The Bodley Books by Horace Scudder

Published by Hurd and Houghton

Horace Scudder (1838-1902) was a teacher and author. He wrote a number of children's books and for a time was the editor of the Atlantic Monthly as well as the Riverside Magazine for Young People.

The eight books which chronicle the adventures of the extended Bodley family are divided into two chronologically based series. The five title first series takes place between 1848 and 1852. The Bodley family consists of Mr. and Mrs. Bodley and their three children: Nathan, Phillippa, and Lucy. In the earlier series other characters also are significant: Ned Adams, a cousin, hired man Martin and his brother Hen.

The stories include journeys to Cape Cod, Roxbury and Boston, Gloucester, Hartford, and New York City. The final book, Mr. Bodley Abroad includes Mr. Bodley's letters from and about Europe. It also includes the family's more local Boston area adventures.

These books were published by three different iterations of the same basic company (Hurd and Houghton was succeeded by Houghton, Osgood and Company, which was succeeded by Houghton, Miflin and Company). All of the books have decorated end papers and are 8.25 x 7. Each volume has numerous line drawn black and white etchings; some related to the content of the book and others more generic and not specifically drawn for the book.

Hurd and Houghton published books #1, 2. (1875-1877) This publisher printed #1 in two formats and #2 in the familiar (different for each book) illuminated board covers.

The first format (edition) of Book #1 has an appliqué encompassing the entire front and back covers. It also has different endpapers than the later formats. 1876 is noted on the title page.

The later Hurd and Houghton (second) edition of "in Town and Country" is an 1877 published book.

Volume 2 First edition
Note that the publisher's logo on the front cover is different from that on the later Houghton, Osgood cover.