Saalfield Publishing
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1900 |
| Founder | Arthur J. Saalfield |
| Defunct | April 1977 |
| Headquarters | Akron , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Children's literature, educational toys, games |
The Saalfield Publishing Company, based in Akron, Ohio, was a prominent producer of children's literature and related merchandise from 1900 until 1977, establishing itself as one of the world's leading publishers in the children's market.
Established at the turn of the century by Arthur J. Saalfield, who had previously overseen the publishing division at the Werner Company, Saalfield brought forth works by distinguished authors including Louisa May Alcott, Lewis Carroll, Horatio Alger, P. T. Barnum, Daniel Defoe, Laura Lee Hope, Herman Melville, Dr. Seuss, Anna Sewell, Shirley Temple, Johanna Spyri, Mark Twain, Johann Rudolf Wyss, Ohio native writer James Ball Naylor, and Robert Sidney Bowen. The pseudonym Colonel George Durston was employed by ghostwriters contributing to various publications under Saalfield’s imprint.
In 1903, the company issued the New Americanized Encyclopædia Britannica, which subsequently led to a legal dispute over copyright infringement.
Saalfield's product range extended beyond books into educational toys and games, notably including the well-known game Blockhead!.
Illustration played a significant role in Saalfield’s offerings, with artist Ethel Hays contributing to titles such as Peter Rabbit, The Night Before Christmas, and The Little Red Hen. After securing licensing rights from the Johnny Gruelle Company in 1944, Saalfield produced a series of authorized Raggedy Ann and Andy storybooks, coloring books, and paper doll booklets. Much of this artwork was created by Hays, whose illustrations effectively embodied Gruelle’s imaginative and lively characters. Another notable illustrator associated with Saalfield was Frances Brundage, celebrated for her timeless children’s art that remains favored among collectors.
Operations at Saalfield Publishing concluded in April 1977, with its collection of books and archival materials acquired by Kent State University.
Lawsuit over New Americanized Encyclopædia Britannica
Saalfield issued an Americanized edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica consisting of eight volumes plus a four-volume supplement, contrasting with the original British edition's 24 volumes. The American rights were exclusively held by the Encyclopædia Britannica Company. Furthermore, D. Appleton & Company claimed that the supplement incorporated content from Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography without authorization.
To resolve the dispute and prevent further legal action, Saalfield Publishing agreed to discontinue printing and sales of the encyclopedia, destroy all printed sheets and associated plates, and compensate D. Appleton & Co. with $2,000 in damages.
Saalfield Science Series
During the early 1960s, Saalfield Publishing entered direct competition with Grosset & Dunlap by introducing the Saalfield Science Series—a collection of softcover science books aimed at children, designed to capture a share of the profitable children’s non-fiction market.
Following a format similar to that of the widely popular How and Why Wonder Book series, this collection comprised six distinct titles presented in an 8½ by 11-inch size. Each volume contained around 48 pages filled with abundant color and monochrome illustrations addressing various scientific themes:
- ...5806 Dinosaurs
- ...5807 Water
- ...5808 The Dawn of Man
- ...5809 Man in Flight
- ...5810 Man and Missiles
- ...5811 Pine, Man and Ax
Noteworthy Publications
- White House Cook Book authored by Fanny Lemira Gilette (1900)
- Mr Bunny, His Book written by Adah Louise Sutton (1900)
- Ralph Marlowe by James Ball Naylor (1901)
- In the Days of St. Clair by James Ball Naylor (1902)
- Billy Whiskers penned by Frances Trego Montgomery (1903)
- The Lone Indian by James A. Braden (1903)
- Under Mad Anthony's Banner by James Ball Naylor (1903)
- Boss Tom by Stanley Kemp (1904)
- The Cabin in the Clearing authored by James A. Braden (1904)
- The Cabin in the Big Woods by James Ball Naylor (1904)
- Captives Three written by James A. Braden (1904)
- Teddy Bears by Adah Louise Sutton (1907)
- The Trail of the Seneca authored by James A. Braden (1907)
- The Cabin in the Clearing by James A. Braden (1927)
See also
Further Reading
- "The Saalfield Publishing Company" found in: Peter Dzwonkoski, editor, American Literary Publishing Houses, 1900-1980: Trade and Paperback, Detroit, MI: Gale Research Company, 1986 (Dictionary of Literary Biography, volume 46)
External Links
- Early Competition - The Saalfield Science Series available at collectorville.net
- Saalfield Publishing Company publications preserved in the Kent State University archives
- Saalfield Collection held at Special Collections, Akron-Summit County Public Library