuing inexpensive juvenile series books.

Albert Burt died in 1913 with a sizable manor, after which the business was connected past his iii sons, who each took an equal share. They continued the newfound accent on series books, pursuing both reprints rights and new works. The company met particular success with series influenced past contemporaneous influences and trends; nearly ii dozen books in The Boy Allies serial centered around World War I, and upon the war's end the company'southward new offers explored topics such as aviation and wireless radio. Although sales and titles declined with the Great Depression, the company continued to issue popular works, including the Beverly Gray series by Clair Bare, and titles by Howard R. Garis. Eventually, with an eye towards retirement, Albert Burt's sons sold the company to Blue Ribbon Books in 1937. Two years later, Blueish Ribbon Books itself sold its assets and reproduction rights to Doubleday.

Albert Levi Burt [edit]

A. L. Burt Company was named after its founder, Albert Levi Burt.^[ane] Burt was born in Belchertown, Massachusetts in 1843.^{[one] [two]} He was one of fourteen children born to Vila Burt (née Randall) and Levi Burt, a utility human and musician, and the grandson of Reuben Burt, the last surviving veteran of the American Revolutionary War in Hampden Canton.^{[3] [iv]} He was too an eighth-generation New Englander from a prolific family, tracing his ancestry to Henry Burt's inflow in Massachusetts around 1638.^{[five] [6]}

Burt grew up on a farm with limited resources and schooling.^[2] Every bit a family genealogy put information technology, other than iv months each winter at a small-scale district school, "the rest of the year the subcontract itself was the alpha and omega of educational opportunities."^[2] Burt's father died on January 26, 1860, when Burt was seventeen.^[7] Burt moved to Amherst, where he worked as a clerk in a full general store for 50 dollars a year along with his board; two years later on he moved to Hartford, Connecticut, working for several years as a traveling salesman for a publishing firm.^[2] During this time, according to the genealogy, Burt came to sympathise the market that existed for cheap artistic, literary, and household books, which many could non afford.^[eight]

In his personal life, Burt married Sarah Prentice Burt in Gilead, Connecticut, in 1872.^[four] They had 3 sons: Harry Prentice Burt^[9] (born c. 1874), Frederick Andrew Burt^[ten] (born c. 1876), and Edward Fuller Burt (born c. 1878).^{[1] [4]} He was a Republican,^[4] and according to an obituary in The Brooklyn Daily Eagle had a "retiring disposition"; he was a member of only 1 organization, Plymouth Church, of which he served for years as a trustee.^[i] In 1891, having plant publishing success in New York, he donated 100 volumes of his works to Belchertown'south Clapp Memorial Library.^[11] He was as well an authorization on bass and trout line-fishing, and wrote on the bailiwick.^{[12] [iv] [13]} Burt eventually gave up his active piece of work in May 1913—"much confronting his will," per the obituary.^[1] After a months-long illness he died in his home at 178 Brooklyn Avenue on 28 December 1913, and was buried in the Cemetery of the Evergreens.^{[1] [14]} His estate was valued at $191,605.71 (equivalent to $5,300,000 in 2021).^[15]

History [edit]

Early years, 1883–1902 [edit]

Albert Levi Burt began his book-publishing efforts in 1883, even though A. 50. Burt Company was not officially incorporated until 1902.^[16] In 1883 Albert Burt moved to New York Metropolis, and soon thereafter began using a pocket-sized office at 105 John Street to publish books.^[16] He initially focused on home reference works.^{[16] [17]} His kickoff publication was a reprint of The National Standard Dictionary,^[sixteen] which contained some 40,000 words and 700 illustrative woodcuts.^[18] Co-ordinate to the family genealogy, for this work he poured the entirety of his $900 savings into typesetting—providing for paper, printing, and binding on credit—and inside ten years had sold some 250,000 copies.^[17] Albert Burt followed the dictionary with a "Standard Encyclopedia" and several works on household art and ladies' handicrafts,^{[17] [xix]} along with such titles as Law Without Lawyers, Household Recipes, Useful Cognition, and The Family Physician.^[1] Late in the 1880s Albert Burt turned to inexpensive paperback fiction, which was and so popular and would allow him to extend his reach, with his Manhattan Library line of books.^[16] He as well wanted to publish and then-called "good literature," and so at the same time began the Burt's Dwelling Library line with 25 titles, somewhen reaching 500.^[16]

