Not Quite Goodrich:
Works Not By Samuel G. Goodrich

The other bibliographies
Works actually by Goodrich

“Peter Parley” and his books were so popular that they were quickly imitated—and more. In 1856, in his Recollections of a Lifetime, Samuel Goodrich included a detailed rant about those who had published books using Parley’s name. He included a list of works that he knew about. The plagiarism became so distressing that he finally killed off “Peter Parley” in 1839, in a book titled Peter Parley’s Farewell. He announced in 1841 in Robert Merry’s Museum that Parley was “no more,” due to those who were “palming off trumpery works of their own as Peter Parley’s”—much to the surprise of some of Parley’s and Merry’s readers!

Below is a list of “not quite Parley’s,” based loosely on Goodrich’s list of spurious works, from Recollections. As in his book, they’re listed by nationality and by publisher; each entry includes the date of publication, when listed. Titles in quotation marks are listed by Goodrich as spurious, but haven’t been matched with copies of the work.

The Goodrich bibliography is complicated. Later scholars credited any work with the word “Parley” in the title to Goodrich. And several works Goodrich listed as spurious have his name on the copyright page: he appears to have adapted them and then adopted them as his own. Many of the adapted works were copyrighted in 1839, the year of Peter Parley’s “death” and Robert Merry’s creation. A good example is Peter Parley’s Wonders of the Earth, Sea and Sky, published in London in 1837: at least some illustrations were recreated for an American edition, and the copyright page states that “[t]his work is copied from the English edition, with various alterations.”

Other works, however, weren’t reworked by Goodrich, though they may still be listed by librarians, by dealers, and (alas!) by scholars and collectors as true Peter Parleys.

American | British | accidental

SPURIOUS WORKS BY AMERICAN PUBLISHERS

“Parley’s Washington”; 1832

note: “Peter Parley” appears on the spine, but not on the title page


“Parley’s Columbus”; 1832

note: “Peter Parley” appears on the spine, but not on the title page; Goodrich copyrighted The Life of Christopher Columbus in 1832.


“Parley’s Franklin”; 1832

note: “Peter Parley” appears on the spine, but not on the title page; Goodrich copyrighted The Life of Benjamin Franklin in 1832.

“Peter Parley’s Book of Tables”; 1835

note: Appears only in an advertisement for the bookstore of John P. Beile, Charleston, South Carolina: “Peter Parly’s sic Book of Tables, with numerous Engravings.” The ad also lists Peter Parley’s Picture Book, copyright 1834. It’s unclear what kind of tables are included. This may be a typographical error.

chapbooks

At least two publishers produced chapbooks “in imitation of the Tales of Peter Parley.” All look exactly like Goodrich’s own chapbooks: the correct size and shape, with the same cover illustration and font.

Joseph P. Cooke; 1829
Peter Parley’s Story of the Mask; 1829

bib info: Boston: Joseph P. Cook, 1829. Copyright 30 August 1829 by Joseph P. Cooke (misspelled “Cook” on the copyright page.

note: A note before the text informs readers that “This tale, written in imitation of the Tales of Peter Parley, is not by the author of those Tales; it is, however, classed with the series, as being similar in size and design.” Yes, it is indeed similar, including an opening illustration of the woodcut on the cover: Peter Parley with a group of children. This illustration is captioned ”Mr. Parley, if you are not fatigued will you tell us some more stories.” The back cover (cover page 4) lists Peter Parley’s Stories About America, Parley’s Tales About Europe, and nine chapbooks: “Parley’s Story of the Bird’s Nest,” “Parley’s Story of the Little Prisoners,” “Parley’s Story of the Faithful Dog,” “Parley’s Story of the Little Drummer,” “Parley’s Story of the Mocking Bird,” “Parley’s Story of the Boat,” “Parley’s Story of the Little Soldier,” “Parley’s Story of the Mask,” and “Parley’s Story of the Little Sailor.” Goodrich apparently appropriated the “Story of the Mask” and printed it in 1830 as “The Mask” in Peter Parley’s Juvenile Tales.

Carter & Hendee; 1829 & 1830

Carter & Hendee also published Goodrich’s own chapbooks. Each of the spurious chapbooks I’ve examined is copyrighted by Carter & Hendee and has the following on the copyright page: “This tale, written in imitation of the Tales of Peter Parley, is not by the author of those Tales; it is, however, classed with the series, as being similar in size and design.”

The back cover (cover page 4) lists Peter Parley’s Stories About America, Parley’s Tales About Europe, and twelve chapbooks: “Parley’s Story of the Bird’s Nest,” “Parley’s Story of the Little Prisoners,” “Parley’s Story of the Faithful Dog,” “Parley’s Story of the Little Drummer,” “Parley’s Story of the Mocking Bird,” “Parley’s Story of the Little Sailor,” “Parley’s Story of the Little Soldier,” “Parley’s Story of the Mask,” “Parley’s Story of the Pleasure Boat,” “Parley’s Story of the Cottage Girl,” “Parley’s Story of the Storm,” and “Parley’s Story of the Unhappy Family.”

The illustrations were re-used in 1842 when Goodrich published Moral Tales.

Peter Parley’s Story of the Pleasure Boat; 1829

bib info: Boston: Carter & Hendee, 1829. Copyright 25 December 1829 by Carter & Hendee.

note: Illustration reprinted in Moral Tales.


Peter Parley’s Story of the Storm; 1829

bib info: Boston: Carter & Hendee, 1829. Copyright 25 December 1829 by Carter & Hendee.

note: Illustration reprinted in Moral Tales.


Peter Parley’s Story of the Unhappy Family; 1829

bib info: Boston: Carter & Hendee, 1829.

note: Perhaps reprinted in Moral Tales, as “Terence O’Keefe, or The Unhappy Family.”


