Roundabout Library for Young People

Published by Henry T. Coates

This multi volume, multi authored publisher's series was introduced by Henry T. Coates & Co. in 1895. Many of the titles that eventually comprised this series had been previously published in various juvenile series by Porter & Coates as well as Henry T. Coates. Of note is that many of the titles were being published simultaneously in the various series in one format and this "Library" in another format.

All of the books in this library are reprints.

When first introduced in 1898 by Henry T. Coates & Co., this series had 60 titles. There were 75 books noted in 1899 and by 1900 97 volumes were noted in the list. In 1902 the numbering went to number 191 but there were only 97 titles as many numbers were skipped. The John C. Winston Co., the successor of Coates, published its first Roundabout Library in 1905 with 97 titles. Winston's Library will not be reviewed here.

There are six different cover formats. All came with dust jackets.

Between 1898 and about 1902 two formats were noted. The "sports" format was used for all the adventure and boys' books whereas the "window" format was seen with all the girls' volumes.

From about 1902 until Winston took over the publication of the Roundabout Library there were five more formats noted. There are certain patterns. All of the Horatio Alger books have the "skyline" cover.

The Edward Ellis titles have the "Indian" cover. Castlemon and Stephens' titles have the "hunting/fishing" motif cover and the girls' volumes have either a "floral design" or books/fruit cover.

Since I have not seen every book, I cannot be certain about the cover of each and every other title.

Every volume in this "Library" has multicolored pictorial endpapers which are different for boys and girl's titles. The front and the back endpapers are different. In "By Right of Conquest" there are different endpapers from those that I have seen in every other book examined. The significance of this is unknown.

Format 1 "Sports"	Format 2 "Window"	Format 3 "Skyline"

Format 4 "Indian"	Format 5 "Hunting/Fishing"	Format 6 "Floral"	Format 7 "Books/Fruit"

Front and back endpapers from boys' books.

These endpapers have been seen in only one book: Format "Sports", "By Right of Conquest".
Not sure of the dating but since the Henty titles were not in this Library until 1900 and this format was not published after 1902, the date: 1900-1902.

Front and back endpapers of the girls' books.

The book below was published in 1896 based on the title page. Note the format is similar but not exactly like the "Floral" format noted above. The back endpapers are also similar but not exact. This book must have been a precursor to the books of the Roundabout Library.

Here is an alphabetical list of all the titles in this series. The date when the book was added to the series is noted.