Reilly & Britton
Encyclopedia
The Reilly and Britton Company, or Reilly & Britton (after 1918, Reilly & Lee) was an American publishing company of the early and middle 20th century, famous as the publisher of the works of L. Frank Baum
.
publishing firm of George M. Hill, the publisher of the first edition of Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
(1900), went out of business in March 1902, two of its employees, head salesman Sumner Charles Britton and production manager Frank Kennicott Reilly, formed their own publishing venture. (Britton was an Arkansas native who first came to Chicago in 1893, to report on the World's Columbian Exposition
for The Kansas City Star
. He was strongly enough impressed with the city to relocate there in July 1894.)
Needing a name author, the new partners solicited Baum, who was unhappy with his arrangement with Bobbs-Merrill, publisher of several of his previous works. Signing Baum to an exclusive contract (dated 16 January 1904), the partners and their author agreed that the best way to start their joint effort was with a sequel to Baum's greatest success to date: the second of the Oz books, The Marvelous Land of Oz
, was in print later in 1904, in time for the Christmas season. Since Baum had had a falling-out with W. W. Denslow
, the illustrator of the original book, the illustrations for the second volume were done by a 26-year-old Philadelphia artist, John R. Neill
— which began an association between Neill and Oz that would last the next four decades.
and The Brothers Grimm in 1905; but their mainstay in their early years remained L. Frank Baum. Reilly & Britton issued eleven titles by Baum in 1906: the fantasy novel John Dough and the Cherub
, under Baum's name; Daughters of Destiny
, an adult romance by "Schuyler Staunton;" the juvenile novel Annabel
, by "Suzanne Metcalf;" a book for boys, Sam Steele's Adventures on Land and Sea
, by "Capt. Hugh Fitzgerald," and one for girls, Aunt Jane's Nieces
, by "Edith Van Dyne" — the last one so successful that it inspired a ten-volume series of the same name. There was also a set of six booklets for small children, collectively known as The Twinkle Tales
, by "Laura Bancroft," with illustrations by Maginel Wright Enright. The six were a popular success, selling a total of 40,000 copies, and were later re-printed in one volume, as Twinkle and Chubbins: Their Astonishing Adventures in Nature-Fairyland (1911). The firm paid Baum a 10% royalty on each of the first five books, and two-and-a-half cents per copy on the booklets. (Mindful of his past financial difficulties, Baum also negotiated monthly royalty payments, instead of the more usual yearly payment.) If the six booklets are counted as a single full-length volume, the firm issued six books by Baum in 1906 alone.
Baum continued this high level of productivity for a time, with another six titles published in 1907, five by Reilly & Britton. The five were: Ozma of Oz
and Father Goose's Year Book
, under his own name; Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad
, by "Edith Van Dyne;" Sam Steele's Adventures in Panama, by "Capt. Fitzgerald" again; and "Laura Bancroft's" Policeman Bluejay
. Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad was printed with the mistaken date of "1906," causing confusion in Baum's bibliography. The 1906-7 Sam Steele titles were not especially successful, though they did better in later years, when they were repackaged as installments of Baum's Boy Fortune Hunters series, by "Floyd Akers." Baum's productivity slackened somewhat after the 1906-7 peak, with four books in 1908, and three each in 1909 and 1910, but five in 1911 and four in 1912; and then two or three books a year for the remainder of his life.
Baum had already been friendly with Britton and Reilly before he signed with them; their friendships continued and developed over the ensuing years. Baum was closer with Britton than Reilly, addressing his letters to the former to "Brit," and to the latter to "Mr. Reilly" — though both men and their families visited "The Hyperudenbuttscoff," the Baums' summer home in Matacawa Park, Michigan.
Since Baum was their star writer, the firm promoted his works prominently and imaginatively, with contests, paper cut-outs of Oz characters, press releases in Oz-newspaper format, and similar tactics. When Baum became enmeshed in financial difficulties in 1911, Reilly & Britton put him on salary (though the move wasn't enough to forestall Baum's bankruptcy in June of that year).