Peter Parley’s Story of the Cottage Girl; 1830

bib info: Boston: Carter & Hendee, 1830.

Mahlon Day; 1836

Mahlon Day reprinted and abridged several works by Goodrich as chapbooks and at least one book.

Stories About the Earth, Sun, Moon and Stars; From the Works of Peter Parley

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day & Co., 1831-1833. 8 pp.

From the preface: “Peter Parley has made a great many books for children, and very good and useful ones too. … Please to step in at the Book-store, No. 374, Pearl-street, and you will find them all there for sale.” Day’s bookstore was at 374 Pearl Street.


Peter Parley’s Visit to the City of New-York; 1832?

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day & Co., 1832? 32 pp.

note: Text taken from Peter Parley’s Tales about the State and City of New York


Peter Parley’s Visit to the City of New-York; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day & Co., 1836. 31 pp. Mahlon Day’s Toy Books

note: Text taken from Peter Parley’s Tales about the State and City of New York


Peter Parley’s Visit to the City of New-York; 1844

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day & Co. & Baker, Crane & Co., 1844. 31 pp.

note: Text taken from Peter Parley’s Tales about the State and City of New York


The Butterfly; or, Parley’s Juvenile Stories; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 30 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”

in the book: “I’d Be a Butterfly”; “An Afternoon’s Ramble”; “Butterflies”; “The Bird’s Nest”; “Scene On a Lake”; “The Orphans,” by Lydia Sigourney; “The Lost Boy”; “Edmund and His Dog”


Parley’s Book of Books; 1836

bib info for 2nd edition: New York: Mahlon Day & Co., 1839. Copyright 1839 by Mahlon Day & Co.

note: Extracts from Parley’s Magazine. In twelve sections, most apparently made up of the text and illustrations of the Parley chapbook series titled “Parley’s New-York Books for Children”: “Peter Parley’s History of the Wanderings of Tom Starboard (pp. 1-31),” “Entertaining and Instructive Stories” (pp. 33-63), “Stories About Insects ”(pp. 65-95), “Stories About Balloons and Other Curious Things” (pp. 97-127), “Stories About Curious and Wonderful Birds” (pp. 129-159), “Stories About Fruit of Various Kinds” (pp. 161-191), “Fables” (pp. 193-223), “Parley’s Sketches of History and Customs” (pp. 225-255), “Parley’s Sketches of the Manners of the Jews” (pp. 257-287), “Parley’s Tales of the People of Asia” (pp. 289-319), “Tales of Useful Plants” (pp. 321-351, and “Parley’s Stories About Four-Footed Animals” (pp. 353-383).

In 1836, Goodrich publicly protested that while the book used Parley’s name in its text and was apparently made up of pieces from Parley’s Magazine, he hadn’t contributed any of the work and hadn’t edited the magazine for some time. (See “To the Editors of the Commercial Advertiser.” Commercial Advertiser [New York, New York] 23 Jan 1836; p. 6) Mahlon Day answered that he felt he could use the Parley name because he’d been given permission by the current editors of the Magazine to reprint the pieces. (See “To the Editors of the Commercial Advertiser.” Commercial Advertiser [New York, New York] 26 Jan 1836; p. 2)

The result may be the preface to the 1839 edition—signed by Peter Parley and dated 30 December 1837—which states that Parley edited “a magazine, to which my publishers chose to give the title of Parley’s Magazine”, but that he had ended the editorship. “My friend Day,” Parley goes on, “being pleased with the magazine, made a selection from it, and has requested me to revise the same. This I have now done, and cheerfully give my approbation to the following pages.” Goodrich disavowed the book in his Recollections.

A paragraph from the book accompanies an illustration on the cover of a copy book which may have been printed by Day.


Parley’s Entertaining and Instructive Stories; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 30 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”

in the book: “The Little Wood-Cutter”; “French and Spanish Expedition Against Charleston”; “Edmund and His Dog”; “A Summer Shower”; “Little Zoe”; “The Lions of Mysore”; “The Whistle”; “Cousin James and Cousin Thomas”; “Yates and Downing”; “The Lamb”; “James and the Flock; or, More About Doing Good”; “Putnam and the Wolf”


Parley’s Fables; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 30 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”


Parley’s History of the Manners of the Jews; 1836?

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, nd. 31 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”


Parley’s History of the Wanderings of Tom Starboard; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 31 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”


Parley’s Juvenile Miscellany; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 32 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”

in the book: “Persian Gardens”; “Crowning the Maid”; “Crossing the Tigris”; “Mountains of Persia”; “Hemp”; “Soap Wort”; “The Bee Hive”; “A Soldier’s Story,” by Mary Howitt


Parley’s Sketch Book; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 32 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”

in the book: “The Indian and the Spaniard”; “Landing of Columbus”; “Effects of Rashness”; “A Summer Shower”; “Little Zoe”; “Cousin James and Cousin Thomas”; “The Mahratta Chief”; “City of New York”


Parley’s Stories About Animals; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 32 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”

in the book: “The Dromedary, or Camel of India”; “The American Bison”; “The Beaver”; “The Crocodile and Alligator”; “The Water Dog”; “The Newfoundland Dog”; “The Lions of Mysore”; “Anecdotes of the Deer”; “The Rein Deer”; “The Coach Dog”; “The Spaniel”


Parley’s Stories About Balloons, &c.; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 30 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”

in the book: “About Balloons”; “Why Cannot Men Fly”; “Unequalled Balloon Excursion”; “The Telegraph”; “Stephinus’s Method of Sailing on Land”; “Volcanoes”; “Eruption of Mount Vesuvius”; “The urora Borealis”; “Water Spouts”; “The Fourth of July”


Parley’s Tales About the Useful Plants; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 32 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”