In 1887, Albert Burt launched the Boys' Abode Library line of juvenile paperbacks,^[xx] with individual titles priced at 25 cents and a yearly subscription for $2.50; these appear to accept been published meantime with $ane hardcover editions of the same works.^[16] The titles, which included commencement editions as well equally reprints, were by such authors as Horatio Alger,^[21] James Otis, Harry Castlemon, and Edward S. Ellis.^[xvi] The line comprised 24 titles, the start xix issued monthly and the remaining quarterly.^[22] Seven were by Alger: Joe'south Luck, Frank Fowler, the Cash Boy, Tom Temple's Career, Tom Thatcher'south Fortune, The Errand Male child, Tom the Bootblack, and Tony the Hero.^[22] The first five of these were first editions, though all seven had earlier been serialized in New York Weekly.^[22] The final issue, Captured by Zulus by Otis—writing under the pen proper noun Harry Prentice—was published in June 1890.^[22]

Albert Burt's business grew speedily, and between 1883 and 1900 he moved into larger offices in lower Manhattan at least four times.^[23] He also began to focus on hardcover novels, a response to the saturation of the cheap paperback market; dime novels and other 10- and fifteen-cent publications were undercutting his ain 25-cent titles.^[23]

Incorporation and series books, 1902–1937 [edit]

The Boy Allies Nether the Bounding main

Every bit A. L. Burt expanded, and later on information technology incorporated in 1902, it began targeting both developed and juvenile markets.^[23] Zane Greyness's second book, The Spirit of the Border, sold some 750,000 copies as an A. L. Burt first edition.^[23] Similar success was plant with other adult authors, such equally Harold Bong Wright and Joseph C. Lincoln.^[23] Meanwhile, the Chimney Corner Series began offering l-cent juvenile hardcovers in 1905; 69 titles were issued nether the series in slightly less than a decade, during which the price eventually rose to 60 cents.^[23] The company as well issued a line of "illustrated cover" juvenile books betwixt 1907 and 1911, with titles by authors such as Ellis, Otis, and Everett Tomlinson.^[23] With cheaper options readily bachelor, the dollar books did non sell well; ii outset editions by Alger, In Search of Treasure and Wait and Win, are now scarce.^[23]

In 1911 A. Fifty. Burt began issuing serial books equally part of an try to compete with the Stratemeyer Syndicate, whose books were primarily published past Grosset & Dunlap and Cupples & Leon.^[23] An early endeavour simply repackaged four of the books from the dollar "illustrated cover" line: Wilmer M. Ely's books The Young Plumage Hunters, The Male child Truckers, The Young Pearl Hunters, and The Immature Treasure Seekers, originally published as standalone works between 1905 and 1911, became the Boy Chums Series, and sold for 40 cents each.^{[23] [24]} They sold well, and were supplemented with four new titles.^[25] Albert Burt's sons, who were active in the company,^{[26] [27]} continued with series books later their begetter'due south 1913 death;^[1] Harry Burt became president and treasurer, Fred Burt secretary, and Edward Burt assistant treasurer,^{[28] [19]} with each receiving a 3rd of their father'south 510 shares in the company.^[15] They initially pursued reprint rights for existing works; series such as the Jack Lorimer Series, the Oakdale Serial, the Boy Scouts Series, and the Edge Boys Series were thus acquired and reprinted.^[29] New series were also introduced, such as the Bronco Rider Boys and the Big Five Motorcycle Boys under pseudonyms of St George Henry Rathborne.^[29] Particular success was had with World War I-themed series, such as The Boy Allies.^[29] The series—comprising 13 The Boy Allies of the Army books and 10 of The Boy Allies of the Navy—presents "the boy heroes practically winning the war single-handedly".^[29] The books were initially sold for twoscore cents each, rising to 50, 60, and 75 cents over fourth dimension.^[thirty] Other publications with similar themes included the Our Young Aeroplane Scouts Serial past Horace Porter, and the postwar Male child Troopers Series, which was relatively unsuccessful.^[31]

After the state of war ended, A. L. Burt'southward series books adjusted with the times.^[31] The Radio Boys Series, started in 1922, coincided with a popular interest in wireless radio—and with the Stratemeyer Syndicate's issuance of an identically titled series.^[31] Several series by Levi Parker Wyman besides sold well, such as the ten-volume Golden Boys Series, the 7-volume Lakewood Boys Series.^[31] Wyman likewise wrote the eight-book Hunniwell Boys Series, i of several serial with an aviation theme.^[31] Major Henry H. Arnold, subsequently to become General of the Army and General of the Air Forcefulness, contributed to the attempt with the Bill Bruce Air Airplane pilot Series.^[31]

