Peck’s Bad Boy with the Circus was copyrighted by Joseph Bowles in 1905. Bowles ran the Chicago based Bowles Syndicate Company. He organized the syndication of this story in newspapers throughout the country. The text and line drawn illustrations first appeared serialized in newspapers starting in 1905. All 26 chapters were published weekly in numerous newspapers.

Here is an advertisement for the series from the Los Angeles Herald dated June 25, 1905.

Some newspapers were publishing the weekly chapters as late as June of 1907. Interestingly a number of chapters that appeared in the newspapers were not part of the 319 page book. Two examples are shown below. It is unclear how many extra chapters were written. Based on the travels of Peck and His Pa in the book, these new chapters go further into the western part of the United States.

Los Angeles Herald June 25, 1905

June 1, 1906 Muldrow Press, Muldrow, Oklahoma

June 15, 1906 Muldrow Press, Muldrow, Oklahoma

For more information, see Peck’s Bad Boy with the Circus