Baker, Crane & Day, New York
George C. Baker, New York
Stephen M. Crane, New York
The Baker, Crane & Co. publishing firm was active as early as 1839 at 158 Pearl Street. (Occasionally the Baker & Crane imprint has been seen.) Its principals were George C. Baker and Stephen M. Crane. This firm published a number of chapbooks with Mahlon Day as the main publisher.
In 1845 Mahlon Day dissolved and was succeeded by Baker, Crane & Day. Stephen Crane was Mahlon Day's nephew. George Day had been an apprentice at Mahlon Day. Edward M. Day, Mahlon Day's Son, was a partner in the new company.
In 1847 Baker, Crane & Day dissolved. Edward Day left the book business and moved to Rochester. Stephen M. Crane became the official successor to Mahlon Day and George Baker also began his own namesake firm.
Baker, Crane & Day published a number of series for juveniles. Unfortunately I have yet to see a title list for any individual series and none of the toy books note a series name.
The Baker, Crane & Day series known are:
One Cent Toys 40 kinds
Two Cent Toys 24 kinds
Three Cent Toys 24 Kinds
Four Cent Toys 16 kinds
Six Cent Toys 18 kinds
Parley’s Toys 12 kinds
Small Square Colored Toys 12 kinds
Large 12 mo Colored Toys 12 kinds
George C. Baker reprinted several of these series in 1847:
One Cent Toys 40 kinds
Two Cent Toys 24 kinds
Three Cent Toys 24 Kinds
Six cent toys 18 kinds
Stephen M. Crane published a number of toy books in 1847 and 1848 but it is unclear whether they were in series formats.
Some examples of Baker, Crane & Day publications are shown below. Note that some of the covers have the same format. Undoubtedly those books are from the same unidentifiable series.