As the Great Low hitting, A. L. Burt's sales, and line of publications, declined.^[31] The company nevertheless published a number of successful serial,^[31] and fifty-fifty bought the printing plates and copyrights from George Sully and Company, which liquidated.^[32] The Beverly Gray mysteries, published from 1934 to 1937 by A. L. Burt, and later on by Grosset & Dunlap, were the company's most successful series of the 1930s;^[31] The series was a veritable soap opera, with the many adventures of its protagonist including twenty-six kidnappings, seven attacks by wild animals, and three plane crashes.^[33] A. Fifty. Burt too published the Rocket Passenger Serial by Howard R. Garis, who until Edward Stratemeyer'southward expiry had been a prolific author for the Stratemeyer Syndicate, writing many of the early on Tom Swift books; the plots of the first two books, Rocket Riders Across the Ice and Rocket Riders Over the Desert, resemble plot outlines in the Syndicate's athenaeum for unpublished Tom Swift books, and may have been intended as such before Garis left for A. L. Burt.^{[34] [31]} The Rocket Riders Series was published in 1933–34, and during this time Garis's son Roger Garis also wrote for A. 50. Burt, with the four-volume Outboard Boys Serial.^[31] The company besides published works by Capwell Wyckoff, including the ten-volume Mercer Boys Serial and the 4-book Mystery Hunters Series.^[35]

Looking to retire, in 1933 Harry Burt began discussions most a sale with Blue Ribbon Books.^[36] In 1937 he finally sold;^[36] Blue Ribbon connected publishing some of A. 50. Burt'southward titles, terming them "A Burt Volume." In 1939, Blue Ribbon Books sold its assets and reproduction rights to Doubleday.^[36]

Locations [edit]

A. L. Burt maintained at least six New York addresses, in addition to a Chicago part, during its history, progressively moving into larger spaces.^[23] The accost listed in a book tin can is thus one mode of dating, within a range of years, a book'due south appointment of publication.^[37] Albert Burt remained at his pocket-sized 105 John Street office from 1883 until at least November 1884,^[38] and by April 1885 had moved to 162 William Street.^{[39] [40]} He remained in that location until moving to 56 Beekman Street, around June 1888,^{[41] [42]} and staying until at least June 1890.^{[43] [44] [45]} In April 1899 he moved from 93–95 Reade Street to the Jones Building at 52–58 Duane Street,^{[46] [47]} where he occupied the entire seventh floor.^[48] Burt remained there for some 15 years, earlier moving around 1914 to 114–120 East 23rd Street, where the visitor took upwardly two floors and 35,000 foursquare anxiety.^[19] Effectually this time the company likewise opened an office in Chicago, where it had long done business organization,^[49] at 506 S Wabash Artery.^[nineteen]

Works published [edit]

A. Fifty. Burt published more than than ii,000 titles from 1883 to 1937, including as standalone works, equally series of standalone works such as Burt'southward Home Library, and as serial of related works such as The Adventure Girls.^[19] The following is a fractional list of such works:^[50]

• The Adventure Girls (3 volumes, 1936)
• Adventurous Allens Series
• Chance and Mystery Series
• Gamble and Mystery Series for Girls
• American Adventures Series
• Arden Blake Mystery Serial (3 volumes, 1934)
• Aunt Amy's Animal Stories
• Betty Lee Series
• Beverly Grayness College Mystery Series (8 volumes, 1934–1937)
• Bill Bruce Air Pilot Series
• Black Shadow Serial
• Burt'south Series of I Syllable Books
• The Boy Allies
• Boys of the Imperial Mounted Constabulary Serial
• Army camp Burn down Boys Series
• Campsite Fire Girls Serial
• Daddy Series
• Exploration Series
• Famous Books for Young Americans
• Famous Elsie Books
• Favorite Stories for Children
• Girl Scouts Mystery Serial (6 volumes, 1933–1936)
• Daughter Scouts Series (10 volumes, 1922–1925)
• Jean Mary Series
• Linda Carlton Series (5 volumes, 1931–1933)
• Marjorie Dean Series
• Mary Lou (3 volumes, 1935)
• Mercer Boys Series
• Merilyn Series
• Mexican Mystery Stories for Girls (three volumes, 1936)
• Mother Goose Series
• Mystery Boys Serial
• Mystery Hunters Series
• Nancy Pembroke Series
• Outboard Motor Boat Series
• Radio Boys Series
• Rocket Riders Series
• Sky Scouts Series
• Uncle Wiggily Series

