Nafis & Cornish, New York

N. C. Nafis (Nehemiah C.) was active as a bookseller as early as 1831 and as a publisher from about 1833 at 98 Catharine Street.

Charles S. Cornish (1821-1891) was a native of Lexington, New York. He apprenticed with the book business of Nafis in New York City, married Nafis' daughter and subsequently became a partner in the business. By 1842 Nafis & Cornish was established. The firm was still on Catharine Street in 1843. By 1844 the publishing was done at 278 Pearl Street. In 1849 Nafis & Cornish was located at 267 Pearl Street. When Nafis died in 1850, Cornish continued with several other publishing houses before he left the book business and went into real estate.

Although not a subject for this site, Nafis and Cornish was a major publisher of gift books.

In about 1847 Nafis, Cornish & Co. was listed with a St. Louis imprint as a co-publisher on its books. In 1849 an employee, R. Van Dien, left the firm of Nafis & Cornish and succeeded the St. Louis branch of Nafis, Cornish & Co as Van Dien and McDonald. It appears that this company was only in business for a short time. In early 1850 the St. Louis imprint was Nafis, Cornish & McDonald and later in 1850 Nafis, Cornish & Co. was publishing in St. Louis.

Hiram H. Lamport and Charles C. Cornish established Cornish, Lamport & Co. in 1850 at 267 Pearl Street. In 1852 and 1853 it was at 8 Park Place. In June, 1853 because of poor health Cornish retired and the firm was succeeded by Lamport, Blakeman & Law. By April, 1854 Lamport, Blakeman & Law had been succeeded by Sheldon, Lamport & Co.

Nafis & Cornish co-published W. A. Leary's Mammoth Toys.