Leavitt, Trow & Co., New York
Leavitt & Allen, New York
Allen Brothers, New York
Geo. A. Leavitt, New York
Leavitt & Allen Bros., New York

George Ayers Leavitt (1822-1888) came from a book publishing family. He was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts. His father, Jonathan Leavitt moved the family to New York City in 1825 and became a partner in the firm of his brother-in-law, Daniel Appleton.

In 1829 Jonathan Leavitt established his namesake bookselling, bookbinding and publishing firm. He joined Charles Austin Lord and William Robinson to form Leavitt, Lord & Co. in 1834. William Robinson and slightly later Robinson & Franklin succeeded Leavitt, Lord & Co. When Leavitt, Lord & Co. dissolved in 1838, Leavitt restarted his namesake firm.

In 1840 Leavitt & Trow was established by Jonathan Leavitt and John F. Trow (1810-1886). By 1844 until 1848 the firm was named Leavitt, Trow & Co. George A. Leavitt joined the firm as a salesman in 1842 and in 1846 he and David Hoadley were newly named partners.

Leavitt and Trow effectively dissolved in 1848 although the firm name continued until 1851. The Leavitt’s at that time formed Leavitt & Co. Trow left the firm to establish John F. Trow, a printer and was the publisher of Trow’s New York City Directory located at 49 Ann Street.

In the 1850’s Leavitt, John K. Allen and Mr. R. L. Delisser formed an auction house Geo. A. Leavitt & Co. This company dissolved in 1863. In 1866 Leavitt reformed the auction house with Robert M. Strebleigh as Leavitt, Strebleigh & Co. In 1869 when Strebleigh retired, the company name reverted to George A. Leavitt & Co.

In 1852 because of the poor health of the senior Leavitt, Leavitt & Co. dissolved. At that time George A. Leavitt established the new firm of Leavitt & Allen with John K. Allen as his partner. Allen had been a classmate of Leavitt and had been associated with the firm of Mark C. Newman for a number of years. Allen’s brother, Henry S. Allen, had been employed by Leavitt & Co. as a bookkeeper and salesman.

In 1862 the firm failed. Henry S. Allen thereafter worked for William H. Appleton and carried on the business for the creditors. In 1867 he became a partner of George W. Carleton. Because of poor health he sold out his Carleton interest about 18 months later.

After the failure of Leavitt & Allen, John K. Allen moved to San Francisco where he was associated with Roman & Co., a publishing firm in which he had an ownership interest.

In 1868 John K. Allen returned from the west coast and with his brother Henry S. Allen (1830-1874) who had regained his health, established a partnership located at 52 Greene Street in New York called Allen Brothers. It was formed with the purpose of publishing and selling juvenile books. At the start of this operation the firm bought the inventory of James Miller, a New York publisher.

In 1867 with financial issues behind him, George A. Leavitt started up George A. Leavitt, a publishing company. It operated until it merged with the Allen brothers in 1870.

In February, 1870 George A. Leavitt and the Allens formed a partnership, Leavitt & Allen Bros. at 8 Howard Street By contractual arrangement the partnership expired in 1875. The company was renamed the World Publishing House and was owned by Leavitt and run by Henry S. Allen. When Leavitt sold the World Publishing House, Henry S. Allen began a subscription publishing house on his namesake imprint.

1830 Jonathan Leavitt 182 Broadway
1834 Leavitt, Lord & Co. 182 Broadway
1840-3 Leavitt & Trow 194 Broadway
1844-1848 Leavitt, Trow & Co.
1848-1852 Leavitt & Co.
1852-1865 Leavitt & Allen
1867-1869 Geo A. Leavitt
1870-1875 Leavitt & Allen Bros.
1876 World Publishing House

Addresses:
1827-1834 J. Leavitt 182 Broadway
1834-1836 Leavitt, Lord & Co. 182 Broadway
1836-1837 Leavitt, Lord & Co. 180 Broadway
1840 Jonathan Leavitt 114 Nassau Street
1841-1842 Jonathan Leavitt 14 John Street
1843 Leavitt & Trow 194 Broadway

Leavitt, Trow & Co.
1843 194 Broadway
1844-1850 191 Broadway

Leavitt & Co.
1850-1851 191 Broadway
1851-1852 12 Vesey Street

Leavitt & Allen
1852-1856- 27 Dey Street
1856- 1860 379 Broadway
1860-1861 24 Walker Street
1861-1864 21/23 Mercer Street
1865 92 & 94 Grand Street

George A. Leavitt
1867-1869 49 Mercer Street
1869 8 Howard Street

Allen Brothers
1868-1869 52 Greene Street

Leavitt & Allen Bros.
1870-1875 8 Howard Street

These firms published numerous series/libraries for children and juveniles. Many of the series were published by several of the firms as they succeeded each other.