J. B. Cobb & Co., Cleveland
Cobb, Andrews & Co., Cleveland
Cobb, Pritchard & Co., Chicago

In 1852 Junius Brutus Cobb (1824-1893) along with his brothers Brutus Junius Cobb (1824-1900) and Caius Cassius Cobb (1826-1898) bought the controlling interest in their half-brother Moses Younglove’s Bookstore at 36 Superior Street in Cleveland. Younglove (1811-1892) established the book and stationary store in 1837 with Edward P. Wetmore. He bought out Wetmore in 1838 and added printing and publishing to his firm's activities. Since 1841, Brutus Junius Cobb had been a clerk in Younglove's store.

The Cobb brothers store was renamed J. B. Cobb & Co. The business grew and it expanded into other nearby Ohio cities.

In 1864 Junius Cobb along with B. J. Cobb and C. C. Cobb joined Daniel Pritchard (1835-1912), formerly of D. Appleton & Co. in forming a branch store in Chicago: Cobb, Pritchard & Co. which was located at 83 Lake Street. Pritchard had started in the book business in Cobb's Bookstore in Mansfield, Ohio.

The latter firm was also mainly a bookseller, stationer and paper supply seller. In May, 1870 Pritchard left the firm and it was succeeded by "Cobb Brothers". The Chicago fire of 1871 decimated the business and despite a couple year's of effort, the store closed.

J. B. Cobb & Co. was succeeded by Cobb, Andrews & Co. in 1865. Theodore Andrews was Caius Cobb's brother-in-law.

In 1888 Cobb, Andrews & Co. was purchased by The Burrows Bros. Co. J. Will Cobb, the son of J. B. Cobb, was employed by Burrows in its wholesale department at the time of the sale.

Although these firms were mainly booksellers and stationers, they did do a bit of publishing.
Two known series for juveniles were published.

 

Pleasure Books for Children

1. Parlor Story Book for Children by Charles Sedley
2. Old Dame and Her Silver Sixpence; or, The Little Pig by Charles Sedley / Illustrated by John Absolon
3. Life and Death of Jenny Wren  
4. House that Jack Built  
5. Home Story Book by Edward Henry Wehnert

Published by J. B. Cobb & Co. in 1856.

The exact number of titles in this series is unknown. None of these books have been seen.


Nettie Lightfoot Series by Mrs. Barbauld and Maria Edgeworth

1. Alphabet and Picture Book by Unknown
2. Lessons for Children by Mrs. Barbauld
3. Mrs. Barbauld's Stories by Mrs. Barbauld
4. Little Marrian by Mrs. Barbauld
5. Little Thomas by Mrs. Barbauld
6. Useful Little Stories by Unknown
7. Willy, or the Happy Day by Unknown
8. Lazy Lawrence by Maria Edgeworth
9. Waste Not, Want Not by Maria Edgeworth
10. Little Poems by Mrs. O. W. Scott
11. The Floweret by Unknown
12. Little Tot's Book by Unknown

Cobb, Pritchard & Co. published this set in 1868. Cobb, Andrews & Co. also published this set.
The year is unknown (but after 1865).

The Nettie Lightfoot series was also published by a number of other companies.

Illustrated

Cloth. Various colors. Blindstamped with an embossed decorative centrally located cover pattern.
Gilt letter box on the spine with the series and title name. 5.25" x 4"