See also [edit]

•  Children's literature portal

References [edit]

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} "Albert L. Burt, Publisher, Expressionless". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Vol. 73, no. 359. Brooklyn, New York. 29 December 1913. p. 10. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Burt & Burt 1893, p. 494.
3. ^ Burt & Burt 1893, pp. 492–494.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e} Leonard 1907, p. 223.
5. ^ Burt & Burt 1893, pp. nine, 494.
6. ^ "Burts from All Over: Descendants of Early Settler Meet and Make Merry—"Among the Clouds" Burt Welcomes the Clans". The Boston Daily World. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 96. Boston, Massachusetts. 4 Oct 1890. p. 4. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ Burt & Burt 1893, pp. 493–494.
8. ^ Burt & Burt 1893, pp. 494–495.
9. ^ "Harry P., Burt, 68, Noted Publisher". Brooklyn Eagle. Vol. 100, no. 77. Brooklyn, New York. 19 March 1941. p. xv. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Frederick A. Burt, Volume Publisher". Brooklyn Eagle. Vol. 100, no. 294. Brooklyn, New York. 23 Oct 1941. p. 15. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ "A Generous Brooklynite". The Standard Marriage. Vol. XXVIII, no. 144. Brooklyn, New York. xi September 1891. p. 4. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ "Albert Fifty. Burt". The Standard Union. Vol. 50, no. 179. Brooklyn, New York. 29 December 1913. p. 6. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
13. ^ Publishers' Weekly 1914.
14. ^ "A. 50. Burt Dead". The New York Times. Vol. LXIII, no. xx, 428. New York City. 29 December 1913. p. 7. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
15. ^ ^{a b} "A. L. Burt's Sons Give their Mother $112,950". The Standard Union. Vol. L, no. 340. Brooklyn, New York. 9 June 1914. p. 12. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
16. ^ ^{a b c d due east f g h} Gowen 2009, p. 8.
17. ^ ^{a b c} Burt & Burt 1893, p. 495.
18. ^ The National Standard Lexicon 1883, p. 1.
19. ^ ^{a b c d e} Publishers' Weekly 1933, p. 163.
20. ^ "Series - Boys' Dwelling house Library". The Edward T. LeBlanc Memorial Dime Novel Bibliography. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 Apr 2019.
21. ^ "First Editions". The Horatio Alger Guild. Archived from the original on four February 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
22. ^ ^{a b c d} Kasper 2000, p. 3.
23. ^ ^{a b c d e f 1000 h i j k} Gowen 2009, p. nine.
24. ^ Gowen 2007.
25. ^ Gowen 2009, pp. 9–10.
26. ^ Directory of Directors 1911–12, p. 88.
27. ^ Directory of Directors 1913–14, p. 92.
28. ^ Publishers' Weekly 1921.
29. ^ ^{a b c d} Gowen 2009, p. x.
30. ^ Gowen 2009, pp. ten–xi.
31. ^ ^{a b c d eastward f thou h i j g} Gowen 2009, p. eleven.
32. ^ Tylutki 1986, p. 69.
33. ^ Abreu 1984.
34. ^ Keeline 1992, pp. xiii–14.
35. ^ Gowen 2009, pp. 11–12.
36. ^ ^{a b c} Gowen 2009, p. 12.
37. ^ "Publisher Histories: A–E". Newport Vintage Books. 17 August 2007. Archived from the original on four March 2016.
38. ^ "New Books". Democrat and Chronicle. Vol. 52, no. 319. Rochester, New York. 14 Nov 1884. p. 5. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
39. ^ "New Books". The Buffalo Sunday Morning News. Vol. XII, no. 23. Buffalo, New York. 26 April 1885. p. 2. Archived from the original on 27 Jan 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
40. ^ "To Write Successful Stories..." The South-Curve Daily Tribune. Vol. XXIX, no. 4418. Due south Curve, Indiana. 5 September 1887. p. 2. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
41. ^ "New Publications". Daily Nebraska Country Periodical. Vol. 18, no. 300. South Bend, Indiana. 17 June 1888. p. five. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
42. ^ "Our Book Table". The Manifestly Speaker. Vol. 7, no. 116. Hazelton, Pennsylvania. nineteen June 1888. p. 2. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
43. ^ "Literary Notes". The Boston Daily World. Vol. XXXVII, no. 174. Boston, Massachusetts. 23 June 1890. p. 4. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
44. ^ "Literary Notices". Evening Gazette. Vol. 8, no. 248. Sterling, Illinois. 2 Dec 1889. p. 2. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
45. ^ "New Publications". Harrisburg Telegraph. Vol. LVIII, no. 120. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 18 May 1889. p. 2. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
46. ^ Publishers' Weekly 1899.
47. ^ Harris, Howson & Bradley 1993, p. 39.
48. ^ "Literary Notes". The Standard Union. Vol. XXXV, no. 298. Brooklyn, New York. 17 June 1899. p. 8. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
49. ^ "Chicago every bit a Book Mark: It is Now, Says A. 50. Burt, the Smashing Distributing Centre". The Daily Inter Body of water. Vol. XXI, no. 119. Chicago, Illinois. 21 July 1892. p. 8. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
50. ^ Crosson, Mary. "Serial List". University of Missouri-Kansas City. Archived from the original on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2019.