Parley’s Stories About Birds; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 32 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”

in the book: “The Honey-Bird and the Wood-Pecker”; “The Lyre-Bird of New Holland”; “The Flamingo”; “The Grebe”; “The Egret, or Little Heron”; “White Headed or Bald Eagle”; “The Ostrich”; “Falconry”; “The Carrier Pigeon”; “The Bird’s Nest”


Parley’s Stories About Four Footed Animals; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 30 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”


Parley’s Stories of Wonderful Trees; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 31 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”


Parley’s Stories About Fruit; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 32 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”


Peter Parley’s Entertaining Picture Book; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 32 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”


Peter Parley’s Juvenile Lectures on Insects; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 31 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”


Peter Parley’s Stories About Curious and Wonderful Birds; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 30 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”

in the book: “White Headed or Bald Eagle”; “The Blue Bird”; “The Cruelty of Shooting Swallows”; “The Humming Bird”; “The Humming Birds [sic] Nest”; “The Purple Martin”; “The Downy Woodpecker”; “The Rook”; “The Ostrich”; “The Osprey, or Fish Hawk”; “The Flamingo”; “The Skimmer of the Sea”; “The Swift”; “The Carrier Pigeon”; “The Lyre Bird of New Holland”; “The Grebe”; “The Egret, or Little Heron”; “Nest of the Tailor-Bird”

note: The back cover (cover page 4) advertises several books available from Day, among them “toy books” (“His list … is not exceeded, or equaled, by any other in America.”). The list includes “twelve kinds” “[o]f Parley Toys, uncolored” and an equal number “[o]f Parley Toys, colored.”


Peter Parley’s Ancient History and Customs; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 31 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”


Peter Parley’s Stories About the Chinese; and Their Silk Manufactories; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 32 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”

in the book: “The Young Chinese Licentiate”; “Chinese Writing”; “Chinese Country Stage Cart”; “Rope Making”; “On Rearing the Silkworm”; “Silkworms—The Cocoons”; “Winding Silk From the Cocoons”; “On Weaving Silk”; “Symbols”

note: The back cover (cover page 4) advertises several books available from Day, among them “toy books” (“His list … is not exceeded, or equaled, by any other in America.”). The list includes “twelve kinds” “[o]f Parley Toys, uncolored” and an equal number “[o]f Parley Toys, colored.”


Peter Parley’s Tales About the People of Asia; 1836

bib info: New York: Mahlon Day, 1836. 31 pp. Titled as “Parley’s New-York Children’s Books.”

J. Grout, jr; 1845-1846
Parley’s Poetical Present

bib info: Worcester: J. Grout, jr, n. d. 24 pp.

in the book: “The Dead Robin”; “Hen and Chickens” [by William Lisle Bowles]; “Butterflies”; “Butterfly and Bee” [by William Lisle Bowles]; “The Plough-Boy”; “We are Seven” [by William Wordsworth]; “I’m Poor and Alone” [by “Miss Wood”]; “Stop! Stop! Pretty Water” [by Eliza Follen]; “The Little Trout” [by Jane Taylor]; “The Way to Be Happy” [by Ann Taylor or Jane Taylor]; “The Infant Hero” [by Cora]; “It is a Pleasant Day”; “Nancy Ray” [by William Ray]; “A Farewell Song” [by Felicia Dorothea Hemans]

notes: Pieces were selected from Peter Parley’s Book of Poetry for Children. Several had appeared in Parley’s Magazine in 1833.

AAS description notes that Grout published at the address on this book during 1845 to 1846.

Grout reprinted the book as The Poetical Present. Worcester: J. Grout, jr., 1847.

Nafis & Cornish and E. Littlefield

Nafis & Cornish (New York) and E. Littlefield (Boston) published a handful of collections for adults. Nafis & Cornish published works in two volumes; E. Littlefield published two volumes in one. Both publishers apparently used the same stereotype plates—from the Boston Type and Stereotype Foundry. Some pieces already had appeared in The Token; each volume was copyrighted by Goodrich. Some volumes by Littlefield appeared as the “Economical Library”; some volumes by Nafis & Cornish appeared as “Peter Parley’s Select Library,” and advertisements called the Nafis & Cornish books “The Young People’s Library” and “Parley’s Family and School Library.”

E. Littlefield; 1840-1841
Moral Tales; 1840

bib info: Boston: E. Littlefield, 1840. Two volumes in one, each with separate pagination; both volumes titled: “Moral Tales.”

vol 1, 191 pp.: “The Two Coats”; “Passages in the Life of an Old Maid” (from 1828 Token); “My Friend Plum” (from Token for 1828 as “To the Sentimental”); “The Broken Miniature”; “Wealth and Fashion” (from Token for 1836); “The Mysterious Correspondent”; “Katrina Schuyler” (from Token for 1837); “The Cobbler of Brusa”” (from Token for 1834); “He is So Amiable”; “The Blind Boy” (from Token for 1829); “The Bank Note”; “Sketch of a Blue-Stocking” (from Token for 1832); “The Wedding Knell” (from Token for 1836); “David Swan” (from Token for 1837); “The Indian Fighter” (from Token for 1830); “Curiosity”

vol 2, 192 pp.: “The Tiara” (from Token for 1837); “New Year’s Day” (from Token for 1836); Night Sketches Beneath an Umbrella” (from Token for 1838); “The Canterberry [sic] Pilgrims” (from Token for 1833); “The Legacy Hunter”; “Parental Hopes”; “The World as, It Is”; “The Haunted Mind” (in table of contents as “The Haunted Maid”; from Token for 1835); “Reconciliation”; “The Dream Fulfilled” (from Token for 1829); “Iretta the Fairy” (from Token for 1839); “The Love Match” (from Token for 1840); “The Man with the —”; “Sights From a Steeple” (from Token for 1831); “Something That Actually Happened”; “The Diamond” (from Token for 1834); “The Tempter”; “The Discharged Workman”

