19th Century Juvenile Series - John F. Brown/ John W. Moore & Co.

John F. Brown, Concord, New Hampshire
John W. Moore & Co., Concord
Moore's Power Press, Concord
Fisk & Chase, Concord
H. E. & J. W. Moore, Concord

I know very little about John F. Brown, the publisher. He was a bookstore owner as well as a publisher. The Franklin Book Store had been owned by Hill & Moore. The latter firm was a publisher as well as a store owner in the early 1800’s into at least the 1820’s. Jacob Bailey Moore (1797-1853) worked with Isaac Hill as a member of Hill & Moore between 1818-1822. Thereafter into the 1830's he published by himself as "Jacob B. Moore". Isaac Hill was an active publisher before and after his association with Jacob Bailey Moore. John F. Brown owned the store from at least 1836 into the 1850's.

There is evidence that John F. Brown published two twelve book series of chapbooks with identical titles. These were published in 1837 and 1846. What is interesting about this set of twelve chapbooks is that the set was published by several other Concord publishing firms (see below) before the John F. Brown publications.

H. (Henry) E. & J. W. Moore published these books in 1831. This series was also published in 1831 by another Concord firm, Fisk & Chase. The book of the former firm has not been seen. Most likely it has an identical format to the John W. Moore and John F. Brown books, but this has not been confirmed.

Fisk & Chase 1831 edition

John W. Moore & Co. published this set in 1832 and 1833. In 1836 Moore's Power Press printed this set as well as other chapbooks.

Bailey & Noyes, a Portland, Maine outfit, published this set in about 1860. See: 19th Century Juvenile Series - Bailey & Noyes
The covers and contents are in most instances identical.

(I have little information about these early Concord publishers.)

Brown's 1837 chapbooks were not numbered.

Brown's Toy Books

Two Goats and the Sick Monkey

Medley

Soldier Turned Farmer

Shepherd Boy

Book of Riddles

Little Frank's Almanack

History of Insects

History of Birds

Twelve Months of the Year

Sailor Boy; or the First and Last Voyage of Little Andrew

History of Beasts

Eight Stories for Isabel

Illustrated

16 pages

Wraps. Various colors. Book specific line drawn cover illustrations. 3.25" x 2.125"

1846 Brown Toy Books (numbered)

1. Two Goats and the Sick Monkey

2. Medley

3. Soldier Turned Farmer

4. Shepherd Boy

5. Book of Riddles

6. Little Frank's Almanack

7. History of Insects

8. History of Birds

9. Twelve Months of the Year

10. Sailor Boy; or the First and Last Voyage of Little Andrew

11. History of Beasts

12. Eight Stories for Isabel