Spectacles for Young Eyes by Sarah W. Lander

Published by Walker/Fuller

This was one of the more successful series published by Walker, Wise and Co. and its successors. It published the first seven of the eight title series which was reprinted by Sheldon & Co, John R. Anderson, and Dewolfe, Fiske and Company.

For more information see: Spectacles for Young Eyes

Walker, Wise and Company, Boston first editions

Walker, Fuller and Company, Boston first editions

Horace B. Fuller, Boston , the successor to Walker, Fuller and Co. reprinted the seven book in 1867.

Each book has 40-50 illustrations by various artists and were not done specifically for these books.

The 1862 St. Petersburg Walker, Wise and Company book indicated a number of future volumes which turned out to be phantom titles.
The phantom titles were:
Venice
London
Paris
Rio Janeiro
Washington

Note that there was a eighth title: New York which was published by Sheldon in 1869

The first edition of title #1 ( 1862 - Spectacles for Little Eyes) has 198 pages followed by 16 pages of Walker, Wise juvenile book ads. The 1863 edition has 202 pages with 14 pages of ads. The first edition book is slightly larger in dimensions than the second and has 29 lines per page as opposed to 28 lines in the second edition. The final chapter "At Home" was rewritten in the later book. The rest of the book appears to be the same.

This ad which is at the back of the 1862 "Spectacles for Little Eyes" does not mention anything about any follow up books. Note the ad below to the right is from the later 1862 St. Petersburg book which does note "A new Series now Publishing".

In 1862 and early 1863 the cover of the first editions of the first two books (Boston and St. Petersburg) have a pair of glasses (spectacles) on the cover. Starting later in 1863 all the Walker, Wise and Company and its successor Walker, Fuller and Co. had the gilt cover illustration of a famous landmark of the city in the title. Blue, green and lavender colors all have been seen.

The 1862 St. Petersburg book also had the fancy illustrated title page (in addition to the regular textual title page). See below.

(First edition of the Boston book)

The first edition of the St. Petersburg title was actually published by Carleton with Walker, Wise & Co. as a co-publisher.

Here is an early 1863 book. By late 1863 the covers had the familiar gilt book appropriate city landmark on the cover.

By 1863 the illustrated title page was also part of the books in this series.

Walker, Wise and Company-Format 2 1863-1865
Books #1-5 were published in this new format. The book appropriate gilt picture is noted on the front cover. The illustrated title page is shown above. It appears on all post late 1862 editions. 6.75" x 4.5".

This book is probably a second edition. Note "second thousand" on the title page.

Here is an 1864 edition of Pekin. Note that there is no gilt on the cover illustration. This just a printer variant since many later books do have the gilt.

Walker, Fuller and Company, Boston 1865-1867
Books #1-7 were published by this company. The format is mostly the same as the Walker, Wise and Company (which this company succeeded in 1865) Format 2 books. The back covers of these editions have embossed spectacles. The Walker, Wise back covers have embossed patterns that match they front cover. Several colors have been noted.

These books were priced at $1.00 each.

As noted above, this firm did two first editions: Rome and Berlin.

Horace B. Fuller 1867
This Boston publisher, succeeded Walker, Fuller and Company in 1867. In August, 1867 a Fuller advertisement listed the seven titles "Spectacles for Young Eyes series". The ad noted that the books were available in a boxed set for $7.00.

I have not seen any of this publisher's "Spectacles".