Even with their heavy concentration on children's books, the partners also published general purpose works of fact and fiction, including the poetry of Edgar Guest
and some of the works of Harold Bell Wright
; they also published sports-related material, especially baseball books. They even tried the periodical side of publishing, with a venture called The Book Crier, subtitled "A Magazine of Optimism." (As is sometimes true of optimism itself, the "Magazine of Optimism" did not endure.)
, John R. Neill
, Jack Snow
, Rachel R. Cosgrove
, and Eloise Jarvis McGraw
. The firm pursued some imaginative promotional activities for its Oz books through the 1920s, with comic strips, a fan club and plays for children, and other tactics — though these largely ceased with the 1932 death of Frank K. Reilly. Frank J. O'Donnell served as president of the company in the 1940s and the early 1950s.
While the firm never grew to be one of the major publishing houses of its era, it remained in business through six decades. In 1959 the company was purchased by the Henry Regnery Co.
, which for a time maintained Reilly & Lee as a separate imprint for Oz books and related titles. (In turn, Henry Regnery later assigned the Oz series to Contemporary Books, also of Chicago, which eventually was absorbed as a division of McGraw-Hill
.)
L. Frank Baum
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
.
Founding
When the ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
publishing firm of George M. Hill, the publisher of the first edition of Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. Originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago on May 17, 1900, it has since been reprinted numerous times, most often under the name The Wizard of Oz, which is the name of...
(1900), went out of business in March 1902, two of its employees, head salesman Sumner Charles Britton and production manager Frank Kennicott Reilly, formed their own publishing venture. (Britton was an Arkansas native who first came to Chicago in 1893, to report on the World's Columbian Exposition
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
for The Kansas City Star
The Kansas City Star
The Kansas City Star is a McClatchy newspaper based in Kansas City, Missouri, in the United States. Published since 1880, the paper is the recipient of eight Pulitzer Prizes...
. He was strongly enough impressed with the city to relocate there in July 1894.)
Needing a name author, the new partners solicited Baum, who was unhappy with his arrangement with Bobbs-Merrill, publisher of several of his previous works. Signing Baum to an exclusive contract (dated 16 January 1904), the partners and their author agreed that the best way to start their joint effort was with a sequel to Baum's greatest success to date: the second of the Oz books, The Marvelous Land of Oz
The Marvelous Land of Oz
The Marvelous Land of Oz: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, commonly shortened to The Land of Oz, published on July 5, 1904, is the second of L. Frank Baum's books set in the Land of Oz, and the sequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This and the next...
, was in print later in 1904, in time for the Christmas season. Since Baum had had a falling-out with W. W. Denslow
William Wallace Denslow
William Wallace Denslow – usually credited as W. W. Denslow – was an illustrator and caricaturist remembered for his work in collaboration with author L. Frank Baum, especially his illustrations of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
, the illustrator of the original book, the illustrations for the second volume were done by a 26-year-old Philadelphia artist, John R. Neill
John R. Neill
John Rea Neill was a magazine and children's book illustrator primarily known for illustrating more than forty stories set in the Land of Oz, including L. Frank Baum's, Ruth Plumly Thompson's, and three of his own. His pen-and-ink drawings have become identified almost exclusively with the Oz series...
— which began an association between Neill and Oz that would last the next four decades.
Success with Baum
With a strong initial focus on children's books, the firm published editions of the fairy tales of Hans Christian AndersenHans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
and The Brothers Grimm in 1905; but their mainstay in their early years remained L. Frank Baum. Reilly & Britton issued eleven titles by Baum in 1906: the fantasy novel John Dough and the Cherub
John Dough and the Cherub
John Dough and the Cherub is a children's fantasy novel written by L. Frank Baum, about a living gingerbread man and his adventures.-The book:...
, under Baum's name; Daughters of Destiny
Daughters of Destiny (novel)
Daughters of Destiny is a 1906 adventure novel written by L. Frank Baum, famous as the author of the Oz books. Baum published the novel under the pen name "Schuyler Staunton," one of his several pseudonyms...