note: Advertised in May 1840: “The Library for the Times. Now publishing by E. LITTLEFIELD, 122 Washington street, a series of Books to be denominated the ‘Economical Library’—each volume will contain about 200 pages of well selected popular tales of Passion, Terror, Superstitions, History, &c., and put at the low price of 18½ cents. The first vol. (Moral Tales) is now published, and contains The two Coats, Passages in the Life of an Old Maid, My Friend Plum, The Broken Miniature, Wealth and Fashion, The Mysterious Correspondent, Matrina Schuyler, The Cobbler of Brusa, He is so Amiable, The Blind Boy, The Bank Note, Sketch of a Blue Stocking, the Wedding Knell, David Swan, The Indian Fighter, Curiosity.” [Bay State Democrat (Boston, Massachusetts) 13 May 1840; p. 3.]


Tales of Humor; 1840

bib info: Boston: E. Littlefield, 1840. Copyright 1840 by Goodrich. Two volumes in one, each with separate pagination; both volumes titled: “Tales of Humor.”

vol 1, 192 pp.: “The Bashful Man” (from Token for 1832); “Jim Soolivan”; “Mrs. Bullfrog” (from Token for 1837); “The Bald Eagle” (in table of contents as “The Bold Eagle”; from Token for 1833); “The Captain’s Lady” (from Token for 1830); “The Yellow Domino”; “The Haunted Quack” (from Token for 1831); “A Ghost Story”; “The Height of Impudence” (from Token for 1830); “Grasso Legnainolo, or Who am I?”; “The Magician”; “Hans in Luck”; “Reflections in a Pillory”; “The Village Musician” (from Token for 1831); “The Lying Servant”; “Measure for Measure”; “The Storm”

vol 2, 192 pp.: “The Lame Pig”; “A Night’s Adventure”; “From the Journal of an Odd Fellow”; “Madame Brillante”; “Rumpelstilzchen”; “The Furlough”; “Lord Vaporcourt” (from Token for 1831); “The Magic Spinning-Wheel” (from Token for 1836); “A Rill from the Town Pump”; “London Omnibusses”; “The Coach Wheel”; “The Piper of Neisse”; “Too Handsome for Any Thing”; “The Good-Natured Couple”; “The First Time of Asking”; “A Legend of Tom Thumb”; “A Chapter on Ears”; “Lesson in Biography”; “Horrors of a Head-Dress” (from Token for 1836); “The Last of the Serpents”; “Mr. Higginbotham’s Catastrophe”; “The Elopement”; “The Dilemma”

note: In an advertisement dated 23 June 1840, listed as “This day published by E. LITTLEFIELD”. [“Tales of Humor, Vols. 1 & 2.” Bay State Democrat (Boston, Massachusetts) 29 June 1840; p. 1.]


Tales of Terror; 1840

bib info: Boston: E. Littlefield, 1840. Copyright 1840 by Goodrich. Two volumes in one, each with separate pagination; both volumes titled: “Tales of Terror.”

vol 1, 192 pp.: “The Storm Lights of Anzaska”; “Monos and Daimonos“; ”The Iron Shroud“; ”The Rock of the Candle“; ”The Sisters“; ”Der Freischutz“; ”The Comet“ (from Token for 1839); ”A Night in a Church“; ”The Dummburg“; ”The Legend of Bethel Rock“; ”The Oratory

vol 2, 191 pp.: “The Hermitess“ (from Token for 1828); ”The Spate“; ”The Night Alarm“; ”The Rattlesnake Hunter“; ”The Tapestried Chamber; or, The Lady in the Saque“; ”The Land’-End of Cornwall“; ”The Necromancer“; ”Bernard, the Decore“; ”The Old Hall“; ”Marie; or, The Blue Kerchief“; ”The Regicide“; ”Adele“; ”The Piedmontese Courier“; ”The French Officer“; ” The Last Trial of Fidelity”

note: Described as “This day published by E. Littlefield” in an advertisement dated 5 March 1841. [Boston Daily Advertiser (Boston, Massachusetts) 8 March 1841; p. 4.]


Tales of Love; 1841

bib info: Boston: E. Littlefield, 1841. Two volumes in one, each with separate pagination; both volumes titled: “Tales of Love.”

vol 1, 192 pp.: “The Lily of Liddesdale”; “The Maid of Malines”; “Second Thoughts Best” (from Token for 1840); “The Lover’s Last Visit”; “Rachel Morisson”; “The Consul’s Daughter”; “Lawrence Bayley’s Temptation”; “The Drowned Fisherman”; “Bianca”

vol 2, 191 pp.: “The Dead and the Living Husband”; “The Peasant Girl’s Love”; “The Two Kates”; “Caount Rodolph’s Heir”; “The Parting Kiss”; “The Lowly Lady”; “Women are Fickle”; “Love in the Olden Time”; “The Muffled Priest”; “Isabelle, Her Sister Kate, &c.” “Spanish Duchess and Orphan Boy”; “Snow-Storm in Scotland”; “Bertha Clerville”; “Love’s Recompense”; “The Young Minister and the Bride”; “Tradition of Rolandseck”

note: Described in an advertisement dated 5 March 1841. [Boston Daily Advertiser (Boston, Massachusetts) 8 March 1841; p. 4.]

