The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-24
B. II. TICKNOR, LAST OF
FAMOUS PUBLISHING FIRM
Death Of Boston Publisher Recalls DAYS When Firm
of 'Iicknor & Fields Led All Others.
Longfelow. Holmes. Whittier. Hawthorne Lowell,
Thoreau Among Those on Their Lists.
Paid English Royalties Before international Copyright
MIR. Tcknor's Later Activities.

~ HE death few days ago Of BEN
iamin Holt Ticknor removed the
L last of those who led In the pub
fishing world half "a century ago When
Tirkuor entered his fathers firm In 1869
the house Of Ticknor Il Fields stood at
the head Of American publishing concerns
properly located in Boston, which was
then This countrys literary centre. 1t Is
interesting to recall some OF the signifi-
cant activities OF the old firm OF Tick
nor " Fields and some of the nterna-
tonaly famous names on its list.
In 1882 William II. Ticknor and John
Allen formed "A partnership and purchas ed
the u. scellaneous publishing business then
being conducted by Messrs. Carter. Hendee
sCo IA the historic building known later
as the odd Corner bookstore Mr.. Tick
nur was AT this time but 22 years OF age
The partnership was formed under the
nam. ut Allen Il Ticknor. which Is the
first TCknor imprint ever Issued.
Mr. Allen did not care to continue long
Dos trade. and in 1889 Mr.. Ticknor was tn.
sole owner Of the business and from then
until lSi5 the name of William ID. Tick
nor stood alone at the foot of the houses
title page. and II was his Judgment alone
which chose the books these title pages
introduced. II was during this epoch that
Lougfellow, Lowell, Tenuyson, among the
poets. and many eminent men among
scientists and scholars were presented to
the American public. The early cata-
logues present among the earliest publ
cations Mrs. Norton's poems, "The Con-
LESSONS of An Opium Eater" the first
volume Of Whittier and the poems of
Barry Cornwall and Robert Browning. 1t
was Mr. Ticknor's Judgment which made
known 10 the American public De Quincy.
Tennyson Charles Reade and other emil
nent English names. and II was his
decision which in 1857 transferred to his
house from the dsintegrating establish
ment Of Messrs. Phillips. Sampson q Co
the Atlantic Monthly.
In lS45 Mr.. Ticknor took into partner
ship James T. Fields, who had been In his
employ for several years, and at this time
John Reed Joined the Arm for a brief
period. the title being then Ticknor. Reed
& Fields. and subsequently Ticknor a.
Fields. From this time the "Old Corner
Bookstore" became the resort OF the lit
erary men from all parts OF the world and
there were welcomed Dickens. Thackeray
and many other of the Old World celebri-
ties. Mr.. Tfcknor early won the gratitude
OF the English authors. for he not only
discerned their worth but he also rendered
Just payment for the use OF their works.
II was to his initiation undoubtedly that
the first unsolicited payments from
American publishers for copyright TO for
'ign authors and the first regular pur-
chases of advance sheets" were due. This
practice, always maintained by his house.
Ice began in lst2 with a check 10 Alfred
T-nnyson.
II one glances back at the list of this
publishing house early In the sos he may
road there the names of Longfellow,
Holmes. Whittier. +. +. Whipple. Grace
Greenwood, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Lowell,
Horace Mann. John G. SAKE. Mrs. jane
son. Julia Ward Howe. Bayard Taylor.
Mary Russell Milford. Mayne Reid
Phoebe Cary, Thoresu, Leigh Hunt.
"ordsw orth, Charles sumner. Kingsley
Charles Redde. De Quincy and many
others OF that notable era.
benjamin Holt Ticknor entered his
fathers publishing house in July. 1859. but
in September of that year he enlisted in
the Forty-fifth Massachusetts Regiment
and remained In the service until 1864,