Prize Series
Five Hundred Dollar Prize Stories
New $500 Prize Series

Published by D. Lothrop & Co.

In May 1868 a $500 prize was offered for the best Sunday-School manuscript. "Andy Luttrell" was awarded the prize with the other books getting "high commendation".

Initially the first four volumes were released and sold individually or as a boxed set.
The series had the two names at first but later the "Prize Series" was dropped. In the early 1870's it was renamed the "Original $500 Prize Stories".

In 1870 the eight volume series was priced at $1.50 per volume

In the 1870's it was divided into two parts which could be purchased as boxed sets:
Part First
1. Andy Luttrell by Clara Vance
2. Shining Hours by Paul Moraine
3. Master and Pupil; or, School Life at the Old Baldwin by E. D. Kendall
4. Sabrina Hackett by Emily L. Saybrook

Part Second
1. May Bell by Herbert Newbury
2. Aunt Mattie (Matty), and Her Young Friends by Mabel Hazelton
3. Light From the Cross by Annie M. Lawrence
4. Contradictions; or, High Life at Edgerton by Mrs. Annie K. Dunning

In the later 1870's this series was also noted as The Original $500 Prize Series.

In the 1880's these titles were combined into one list only.

This series was published into the 1890's.

Formats:
Cloth. Various colors. Title in gilt lettering on the front cover. Gilt lettering and decoration on the spine. Frontispiece illustration. Name of the series is noted on the spine. 7" x 4.5"
First edition format.

Format 2:
Cloth. Various colors.Black line drawn cover decoration. Gilt spine lettering of series and title names.
Frontispiece Illustration. 7.25" x 4.75".

 

New $500 Prize Series

This series was introduced in 1870 with a five volume breeder set. Then over the next year this series expanded to 13 titles.

In 1874 the New $500 Prize Series was divided into two parts.

Part First (6 titles)
Short-Comings and Long-Goings; or, The Boys and Girls of Glencairn by Julia Eastman
One Year of My Life; Eleanor Winthrop's Diary for 1869 by Grace Middlebrow
Hester's Happy Summer by T. W. O.
Building Stones by Julia Ballard
Flower by the Prison by E. E. Flagg
Trapper's Niece: A Sketch of Western Life by Mrs. Sophronia Currier

Part Second (7 titles)
Lute Falconer by Florence Gould
Judge's Son: A Story of Wheat and Tares by Mrs. E. D. Kendall
Suzy's (Susie's) Spectacles by Faith Andsight
Trifles by A. K. D.
Olive Loring's Mission by Annie M. Lawrence
Daisy Seymour by L. A. F.
Torch Bearers by Lizzie Bates

This series were reprinted numerous times into the 1890's.
By 1892 the New $500 Prize Series consisted of 12 books (Susie's Spectacles had been deleted.)

Format 1
D. Lothrop & Co.
Cloth. Various colors. Title in gilt on the cover and the spine. New Prize Stories in gilt on the spine.