Thomas Mayne Reid

A Pictorial Bibliography

James R. Osgood and Company, Boston

This company succeeded Fields, Osgood and Company in 1871 and was succeeded by Houghton, Osgood and Company in 1878. All of the sixteen Mayne Reid titles that this firm printed were reprints. Editions were published in 1871, 1872, and 1874.

This publisher printed Mayne Reid books in several different formats. The 1872 and the 1874 versions are shown below.

In 1871 the covers for the 16 mo. first 12 books were the same as the Ticknor and Fields and the Fields, Osgood titles. I have not seen any 1871 versions of the four 16 mo. books.

In 1872 the Reid books were divided into series and were numbered. There were three numbered series. The four 16 mo. titles were series number three. See below.

By 1874 the 12 16 mo. books were called the First Series and divided into two six title series: Tales of American Adventure and Tales of Foreign Adventure. The remaining four 16 mo. books were called the Second Series.

The First Series consisted of two boxed sets of 16 mo. books. The books were sold for $1.50 each or in the box for $9.00. The Second Series consisted of the four 16 mo. books at $1.75 each-boxed for $6.00.

Tales of American Adventure: (This was called the first Series in 1872)
Desert Home
Forest Exiles
Boy Hunters
Young Voyageurs
Odd People
Bruin: The Grand Bear Hunt

Note that on the two 1872 books in the above series that I have seen that the gold gilt animal on the cover is different.

Tales of Foreign Adventure: (This was called the Second Series in 1872)
Bush-Boys
Young Yagers
Plant-Hunters
Ran Away to Sea
Boy Tar
Cliff-Climbers

Second Series consisted of four 16 mo. books which are priced individually $1.75 and boxed at $7.00. (This series was called the Third Series in 1872.)
Ocean Waifs
Afloat in the Forest
Boy Slaves
Giraffe-Hunters

1872-1874 Format

1874 Format (This style was seen in various colors was used for all of the 16 mo. titles in 1874). The gold gilt illustration on the spine is book specific.