Nafis & Cornish; 1841
Moral Tales; 1840

bib info: New York: Nafis & Cornish, 1840. St. Louis: Nafis, Cornish & Co., 1840. Copyright 1840 by Goodrich. 192 pp. “End of Vol. I” printed on p. 192.

in the book: “The Two Coats”; “Passages in the Life of an Old Maid” (from 1828 Token); “My Friend Plum” (from Token for 1828 as “To the Sentimental”); “The Broken Miniature”; “Wealth and Fashion” (from Token for 1836); “The Mysterious Correspondent”; “Katrina Schuyler” (from Token for 1837); “The Cobbler of Brusa”” (from Token for 1834); “He is So Amiable”; “The Blind Boy” (from Token for 1829); “The Bank Note”; “Sketch of a Blue-Stocking” (from Token for 1832); “The Wedding Knell” (from Token for 1836); “David Swan” (from Token for 1837); “The Indian Fighter” (from Token for 1830); “Curiosity”


The Flower Basket; 1841

bib info: New York: Nafis & Cornish, 1841. St. Louis: Nafis, Cornish & Co., 1841. Copyright 1841 by Goodrich. 192 pp. “End of Vol. II” printed on p. 192. Also as “Peter Parley’s Select Library”

in the book: “The Tiara” (from Token for 1837); “New Year’s Day” (from Token for 1836); Night Sketches Beneath an Umbrella” (from Token for 1838); “The Canterberry [sic] Pilgrims” (from Token for 1833); “The Legacy Hunter”; “Parental Hopes”; “The World as, It Is”; “The Haunted Mind” (in table of contents as “The Haunted Maid”; from Token for 1835); “Reconciliation”; “The Dream Fulfilled” (from Token for 1829); “Iretta the Fairy” (from Token for 1839); “The Love Match” (from Token for 1840); “The Man with the —”; “Sights From a Steeple” (from Token for 1831); “Something That Actually Happened”; “The Diamond” (from Token for 1834); “The Tempter”; “The Discharged Workman”


Humorist Tales; 1850?

bib info as “Peter Parley’s Select Library”: New York: Cornish, Lamport & Co., nd. St. Louis: McCartney & Lamport, nd. 192 pp. “End of Volume I.” printed on p. 192.

in the book: “The Bashful Man” (from Token for 1832); “Jim Soolivan”; “Mrs. Bullfrog” (from Token for 1837); “The Bald Eagle” (in table of contents as “The Bold Eagle”; from Token for 1833); “The Captain’s Lady” (from Token for 1830); “The Yellow Domino”; “The Haunted Quack” (from Token for 1831); “A Ghost Story”; “The Height of Impudence” (from Token for 1830); “Grasso Legnainolo, or Who am I?”; “The Magician”; “Hans in Luck”; “Reflections in a Pillory”; “The Village Musician” (from Token for 1831); “The Lying Servant”; “Measure for Measure”; “The Storm”


Tales for the Times; 1841

bib info: New York: Nafis & Cornish, 1841. St. Louis: Nafis, Cornish & Co., 1840. Copyright 1841 by Goodrich. 192 pp. “End of Volume II.” printed on p. 192. With frontispiece.

in the book: “The Lame Pig”; “A Night’s Adventure”; “From the Journal of an Odd Fellow”; “Madame Brillante”; “Rumpelstilzchen”; “The Furlough”; “Lord Vaporcourt” (from Token for 1831); “The Magic Spinning-Wheel” (from Token for 1836); “A Rill from the Town Pump”; “London Omnibusses”; “The Coach Wheel”; “The Piper of Neisse”; “Too Handsome for Any Thing”; “The Good-Natured Couple”; “The First Time of Asking”; “A Legend of Tom Thumb”; “A Chapter on Ears”; “Lesson in Biography”; “Horrors of a Head-Dress” (from Token for 1836); “The Last of the Serpents”; “Mr. Higginbotham’s Catastrophe”; “The Elopement”; “The Dilemma”


Fairy Tales; 1840

bib info: New York: Nafis & Cornish, 1840. Copyright 1840 by Goodrich. 192 pp. With frontispiece from The Lily: A Holiday Present. New York: E. Sands, 1830.

in the book: “The Storm Lights of Anzaska”; “Monos and Daimonos“; ”The Iron Shroud“; ”The Rock of the Candle“; ”The Sisters“; ”Der Freischutz“; ”The Comet“ (from Token for 1839); ”A Night in a Church“; ”The Dummburg“; ”The Legend of Bethel Rock“; ”The Oratory


Short Stories; 1840

bib info: New York: Nafis & Cornish, 1840. Copyright 1840 by Goodrich. 191 pp. With frontispiece, “The Bridesmaid” from Token for 1833.

in the book: “The Hermitess“ (from Token for 1828); ”The Spate“; ”The Night Alarm“; ”The Rattlesnake Hunter“; ”The Tapestried Chamber; or, The Lady in the Saque“; ”The Land’-End of Cornwall“; ”The Necromancer“; ”Bernard, the Decore“; ”The Old Hall“; ”Marie; or, The Blue Kerchief“; ”The Regicide“; ”Adele“; ”The Piedmontese Courier“; ”The French Officer“; ” The Last Trial of Fidelity”


The Consul’s Daughter; 1841

bib info: New York: Nafis & Cornish, 1841. Copyright 1841 by Goodrich. 191 pp. With frontispiece: “Painted by J. Ender; Engraved on Steel by Geo. B. Ellis”

in the book: “The Lily of Liddesdale”; “The Maid of Malines”; “Second Thoughts Best” (from Token for 1840); “The Lover’s Last Visit”; “Rachel Morisson”; “The Consul’s Daughter”; “Lawrence Bayley’s Temptation”; “The Drowned Fisherman”; “Bianca”


