Chatterbox

Published by Belford, Clarke & Co.

In the late 19th century more than a dozen firms in the United States published books using the “Chatterbox” name. These books were volumes which consisted of short stories, poems, games, puzzles, illustrations and the like. They were incredibly popular and huge sellers. Most publishers printed several variant Chatterboxes on an annual basis.

Unfortunately for all but one of the publishing firms, the rights to use the name "Chatterbox" were held by Estes & Lauriat.
The latter company filed a number of successful lawsuits enjoining other publishers from printing Chatterbox books.

Belford, Clarke & Co. published five different Chatterbox titles between 1883 and 1885 (11 different books). A permanent injunction was granted on April 21, 1886 based on the theory that Estes & Lauriat had a valid trademark. Thus, beginning in 1886 Belford, Clarke & Co. changed the titles for their upcoming books deleting the word Chatterbox from the titles.

The five Belford, Clarke & Co. titles:

Belford's Chatterbox Edited by Elmo (Thomas W. Handford) 1883-1885 (7.25" x 9.75")

2 Formats:
1. Illuminated Chromographic boards.
2. Cloth

1883	1884	1885

Cloth. 1884

Our Girls' Chatterbox by Louisa M. Alcott and others 1884-1885 (7.5" x 9.75")

1884

Note the 1886 "Our Girls'" book does not have the "Chatterbox" name.

Our Boys' Chatterbox by Olive Thorne and Others 1884-1885 (7.5" x 10.25")

1884

Note this post-1886 edition dropped the "Chatterbox" name.

Our Baby's Chatterbox by Aunt Hattie (Madeline Leslie/ Harriette Baker Newell Woods) 1884-1885 (7.5" x 10.25")

1884		1885

Little Pet's Chatterbox 1884-1885 (8" x 10")

1884		1885

Note how in 1886 the "Chatterbox" name was dropped.