J. B. Keller, Baltimore and Philadelphia
Keller & Bright, Philadelphia

John B. Keller sold newspapers, valentines and books from a storefront at 56.5 Baltimore Street in Baltimore from as early as 1842. In 1844 and early 1845 he was located at No. 3 South Gay Street and then between 1845 and 1848 he was located at No. 226 Baltimore.

By 1845 he advertised as a publisher for the first time. The Baltimore Sun in 1847 noted the publication of his 12 book series- Keller's Splendid Edition of Super Royal Colored Toy Books. The books cost 12.5 cents each.

Sometime in 1848 Keller left Baltimore and settled in Philadelphia. In 1852 he published the 12 book Keller's Toys series.

In about 1852 the firm of Keller & Bright (William S. Bright, M.D.) was established as a book selling and publishing business. William S. Bright was an 1841 graduate of the Pennsylvania Medical College. Of note is that the firm was also listed as being druggists in 1853. It worked from the offices of William L. Keller at 68 No. Eighth Street. By 1856 the firm was located at 38 No. Fourth Street and noted as lithographers and stationers. By 1859 the company had dissolved.

The details are not known but in 1855 the firm of Keller & Bright was an active publisher. This company was typical for small houses in the era. It published a few juvenile series and advertised pens, blank books, valentines, etc. This house reprinted the two earlier Keller series and printed two new ones: Grandfather Lovechild Series and the Uncle William's Series. The latter two series had previously been published by other firms. Each of the four series has 12 volumes.

(These four series were subsequently published by John S. Cotton & Co. as well as R. F. Simpson, both Philadelphia publishers.

The companies did not number the titles but they are numbered here for identification purposes.