, an adult romance by "Schuyler Staunton;" the juvenile novel Annabel
Annabel (novel)
Annabel: A Novel for Young Folk is a 1906 juvenile novel written by L. Frank Baum, the author famous for his series of books on the Land of Oz. The book was issued under the pen name "Suzanne Metcalf," one of Baum's various pseudonyms...
, by "Suzanne Metcalf;" a book for boys, Sam Steele's Adventures on Land and Sea
Sam Steele's Adventures on Land and Sea
Sam Steele's Adventures on Land and Sea is a juvenile adventure novel written by L. Frank Baum, famous as the creator of the Land of Oz. The book was Baum's first effort at writing specifically for an audience of adolescent boys, a market he would pursue in the coming years of his career. The novel...
, by "Capt. Hugh Fitzgerald," and one for girls, Aunt Jane's Nieces
Aunt Jane's Nieces
Aunt Jane's Nieces is the title of a juvenile novel published by Reilly & Britton in 1906, and written by L. Frank Baum under the pen name "Edith Van Dyne." Since the book was the first in a series of novels designed for adolescent girls, its title was applied to the entire series of ten books,...
, by "Edith Van Dyne" — the last one so successful that it inspired a ten-volume series of the same name. There was also a set of six booklets for small children, collectively known as The Twinkle Tales
The Twinkle Tales
The Twinkle Tales is a 1905 series by L. Frank Baum, published under the pen name Laura Bancroft. The six stories were issued in separate booklets by Baum's publisher Reilly & Britton, with illustrations by Maginel Wright Enright...
, by "Laura Bancroft," with illustrations by Maginel Wright Enright. The six were a popular success, selling a total of 40,000 copies, and were later re-printed in one volume, as Twinkle and Chubbins: Their Astonishing Adventures in Nature-Fairyland (1911). The firm paid Baum a 10% royalty on each of the first five books, and two-and-a-half cents per copy on the booklets. (Mindful of his past financial difficulties, Baum also negotiated monthly royalty payments, instead of the more usual yearly payment.) If the six booklets are counted as a single full-length volume, the firm issued six books by Baum in 1906 alone.
Baum continued this high level of productivity for a time, with another six titles published in 1907, five by Reilly & Britton. The five were: Ozma of Oz
Ozma of Oz
Ozma of Oz: A Record of Her Adventures with Dorothy Gale of Kansas, the Yellow Hen, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, Tiktok, the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger; Besides Other Good People too Numerous to Mention Faithfully Recorded Herein published on July 30, 1907, was the third book of L....
and Father Goose's Year Book
Father Goose's Year Book
Father Goose's Year Book: Quaint Quacks and Feathered Shafts for Mature Children is a collection of humorous nonsense poetry written by L. Frank Baum, author of the Oz books. It was published in 1907.The book was illustrated by Walter J...
, under his own name; Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad
Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad
Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad is a young-adult novel written by L. Frank Baum, famous as the creator of the Land of Oz. It was the second volume in the ten-novel series Aunt Jane's Nieces, which was, after the Oz books, the second greatest success of Baum's literary career...
, by "Edith Van Dyne;" Sam Steele's Adventures in Panama, by "Capt. Fitzgerald" again; and "Laura Bancroft's" Policeman Bluejay
Policeman Bluejay
Policeman Bluejay is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by Maginel Wright Enright. First published in 1907, it has been considered one of the best of Baum's works.-The book:...
. Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad was printed with the mistaken date of "1906," causing confusion in Baum's bibliography. The 1906-7 Sam Steele titles were not especially successful, though they did better in later years, when they were repackaged as installments of Baum's Boy Fortune Hunters series, by "Floyd Akers." Baum's productivity slackened somewhat after the 1906-7 peak, with four books in 1908, and three each in 1909 and 1910, but five in 1911 and four in 1912; and then two or three books a year for the remainder of his life.
