Mayne Reid Series

Published by Carleton/ G. W. Carleton & Co.

Carleton bought the entire list of Mayne Reid plates from Robert M. De Witt in the winter of 1868. At the time that list consisted of fifteen titles. In May, 1868 a sixteenth title, The White Gauntlet (Copyright G. W. Carleton and Co., 1868) was added. This book was one of two Mayne Reid first editions that Carleton published. Each book in the set cost $1.75 each. By 1871 the books cost $1.50 each.

Note that although the list purported to only have books authored by Mayne Reid, the Rangers and Regulators was really written by Alfred W. Arrington using the pseudonym of Charles Summerfield. This book was first published in 1847 by William H. Graham. Robert M. De Witt published this title with Summerfield noted as the author.

Late in 1871 until sometime in 1873 the sixteen books were being sold for $1.50 each. They were divided into four different four title series.

Far West Series
Scalp Hunters
War Trail
Hunters' Feast
Tiger Hunter

Prairie Series
Osceola, The Seminole
Quadroon
Rangers and Regulators
White Gauntlet

Pioneer Series
Wild Life
Headless Horseman
Lost Lenore
Wood Rangers

Wild Forest Series
White Chief
Wild Huntress
Maroon
Rifle Rangers

By 1874 and 1875 the sixteen books were listed without series.

Later in 1875 the Mayne Reid list had shrunk such that Carleton only published ten titles. "Popular Works of Captain Mayne Reid". Each book cost $1.50.

In 1884 Carleton published the first edition of The Lone Ranch. In Carleton advertisements this title is not listed with the other ten Mayne Reid books. It cost $1.50. Originally this story had been published in serialized form in Street and Smith’s New York Weekly.

The G. W. Carleton Formats

1868-1869.
This format is almost identical to the last De Witt format. The only difference is the Carleton (instead of the De Witt) emblem is in the center of the cover and the Carleton name in gold gilt is at the bottom of the spine. Initially there were only fifteen books in this set. In May, 1868 The White Gauntlet was added. The sixteen books were $1.75 each. (As of yet I have not seen an 1868 book with only 15 titles.)

Here is an 1868 Carleton edition with the ads. Note all 16 titles are listed at $1.75 each.

1870-1873.
The next format has almost the same blindstamped front cover but the spine gilt lettering and design has significantly changed. 7.5" x 5".
(Orange, green or blue). This format was the one that was used in the four Mayne Reid series noted above.

1875

1877 (Green and maroon)

1879

1880 (Green and maroon colors seen)