The Rose Bud; 1841

bib info: New York: Nafis & Cornish, 1841. Copyright 1841 by Goodrich. 190 pp. Also as “Peter Parley’s Select Library,” without the plates

in the book: “The Dead and the Living Husband”; “The Peasant Girl’s Love”; “The Two Kates”; “Caount Rodolph’s Heir”; “The Parting Kiss”; “The Lowly Lady”; “Women are Fickle”; “Love in the Olden Time”; “The Muffled Priest”; “Isabelle, Her Sister Kate, &c.” “Spanish Duchess and Orphan Boy”; “Snow-Storm in Scotland”; “Bertha Clerville”; “Love’s Recompense”; “The Young Minister and the Bride”; “Tradition of Rolandseck”

illustrations: frontispiece: “Isabel” (from Token for 1831); also, “Meditation” (from Token for 1830); “Genevieve” (from Token for 1830); frontispiece from Consul’s Daughter


The Garland; 1841

bib info: New York: Nafis & Cornish, 1841. St. Louis: Nafis, Cornish & Co., 1841. Copyright 1841 by Goodrich. 242 pp. Most of The Token, and Atlantic Souvenir for 1841, without the plates

in the book: “The Stranger’s Nephew”; “The Swiss Boy’s Farewell”; “Stanzas—F. G. Jewett”; “An Omitted Pickwick Paper”; “The Madona—A Translated Sketch”; “The Dreamer”; “The Miser”; “Ireland and the Irish, first part”; “Ireland and the Irish, second part”; “To Marion”; “Blue Stockings”; “Ambition”; “The Love of Nature” (“Study of Natural History” in Token); I’ve Nailed My Colors to the Mast”


The Floweret; 1840

bib info: New York: Nafis & Cornish, 1840. St. Louis: Nafis, Cornish & Co., 1840. Copyright 1840 by Goodrich. 232 pp.

in the book: “The Young Tyrolese”; “Hymn”; “The Young Rebel”; “The Two Sisters”; “The Old Gentleman”; “The Mountain Daisy”; “A Walk in the Temple Gardens”; “Filial Piety”; “The Soldier’s Wife”; “Innocence”; “The Origin of Darby and Joan”; “Little Moses”; “Isabel the Lace Maker”; “The Deadly Night Shade”; “The Birds and Beggar of Bagdat”; “The Harebell”; “The Restless boy”; “The School Boys”; “Lines Written at Sea”; “Stanzas on the Execution a Militaire”; “The Panorama”; “Rosalie”

This is most of The Lily: A Holiday Present. New York: E. Sands, 1830. Copyrighted by Jacob Schoyer. 232 pp. Nafis & Cornish reprinted the frontispiece in their Fairy Tales.

Peter Parley’s Annual, for 1855; 1855

bib info: New York: Evans & Dickerson, 1855. 264 pp. With color frontispiece (“The Death of Cardinal Wolsey”) and colored half-title page.

note: A reprint of Peter Parley’s Annual for 1855, by Darton & Co.; Goodrich sued to halt its distribution.

in the book: “Story of an Anchorite”; “The Sailor’s Grave”; “Sledging”; “Exploits in the Desert”; “A Touch with the Brigands”; “Gustavus Vasa”; “The Town Pump”; “The Youthful Nelson”; “Something About the Turkish Provinces”; “Something About the Old Abbeys and Castles of England”; “Oranges and Lemons; or The Bells of St. Clement’s”; “The Boy Bachelor; or Something About Cardinal Wolsey”; “An Adventure With a Bear”; “Something About Lighthouses”; “The Old Abbeys and Castles of England”; “The Queen at Spithead; Review of the Fleet” (“Peter Parley loves our good Queen, and delights to follow her in her various ‘progresses’—for wherever she appears, light and happiness beams around.”); “Something About the Chinese”; “A Mysterious Adventure”; “A Few Words About the Egyptians, Ancient and Modern”; “The Willow Tree”; “The Regimental Goat”; “The Rain; or, The Child, the Fairy, and the Magic Bird”; “The Electric Telegraph”; “Juvenile Day at the Hall”; “Something About Ships and Shipping”; “Manufacture of Ropes”; “San Rosalia”; “Christmas Day at the Diggings”; “The Owl”; “A Visit to the Royal Polytechnic Institution”; “Passage of the Desert”; “Glastonbury Abbey”; “A Few Words About Soluble Glass”; “Something About Boiling Springs”; “Story of the American Sea Serpent”; “Something More About the Chinese”; “Jack and Jill”; “The Two Middies; or, A Fearful Encounter with a Shark”

Parley’s Household Library; A Perpetual Fund of Instruction; 1855

bib info: New York: Edward H. Fletcher, 1855. 416 pp.

note: Pieces reprinted from various sources, including periodicals for adults and Parley’s Magazine. In 1857, Fletcher reprinted stereotyped pages from Parley’s Magazine as Republication of Parley’s Magazine.

Peter Parley’s Merry Stories; 1869

bib info: N.p.: James Miller, 1869.

note: Pieces reprinted from Robert Merry’s Museum]

“Parley’s Picture Books” [12 vols]
“The Rose”

note: Perhaps The Rose Bud, above

“The Bud”

note: Perhaps The Rose Bud, above

“The Mines of Different Countries”

note: Perhaps The Mine.

“The Garden”

note: Copyrighted by Goodrich.

“The Gift”

note: Possibly Peter Parley’s Gift, published by Samuel Colman]

Parley’s Pictorial; 1855

bib info: New York: Edward H. Fletcher, 1855. 384 pp.

note: Pieces from Parley’s Magazine. Fletcher also reprinted pieces from Parley’s Magazine in 1857 as Republication of Parley’s Magazine.

Parley’s Household Library; 1855

bib info: New York, New York: E. H. Fletcher, 1855. 416 pp.

note: Pieces from Parley’s Magazine. Fletcher also reprinted pieces from Parley’s Magazine in 1857 as Republication of Parley’s Magazine.

SPURIOUS WORKS BY BRITISH PUBLISHERS

Much to Goodrich’s ire, numerous publishers in Great Britain took advantage of copyright laws to put the name “Parley” on any number of works. Among the more egregious were Darton & Co. and William Tegg. Around 1839, Goodrich adopted and adapted a few of the books, republishing them as his own. The lists here are incomplete, compiled from various sources, and are definitely a work in progress.

