Rand, Avery & Company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rand-Avery, also referred to as Rand, Avery, & Company, or Geo. C. Rand & Avery, was a prominent printing company in Boston during the 19th century.[1] Rand Avery Supply Co. was a successor firm and continued into the 20th century.[2] The company went bankrupt in 1888.[3][4]
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History
George Curtis Rand (13 December 13, 1819 - December 30, 1878) established Rand, Avery & Company. He was related to William Rand, who was one of the founding members of Rand, McNally & Company, and Franklin Rand, publisher of the Zion's Herald.[5]
Promoter and controversial muckracker Tom Lawson (muckraker) took over the firm and liquidated it after losing a battle with its directors.[6]
The company occupied several buildings including 117 Franklin Street in Boston, Massachusetts.[6]
Moses King who later became known for his guidebooks and directories, worked at Rand-Avery early in his career.[citation needed]
Publications
The firm printed sailing cards, travel and sightseeing guides for rail passengers, and area histories.
It published Harriet E. Wilson's novel Our Nig in 1959.[7]
In 1860, the firm was a printer for Walt Whitman.[8]
The firm printed the first edition of Uncle Tom's Cabin.[9]
It was one of the printers of Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper.[10] It also published Edwin M. Bacon's Dictionary of Boston in 1883 and included an advertisement insert with an engraved drawing of a printing operation.[11] It printed a herald for the Barnum and London Circus.[12]