Baum had already been friendly with Britton and Reilly before he signed with them; their friendships continued and developed over the ensuing years. Baum was closer with Britton than Reilly, addressing his letters to the former to "Brit," and to the latter to "Mr. Reilly" — though both men and their families visited "The Hyperudenbuttscoff," the Baums' summer home in Matacawa Park, Michigan.
Since Baum was their star writer, the firm promoted his works prominently and imaginatively, with contests, paper cut-outs of Oz characters, press releases in Oz-newspaper format, and similar tactics. When Baum became enmeshed in financial difficulties in 1911, Reilly & Britton put him on salary (though the move wasn't enough to forestall Baum's bankruptcy in June of that year).
Even with their heavy concentration on children's books, the partners also published general purpose works of fact and fiction, including the poetry of Edgar Guest
Edgar Guest
Edgar Albert Guest was a prolific English-born American poet who was popular in the first half of the 20th century and became known as the People's Poet.In 1891, Guest came with his family to the United States from England...
and some of the works of Harold Bell Wright
Harold Bell Wright
Harold Bell Wright was a best-selling American writer of fiction, essays, and non-fiction during the first half of the 20th century. Although mostly forgotten or ignored after the middle of the 20th century, he is said to have been the first American writer to sell a million copies of a novel and...
; they also published sports-related material, especially baseball books. They even tried the periodical side of publishing, with a venture called The Book Crier, subtitled "A Magazine of Optimism." (As is sometimes true of optimism itself, the "Magazine of Optimism" did not endure.)
Later period
The company went through a re-organization in 1919, when Britton's share was sold to long-time employee William F. Lee; the partnership was re-named Reilly & Lee. The company continued the Oz book series after Baum's 1919 death, with titles by successive "Royal Historians of Oz" Ruth Plumly ThompsonRuth Plumly Thompson
Ruth Plumly Thompson was an American writer of children's stories.-Life and work:An avid reader of Baum's books and a lifelong children's writer, Thompson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and began her writing career in 1914 when she took a job with the Philadelphia Public Ledger; she wrote...
, John R. Neill
John R. Neill
John Rea Neill was a magazine and children's book illustrator primarily known for illustrating more than forty stories set in the Land of Oz, including L. Frank Baum's, Ruth Plumly Thompson's, and three of his own. His pen-and-ink drawings have become identified almost exclusively with the Oz series...
, Jack Snow
Jack Snow (writer)
John Frederick "Jack" Snow was an American radio writer and scholar, primarily of the works of L. Frank Baum. When Baum died in 1919, the twelve-year-old Snow offered to be the next Royal Historian of Oz, but was politely turned down by a staffer at Baum's publisher, Reilly & Lee...
, Rachel R. Cosgrove
Rachel Cosgrove Payes
Rachel R. Cosgrove Payes, also known as E.L. Arch and Joanne Kaye was an American genre novelist, and author of books on the Land of Oz...
, and Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Eloise McGraw
Eloise Jarvis McGraw was an author of children's books and young adult novels. She was awarded the Newbery Honor three times in three different decades, for her novels Moccasin Trail , The Golden Goblet , and The Moorchild...
. The firm pursued some imaginative promotional activities for its Oz books through the 1920s, with comic strips, a fan club and plays for children, and other tactics — though these largely ceased with the 1932 death of Frank K. Reilly. Frank J. O'Donnell served as president of the company in the 1940s and the early 1950s.
While the firm never grew to be one of the major publishing houses of its era, it remained in business through six decades. In 1959 the company was purchased by the Henry Regnery Co.
Regnery Publishing
Regnery Publishing in Washington, D.C., is a publisher which specializes in conservative books characterized on their website as "contrary to those of 'mainstream' publishers in New York." Since 1993, Regnery Publishing has been a division of Eagle Publishing, which also owns the weekly magazine...
, which for a time maintained Reilly & Lee as a separate imprint for Oz books and related titles. (In turn, Henry Regnery later assigned the Oz series to Contemporary Books, also of Chicago, which eventually was absorbed as a division of McGraw-Hill
McGraw-Hill
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., is a publicly traded corporation headquartered in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Its primary areas of business are financial, education, publishing, broadcasting, and business services...
.)