T. Alman; 1842
Peter Parley’s Tales About Rome and Italy; 1842

bib info: London: T. Allman, 1842.

Tegg had published the book in 1839.

Bogue; 1838-1844
“Peter Parley’s Visit to London during the Coronation”; 1838

note: Also published by Tilt.


“Peter Parley’s Lives of the Twelve Apostles,” 1844
H. G. Bohn; 1838
Uncle Olliver’s Travels in Persia, by John Kitto; 1838

bib info: London: H. G. Bohn, 1838. 303 pp.

note: Subtitle: “giving a complete picture of eastern manners, Customs, arts, sciences, and History, adapted to the capacity of youth, in the manner of Peter Parley.”

R. T. Bowyer; 1848
Parley’s Tales About Kings and Queens; 1848

bib info: London: R. T. Bowyer, 1848. 188 pp.


Parley’s Tales About the Boy Banditti; 1848

bib info: London: R. T. Bowyer, 1848. 188 pp.


Parley’s Tales About the Widow’s Family; 1850

bib info: London: Richard T. Bowyer, 1850. 188 pp.

W. M. Clark; 1845
Parley’s Keepsake; 1845

bib info: London: W. M. Clark, [1845]

Clements
“Parley’s Child’s First Step”
Darton & Co.; 1834-1869

See also Lawrence Darton. The Dartons: An Annotated Checklist of Children’s Books Issued by Two Publishing Houses, 1787-1876. New Castle, Delaware: Oak Knoll Press, 2004. Included in the description is the entry number from Darton’s book.

“Peter Parley’s Royal Victoria Game of the Kings & Queens of England”; 1834

Peter Parley’s Wonders of Earth, Sea, & Sky, ed. T. Wilson; 1837

bib info: London: Darton & Clark, 1839. 336 pp. Darton H24

note: Goodrich has the date as 1853. The book was reworked and copyrighted by Goodrich in 1839


Tales About Canada, by Peter Parley, ed. T. Wilson; 1839

bib info: London: Darton & Co., 1839. 300 pp. Darton H250

note: Advertised in the June 1839 part of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby


Parley’s Book of Gymnastics, by Samuel Clark; 1840

bib info: London: Darton & Clark, 1840. 136 pp.


“Parley’s Odds & Ends”; 1840

note: Darton H1195: “untraced”


Peter Parley’s Annual; 1845-1869

bib info for 1846: Peter Parley’s Magazine. London: Darton & Clark, 1846. 376 pp.

bib info for 1847: Peter Parley’s Annual, for 1847. London: Darton & Clark, 1847. 376 pp.

bib info for 1848: Peter Parley’s Annual, for 1848. London: Darton & Clark, 1848. 376 pp.

bib info for 1849: Peter Parley’s Annual, for 1849. London: Darton & Co., 1849. 376 pp.

bib info for 1850: Peter Parley’s Annual, for 1850. London: Darton & Co., 1850. 376 pp.

bib info for 1856: Peter Parley’s Annual, for 1856. London: Darton & Co., 1856. 296 pp.

bib info for 1857: Peter Parley’s Annual, for 1857. London: Darton & Co., 1857. 280 pp.

bib info for 1858: Peter Parley’s Annual, for 1858, ed. William Martin. London: Darton & Co., 1858. 296 pp.

bib info for 1859: Peter Parley’s Annual, for 1859. London: Darton & Co., 1859. 296 pp.

bib info for 1860: Peter Parley’s Annual, for 1860, ed. William Martin. London: Darton & Co., 1860. 296 pp.

bib info for 1862: Peter Parley’s Annual, for 1862, ed. William Martin. London: Darton & Co., 1862. 312 pp.

bib info for 1867: Peter Parley’s Annual, for 1867, ed. William Martin. London: Darton & Co., 1867. 320 pp.

note: Originally published by Simpkin, Marshall, & Co.. Darton took up the title in 1845; the annuals were published by Darton through 1869; other publishers printed annuals under the title until at least 1888. A number of the Darton annuals are reprints of Parley’s Magazine, with that title appearing in the book.


Peter Parley’s Wonders of Art, Ancient & Modern, by Samuel Clark; 1841

bib info: London: Darton & Clark, 1841. 380 pp. Darton H239


“Parley’s School Atlas,” 1842

Parley’s Book of Poetry; 1843

bib info: London: Darton & Clark, 1843. Darton H639

note: Goodrich published Peter Parley’s Book of Poetry for Children in 1834.


Peter Parley’s Tales About Ireland and the Irish; 1843

bib info: London: Darton & Clark, 1843. 256 pp. Darton H1216


Peter Parley’s Tales About China & the Chinese; 1844

note: Darton H1214; Darton notes that this book wasn’t even advertised until 1845, though Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. published a book by this title in 1843.


Parley’s Peep at Paris; 1848

bib info: London: Darton & Co., 1848. Darton H1051


Peter Parley’s Wonders of the Sea and Sky, by Samuel Clarke; 1851

bib info: London: Darton & Co., 1851. 345 pp. Darton H242


“Parley’s Prize Book,” 1848

Stories from Sea and Land, by Peter Parley, by William Martin; 1848

bib info: London: Darton & Co., 1848. 191 pp. Darton H1059


“Parley’s Book of Industry”; 1855

note: Darton H1193: “untraced.” Probably Book of Trades, Arts & Professions. London: Darton & Co., 1855. 117 pp. Darton H1190


Parley’s Parting Gift to His Young Friends; 1855

bib info: London: Darton & Co., 1855. 288 pp. Darton H1050

note: Goodrich has the date as 1846.


Our Oriental Kingdom; or, Tales About India, by Peter Parley; 1857

bib info: London: Darton & Co., 1857. 280 pp. Darton H1044


Parley’s Forget-me-not, for the Young;1858

bib info: London: Darton & Co, 1858. 260 pp. Darton H634


Parley’s First Atlas for Junior Classes; 1859

bib info: London: Darton & Co., 1859. Darton H1194.

J. S. Hodson; 1839
“Parley’s Bible Geography,” 1839
Thomas Holmes; 1850
Parley’s Tales for Youth, by William Martin; 1850

bib info: London: T. Holmes, 1850. 188 pp.


Peter Parley’s Tales About the Boy Banditti, and Other Matters

bib info: London: Thomas Holmes, nd. 188 pp. With frontispiece.

in the book: “The Boy Banditti”; “Parley’s Fables for Boys and Girls”; “Great Britain—Past and Present”; “Boy-Men and Girl-Women”; “The Wood Mouse”; “The Human Voice”; “Idle People”; “How to Become a Naturalist”; “The Museum of Nature”; “True Greatness”; “The Spanish Brigand”; “The Brothers”; “Visit to the Tiger’s Cave”

S. Lingham; 1844
Parley’s Tales About Great Men; 1844

bib info: London: S. Lingham, 1844?. 246 pp.

Simpkin; 1840-1845
Peter Parley’s Annual 1840-1844

bib info for 1840: Peter Parley’s Magazine. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., 1840. 378 pp.

bib info for 1841: Peter Parley’s Magazine. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., 1841. 384 pp.

bib info for 1842: Peter Parley’s Magazine. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., 1842. 368 pp.

bib info for 1843: Peter Parley’s Annual, for 1843. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., 1843. 376 pp.


The Privateer; 1840

bib info: London: Simpkin, Marshall & Co, [1840?]


Parley’s Tales About China & the Chinese; 1843

bib info: London: Simpkin, Marshall & Co., 1843. 240 pp.

note: Goodrich has the date as 1844.


“Parley’s Life & Journey of St. Paul,” 1845

The Story of the Three Boys & Arthur, the Young Sportsman, by “Peter Parley”

bib info: London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., nd. Part of the Juvenile Library

note: Selections from Parley’s Magazine.


A Tale of Venice & The Haunted Mill, by “Peter Parley”

bib info: London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., nd. Part of the Juvenile Library

note: Selections from Parley’s Magazine.


Tales of the British Navy & A Roman Story, by “Peter Parley”

bib info: London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., nd. Part of the Juvenile Library

note: Selections from Parley’s Magazine.


Wonders of Egypt & Tales of the Wasp’s Nest, by “Peter Parley”

bib info: London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., nd. Part of the Juvenile Library

note: Selections from Parley’s Magazine.


The Young Volunteer & A Tale with a Meaning, by “Peter Parley”

bib info: London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., nd. Part of the Juvenile Library

note: Selections from Parley’s Magazine.

Thomas Tegg; 1836-1856
Tales About Great Britain and Ireland, by Peter Parley; 1836

bib info: London: Thomas Tegg & Son, 1836.

note: Goodrich gives the date as 1842.


“Parley’s Modern Geography,” 1837

Tales of Animals, by Peter Parley; 1837

bib info for 3rd ed.: London: Tegg & Son, 1837. [also, Peter Parley’s Tales About Natural History]


Peter Parley’s Tales About Christmas; 1838

bib info: London: Thomas Tegg & Son, 1838. 411 pp.

note: Goodrich reworked this book and published it in the U. S.


Peter Parley’s Tales About Greece, Ancient and Modern; 1838

bib info of 2nd edition: London: Thomas Tegg & Son, 1838. Sydney & Hobart Town: J. & S.A. Tegg, 1838. 349 pp.

note: Goodrich gives the date as 1842.


Parley’s Tales About Plants; 1839

bib info: London: Thomas Tegg, 1839. 500 pp.


Lives of Franklin and Washington; 1839

bib info: London: T. Tegg, 1839. 361 pp.


Peter Parley’s Tales About Ancient Rome and Modern Italy, by George Mogridge; 1839

bib info: London: T. Tegg, 1839.

bib info for 4th edition: London: William Tegg & Co., 1856. 356 pp.

note: Goodrich did publish Peter Parley’s Tales about Ancient Rome in 1832, but not in this combination.]


Peter Parley’s Mythology of Greece and Rome, by George Mogridge; 1839

bib info: London: np, 1839.


Tales About the United States of America, by Peter Parley; 1839

bib info: London: Thomas Tegg, 1839.


Sergeant Bell and His Raree-Show; 1842

bib info of 2nd edition: London: T. Tegg, 1842. 447 pp.


Tales About Shipwrecks & Disasters at Sea, by George Mogridge; 1847

bib info: London: William Tegg & Co., 1847. 351 pp.


[Peter Parley’s] Tales About the Sun; 1848

bib info: London: William Tegg & Co., 1848.

C. Tilt; 1839
Parley’s Visit to London During the Coronation of Queen Victoria; 1839

bib info: London: C. Tilt, 1839. 116 pp.

ACCIDENTAL ATTRIBUTION

“Parley’s Peregrinations” 1846-1847

Traveling in Europe, Benjamin Perley Poore acted as correspondent for the Bostlan Atlas; his columns were published as “Perley’s Peregrinations”—which were misread by more than one editor of an American newspaper as “Parley’s Peregrinations.”

“Parley’s Pic-nic” 1849

A phantom title which appears in The Boston Directory (Boston: George Adams, 1849; p. 40. google books) and William Charvat’s The Profession of Authorship in America, 1800-1870 (New York: Columbia University Press, 1992; p. 176). This appears to be Perley’s Pic-nic, edited by Benjamin Perley Poore.