James Challen & Sons, Philadelphia
Howard Challen, Philadelphia
James Challen (1802-1878) was a publisher active in Philadelphia in the 1850's. He was also a minister for the Disciple of Christ.
In 1854 his son Howard (1836-1903) joined the business which was then named James Challen & Son. Around 1856 James' son David joined the firm which then morphed into James Challen & Sons. Apparently sometime in 1859 David left the company and it reverted to James Challen & Son.
The outfit dissolved in 1865 and Howard Challen continued the business. He subsequently began the Uniform Trade List Circular.
1855 5 Hart's Building
1857-1858 112 S. 3rd (Bulletin Buildings)
1858-1861 25 South Sixth Street
1864-1870’s 1308 Chestnut
1875 521 Monroe Street
James Challen & Sons and James Challen & Son published one
series of books for juveniles: Challen's Juvenile Library.
Challen's Juvenile Library:
In 1858 the first thirty books in the series were published by James
Challen & Sons.
(Books below without an author listed- the author is unknown.)
| 1. Song Without Words | |
| 2. Look Up, or, Girls and Flowers | by Anonymous |
| 3. Home Life | |
| 4. Isabel; or, Influence | by Anonymous |
| 5. Arab | by Anonymous |
| 6. Egyptian | by Anonymous |
| 7. Jew | by Anonymous |
| 8. Garnered Thoughts | by Anonymous |
| 9. Wings and Stings | |
| 10. Young Cottager | by Leah Richmond |
| 11. Handful of Pearls | |
| 12. Marvels, or facts in Fairy Form | |
| 13. Helen McGregor, Volume I | |
| 14. Helen McGregor, Volume II | |
| 15. Short Yarns | by Anonymous |
| 16. Perils of the Deep | |
| 17. Story of a Needle | by A. L. O. E. |
| 18. Autobiography of a Pen | by Auriferous Penne |
| 19. Poll Peg, and Other Sketches | by Caroline Fry |
| 20. Story of a Prince | |
| 21. Life Sketches | |
| 22. Gathered Pearls | |
| 23. Better Way, Vol. I | |
| 24. Better Way, Vol. II | |
| 25. Select Stories | by Anonymous |
| 26. John Howard | by John Howard, William Carey |
| 27. Whartons, Vol. I | by D. A. P. |
| 28. Whartons, Vol. II | by D. A. P. |
| 29. Short Stories | |
| 30. Alwrid Lind |
By 1859 James Challen & Son published the library with forty
books. Directly below are the ten new books.
| 31. Heaven's Antidote | by John Allan Quinton |
| 32. Stonyrun Stations | |
| 33. Bible Stories from the Old Testament | |
| 34. Bible Stories from the New Testament | |
| 35. Harvest and Other Stories | |
| 36. Gleaner and Other Sketches | |
| 37. Rainy Day | |
| 38. Summer Sports | by Anonymous |
| 39. Ladder of Learning for Little Climbers | by Anna M. Hyde |
| 40. English History Condensed and Simplified for the Young |
In 1860
Challen's New Juvenile Library consisted of four series/ 42 books
Series #1. Books above 1-10
Series #2 Books above 11-20
Series #3 Books above 21-30
Series #4
| 1. Pearl of Days | by a Labourer's Daughter |
| 2. Heaven's Antidote | by John Allan Quinton |
| 3. Stonyrun Stations | |
| 4. Six Soundings | by John Bingham Ripley |
| 5. Bible Stories from the Old Testament | |
| 6. Bible Stories from the New Testament | |
| 7. Harvest and Other Stories | |
| 8. Gleaner and Other Sketches | |
| 9. Rainy Day | |
| 10. Summer Sports | |
| 11. Ladder of Learning for Little Climbers | by Anna M. Hyde |
| 12. English History Condensed and Simplified for the Young |
These were sold individually, series in boxes or the entire set in a box.
In 1864 the set had 40 books. Pearl of Days and Six Soundings were deleted from the set.
Format
Cloth. Various colors. Blindstamped. Embossed cover pattern. Gilt
spine lettering. 4” x 6"
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In 1866 Howard Challen printed a 41 volume set of Challen’s Juvenile
Library.
| 1. Song Without Words |
| 2. Look Up, or, Girls and Flowers |
| 3. Home Life |
| 4. Isabel; or, Influence |
| 5. Arab |
| 6. Egyptian |
| 7. Jew |
| 8. Garnered Thoughts |
| 9. Wings and Stings |
| 10. Young Cottager |
| 11. Handful of Pearls |
| 12. Marvels, or facts in Fairy Form |
| 13. Nellie McGregor, Volume I |
| 14. Nellie McGregor, Volume II |
| 15. Short Yarns |
| 16. Perils of the Deep |
| 17. Story of a Needle |
| 18. Autobiography of a Pen |
| 19. Poll Peg, and Other Sketches |
| 20. Story of a Prince |
| 21. Life Sketches |
| 22. Gathered Pearls |
| 23. Better Way, Vol. I |
| 24. Better Way, Vol. II |
| 25. Select Stories |
| 26. John Howard |
| 27. Whartons, Vol. I |
| 28. Whartons, Vol. II |
| 29. Short Stories |
| 30. Alwrid Lind |
| 31. Pearl of Days by a Labourer's Daughter |
| 32. Heaven's Antidote by John Allan Quinton |
| 33. Stonyrun Stations |
| 34. Bible Stories from the Old Testament |
| 35. Bible Stories from the New Testament |
| 36. Harvest and Other Stories |
| 37. Gleaner and Other Sketches |
| 38. Rainy Day |
| 39. Summer Sports |
| 40. Ladder of Learning for Little Climbers by Anna M. Hyde |
| 41. English History Condensed and Simplified for the Young |
The Howard Challen books have not been seen
Later by 1874 Howard Challen was still printing the juvenile library
as well as:
Challen's Dime Arabian Nights Entertainments
Author: Anonymous
| 1. Aladdin |
| 2. Ali baba |
| 3. Sinbad the Sailor |
| 4. Noureddin, and the Fair Persian |
| 5. Ganem, Slave of Love |
Paper. 10 cents each
None of these books have been seen.