Bibliography [edit]

• Abreu, John E. (May 1984). "Beverly Gray: Junior Soap, A Gold Anniversary Retrospective (part 1)". Yellowback Library (21).
• Burt, Henry Martyne & Burt, Silas Wright (1893). Early Days in New England: Life and Times of Henry Burt of Springfield and Some of His Descendants. Springfield, Massachusetts: Clark W. Bryan Company.
• "Burt Celebrates Fiftieth Anniversary". The Publishers' Weekly. CXXIV (three): 163–164. xv July 1933.
• "Business Notes". The Publishers' Weekly. LV (17): 704–705. 29 Apr 1899.
• Chase, Bradford Due south. Horatio Alger Books Published by A.50. Burt. Enfield, Conn. (6 Sandpiper Rd., Enfield 06082): B.Southward. Chase, 1983. Print.
• Directory of Directors in the Metropolis of New York (11th ed.). New York City: Directory of Directors Company. 1911–1912.
• Directory of Directors in the City of New York (twelfth ed.). New York City: Directory of Directors Company. 1913–1914.
• Eastlack, Robert D. (November–December 2013). "Collecting Fez editions and other A.L. Burt publisher Alger editions" (PDF). Newsboy. LI (6): 3, vii–fifteen.
• Gowen, William (September–October 2007). "Other Similar A.Fifty. Burt Covers" (PDF). Newsboy. XLV (5): 6.
• Gowen, William (January–February 2009). "Worthy challenger to the Stratemeyer Syndicate: A.L. Burt'southward inexpensive serial books, 1905–37" (PDF). Newsboy. XLVII (1): eight–12.
• Harris, Gale; Howson, Jean & Bradley, Betsy (February 1993). Pearson, Marjorie (ed.). African Burying Ground and the Commons Historic District: Designation Written report (PDF). New York Metropolis: New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
• Kasper, Robert Eastward. (July–August 2000). "The A. L. Burt Boys' Habitation Library" (PDF). Newsboy. XXXVIII (4): iii–10.
• Keeline, James D. (November–December 1992). "Mechanics of the Stratemeyer Syndicate" (PDF). Newsboy. 30 (6): ix–fifteen.
• Leonard, John W., ed. (1907). Who's Who in New York Metropolis and State (3rd ed.). New York Urban center: L. R. Hamersly & Visitor. p. 223.
• The National Standard Lexicon (Revised and enlarged ed.). New York City: A. L. Burt. 1883.
• "Obituary Notes: Albert L. Burt". The Publishers' Weekly. LXXXV (i): 21. 21 January 1914.
• "Spring Lines of the Publishers and Some of the Men Who Will Prove Them". The Publishers' Weekly. XCIX (seven): 735–458. 12 February 1921.
• Sternick, Cary. A Bibliography of 19th Century Children'south Series Books: With Toll Guide. United states of america: C. Sternick, 2003. Print.
• Tylutki, George East. (1986). "A. Fifty. Burt Company". In Dzwonkoski, Peter (ed.). American Literary Publishing Houses, 1638–1899, Part 1: A–Thousand. Dictionary of Literary Biography. Vol. 49. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research Company. pp. 69–70. ISBN0-8103-1727-iii.
• "Publishing Histories: A.Fifty. Burt (1883–1937)." Newport Vintage Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2016.

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._L._Burt

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