The Sprague Publishers, Albany, New York
The firm of Gray & Sprague (Stephen R. Gray and Wm. Buell
Sprague, Jr.) took over the book manufacturing, book bindery and
bookseller business of Mr. Daniel Steele Durrie in 1850. By 1851 the
firm was known as Gray, Sprague & Company. In 1854 the partnership
dissolved with Wm. B. Sprague continuing the publication of the series
below on his namesake imprint, Sprague & Co. Later the company
changed the imprint to Wm. B. Sprague, Jr. Stephen R. Gray also
continued in the bookselling/publishing business at 68 State Street.
Gray did not publish any juvenile series.
The "Sprague" firms published two juvenile series. The
book publication dates can be approximated by noting the imprint and
the years that imprint was extant.
Gray & Sprague, Albany 388 Broadway/ 51 State Street 1850
Gray, Sprague & Co. 51 State Street 1851-1854
Sprague & Co. 51 State Street 1854-1857
Wm. B. Sprague, Jr. 1858-1863
1. Grandmama Easy's Large Toy Books
2. Marks' Colored Toy Books