The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-12-21

A CHANGE.-Many of our readers who have
been accustomed to regard the name of Tick
nor, Fields & Co., and latterly that of Field,
Osgood & Co., as the synonym of the publica-
ton of elevated and instructive literature. will
be surprised to learn that the old house has
just undergone another change, Mr.. James T.
Field retiring from active "trsde" to give his
whole attention to the edtorship of the Atlan-
tic Monthly, leaving to his partners the cares of
business, who will continue under the firm
name of James r. Osgood B Co. So impor-
tant a change as this, in what has become one
OF the first publishing houses in this country.
deserves something more than passing notice;
consequently we give brief sketch of the his
tory of the house, drawn by one familiar with
it during its entire career:
In 1882, John Allen and William d. Tick
nor purchased the business of Carter & Hem
dee then one OF the e, principal publishing and
co-partnershp under the name of Allen &
Ticknor, which lasted Only two years, Mr.
Allen retiring in 1884. Mr. Ticknor conducted
the business in his own name, from 1884 to
1843, in the "Old Corner Bookstore" which
has since become so we'll known. In the year
1843, he admitted to partnership John Reed, Jr.
(son of Lieutenant Governor Reec of Massa-
chusetts) and James T. Fields, who at the
time when Mr.. Ticknor purchased the business
was young lad In the store of Carter & Hem
dee, and who had since remained in the estab-
lishment. The business style of the firm was
changed to William D. Ticknor & Co., under
which name the firm traded" to use an
English expression, until 1860. For imprints
upon the title-pages Of their books, howeve-,
the style of TicknOr, Reed & Fields was used,
30 long as Mr.. Reed remained partner.
Upon his retirement, which occurred in 1854,
the style of Ticknor & Fields was adopted
William D. Ticknor and James I. Fields be-
ing the only partners. The firm was thus con.
stituted for ten years, when, by the death of
Mr.. Ticknor, in 1854, it was dissolved. At this
time Mr. Fields reOrganized the firm by admit
ting to partnership Howard M. Ticknor, the
eldest son OF his late partner, and James R.
Osgood who entered the establishment as clerk
in 1865 Two years later, in January, 1866.
John S. Clark, who had been connected with
the business eleven years, became partner.
The style of the firm continued as Ticknor &,
Fields until October, 1865 when Howard M.
Ticknor withdrew. This left the business to
Mr.. Fields, Mr.. Osgood and Mr. Clark, who
adopted the style OF Fields, Osgood & Co. In
May, 1870, Benjamin b. Ticknor, second son
of the founder of the house, who had been clerk
in the establishment tor nearly ten years, was
admitted partner.
The connections with the leading authors of
England and America, which form SO large
part of the capital of the establishment, will
be preserved; and the new firm will continue
the publication of all the periodicals heretofore
Issued by the frm-the Atlantic, North Amer
lean Review, Our Young Folks and Every
Saturday; and list of books for 1871, which
will have no parallel in American literature,
is in preparation.