The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-10
LIT e r. A r U r e.
SKETCHES OF PUBLISHERS.
]. B. L1PP1NooTT & CO., PHILADELPHIA


linger Lippincott, Henry Grambo, Edmund
Claxton, George Remsen, and Benjamin b. Will
lis. OF these, Messrs. G1ambo,> Claxton, and
Remsen had been partners with Grigg & Elliot
Mr.. Lippincott had carried on the business for
several years, and he brought Mr.. Willis, who
had been associated with him, into the new
publishing firm Mr.. Grambo retired
from the firm in 1855, and the house
then assumed the title of }. b. Lippin-
colt q Co., by which it has since been
known. Mr.. c. G. HsiIednger and Mr. John A.
Remsen, each of whom had had over twenty
years experience in the house, became partners
in 1858. At the close of 1860 Mr.. Willis retired,
the copartner,hip then having expired by limi-
tatiop, and Mr.. George w. Childs, of the late
publishing house of Cbilds & Peterson was ad-
mited a member OF the firm, but retired in the
following summer Mr.. J. B. Mitchell, who had
been associated with Mr.. Lippincott for many
years in the book-binding business became
partner in 1864, at which time the binding
wholly merged in the publishing and book
selling establishment. The firm now consists of
J. B. Lppincott, Edmund ClaXton, George
Romsen, j. B. Mitchell, G. C. Hafleldnger, and
John A. Remsen.
The premises Nos. % and q N. Fourth street
being too limited for tho extended and still ex-
tending business OF j. B. Lippipcott & Co., and
it being impossible to find adequate accommo-
dation in business centre, it was resolved to
erect new and splendid building of sufficient
extent in a leading thoroughfare. The site
selected, forming Nos 7l5 and III Market street.
on the north side, between Seventh and Eighth
streets, running clear through to Filbert street,
occupies 35G feet on that line, is Al feet wide
the Market street facade, and over 100 feet wide
on the Filbert street end. This building was
commenced in February, 1862, and was taken
possession Of for business occupation and pur-
poses in March, 1868. The design was to have a
very extensive store at once substantial and
handsome with express adaptation to the book
making and Notwithstanding business. 1t
differs from Messrs. Harpers' great store in
Franklin Square, New York, in being wholly
occupied by its owners, whereas in the Har-
per building the stores on the frst-foor are
rented off.
The bull ding in Market street. which was
completed nearly three years ago, consists OF
five lofty stores over a basement which is at
once deep, extensive, well lighted, and tho
rous hly ventilated The edi6ce is in the shape
of a reversed 1.-The broad end being on Fill
bert street, with height OF six stories over the
basement. The facades are fronted throughout
with doYecolored marble, and the building, not
loaded with excess of ornament, is by far the
most handsome private business edidce in
Philadelphia. The first floor, entered from
Market street, without any ascent, is over six
teen feet high, with complete adaptation of
ventilation and light, forming saloon two
hundred and fifteen feet long and forty feet
wide. The retail business is conducted
at the south or Market street extremity,
under the active supervision of Mr.. Jesse
Parry, formerly of the house of Parry & Macmil.
Ian, corner of Fourth and Chestnut streets, sue.
cessors to Carey & Hart A vast quantity of
books upon every variety of subjects-medical
educational military, legal, theological, bellies
letres, and miscellaneous with an extensive
stock of photograph albums-mostly in hand
some bndings-occupy the shelves down to the
various contingencies and partners private
Offices. The second floor is chiefly appro-
priated 70 stationery, and the three floors above
are filed with surplus stock of all kinds, SO sys-
tematically arranged that any article can be
supplied at moments notice In the basement,
winch underies the whole extent OF the build
ing, school books and ncayy stationery are de-
posted in large quantities, When the intention
of extending this already mammoth fire-proof
building is. carried out, so as to permit the
printing and book-binding (still executed in the
large premises corner of N. Fifth and Cresson
streets, into which these branches of production
overhowed when the publication and book distrl-
button was done in N. Fourth street), this will
be a book establishment inferior to none in this
country and larger than any in London. There,
indeed, with very few exceptions (chief among
which is the new book store of Longman Co.,
in PateInoster row., the book stores OF even the
princes of 1.-The trade" are dngy in appearance,
inconvenient, badly constructed, and chiefly to
be regarded with interest on account of their
Antiquity Even the business of John Murray,
the great aristocratic publisher, is transacted in
a plain dwelling house on Albemarle street,
with paIlor windows Indeed, until recently,
when, having been burnt out, Longman Co.
had to rebuild their premises, the only book
Vender's and publisher store OF any importance
erected for the special purpose, in London, wa;
the immense ''Tempe OF the Muses." in Fins
bury Square, put up by James Lackingtor
chiefly for the secondhand book trade-thC
same who wrote and published a very amusing
autobiography, in which he spoke more frankly
of himself and his own takes and mistakes thar
selfhistorians usually d.. The whole cost Of th
premises of Messrs. Lipplncott g. Co., in Marke
street, including the purchase Of the site and tn
completed construction, as at present, wa
$3.50 900. The business of this house consists O
publishing printing, and binding, foreign i'm
portation, and general distribution of books an