Ives and Jewett, Salem
John P. Jewett and Company 1839-1860, Salem and Boston
John P. Jewett was born in Lebanon, Maine in 1814. His publishing career began in Cincinnati in the 1830's. He moved to Salem and worked with John M. Ives (Ives and Jewett) between 1834 and 1838. From 1839 to 1845 he worked alone in Salem. By 1846 he was in Boston (but kept a facility in Salem). He bankrolled the Cleveland publishing firm of Jewett, Proctor and Worthington which began in about 1850.
Jewett's claim to fame was its publication in 1852 of Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin". Jewett had published "Lectures for Young Men" which was written by Henry Ward Beecher. Beecher's sister, Harriet Beecher Stowe approached Jewett after about half of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" had appeared in serialized form in The National Era with the idea of publishing it as a book. Other firms had turned down the book idea but Jewett was a strong abolitionist and decided to do it. This book outsold every other book in the 19th century with exception of the Bible.
The company dissolved in 1860. In 1862 Jewett manufactured watches in Roxbury. John Punchard Jewett died in 1884.
Ives and Jewett published one series for juveniles:
John P. Jewett & Co. published three series for juveniles: