Little Leather Library Corporation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | January 1, 1916 in New York City, United States |
| Founders | Charles Boni, Albert Boni, Harry Scherman, Max Sackheim |
| Fate | Renamed Robert K. Haas, Inc. in 1922; new titles ended circa 1925 |
| Successor | Robert K. Haas, Inc. |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Miniature editions of literary classics |
The Little Leather Library Corporation was an American publishing company established in New York City by Charles and Albert Boni, alongside Harry Scherman and Max Sackheim. From 1916 through the early 1920s, the company released 101 miniature editions of literary classics, distributing over 25 million copies via department stores, bookstores, drugstores, and mail-order services.
In the 1920s, Robert K. Haas took a majority stake in the business, renaming it Robert K. Haas, Inc., before the publication of new titles ended around 1925.
Scherman, Sackheim, and Haas subsequently founded the Book of the Month Club in 1926.
History
The concept for the Little Leather Library originated around 1914 with publisher siblings Charles and Albert Boni. Inspired by cigarette manufacturers who included tiny Shakespearean works as promotional items, the Bonis created a miniature edition of Romeo and Juliet. In 1916, they joined forces with advertising experts Harry Scherman and Maxwell Sackheim from the J. Walter Thompson Company.
Scherman suggested marketing these books as premium gifts accompanying high-end products. He introduced the "Library Package" idea to Whitman's Candy Company in Philadelphia, which purchased 15,000 copies spanning fifteen Shakespeare plays. Initial funding of $5,000 was secured with assistance from A. L. Pelton to produce the first print run.
The business rapidly flourished. Scherman resigned from J. Walter Thompson to assume the presidency of Little Leather Library Corporation, managing production operations. Following Whitman’s success, Woolworth's began retailing titles at ten cents apiece; in 1917 alone, Woolworth's ordered more than one million copies.
Capitalizing on a growing appetite for accessible cultural works, the company issued a collection named “Thirty World’s Greatest Masterpieces” alongside stylish bookracks aimed at middle-class buyers seeking sophistication. Within its inaugural year, sixty public domain titles were published with sales surpassing one million copies.
World War I
The outbreak of World War I affected both production and distribution of Little Leather Library volumes. Escalating leather costs due to wartime demand compelled publishers to switch to synthetic bindings, which posed challenges such as unpleasant odors during hot weather. Nevertheless, by 1920 the firm had sold over twenty-five million copies, many through mail-order channels.
During the war years, Little Leather Library Corporation promoted their books as ideal gifts for soldiers stationed overseas, highlighting their role in boosting morale. They offered boxed sets containing ten books ready for shipment to military personnel. Whitman’s adapted this idea into “Service Chocolates—Sweets with a book,” pairing classic literature editions with chocolates intended for American troops abroad.
Mail-Order Markets
By 1920, Scherman and Sackheim expanded into direct mail sales targeting consumers who preferred alternatives to conventional bookstores. They marketed a 30-volume set priced at $2.98, utilizing publication advertisements and direct mailing campaigns to grow their customer base.
The Boni brothers departed from the company in 1917 to pursue other projects including founding the Modern Library. Observing market saturation by 1920, Scherman and Sackheim diversified their interests by establishing the advertising agency Sackheim & Scherman. Their experience underscored that sustained profitability depended on developing repeat customers—a strategy they later implemented when launching the Book-of-the-Month Club in 1926.
In 1922, Robert K. Haas—connected with J. Walter Thompson’s mail-order division—purchased a controlling 75% stake and rebranded the enterprise as Robert K. Haas, Inc., renaming Little Leather Library as Little Luxart Company. However, new book releases ended by 1925. Funk & Wagnalls contracted Haas for 250,000 thirty-volume sets used as promotional premiums linked to subscriptions of The Literary Digest.
21st Century Market Value
Following a short-lived surge, the company's strategic marketing efforts resulted in millions of copies circulating widely. Numerous households continue to possess either partial or complete collections that have been handed down through multiple generations. Currently, a complete boxed set containing 30 volumes generally commands a price range between $50 and $100.
External links
- The Charlotte M. Smith Collection of Miniature Books, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Iowa
- Mary E. Abshire Collection, Dickinson Research Center, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Guide to the Little Leather Library Collection, 1920–1924, at CalPoly Special Collections (calpoly.edu)