Wm. H. Murphy, New York

Wm. H. Murphy was first noted in New York as a printer/publisher at 384 Pearl Street in 1847. He remained at this address until 1855. Imprints and directory listings until 1875 have been seen.

Of interest are 1847 advertisements for patent medicines by a Wm. H. Murphy MD at the 384 Pearl Street address. The products noted are Dr. Murphy's Sugar Coated Vegetable Anti Fever pills and Sugar Coated Vegetable anti-Bilious and anti-Dyspeptic pills. Whether this is the same Murphy or not is unknown.

This firm published one series for juveniles.

Uncle Frank's Select Fables for Good Boys and Girls purportedly written by Francis Channing Woodworth (1812-1859)

Although these books are attributed to Francis Channing Woodworth (1812-1859), every fable from these volumes that I have seen in addition to the "reflections" about each fable were previously published word for word in a book previously published. The book I have seen them in was printed in 1820 by S. Hodgson "with cuts, designed and engraved by Thomas and John Bewick". Other early books published by Desilver have the exact fable wording but different "reflections". Thus if Woodworth claimed authorship, he did it with deception.

The book pages are numbered consecutively such that volume six ends on page 204. Interesting that although the "Undutiful Young Lion" is always noted as number one in the series, examined books with this title start with page 35 or with page 172. This must mean that were were different editions published.

Information about which years which editions were printed is unknown.

The title of book #2 has been seen spelled as "Theif" or as "Thief". The volumes are otherwise identical. No priority has been established.

Numerous illustrations

The date(s) of publication of these books is unknown. Certainly between 1847 and 1855 based on the imprint address.

Wraps. Various colors. Front cover has a book specific illustration. 6" x 3.875".
A cloth bound book which includes all six titles was also published by Murphy.