Peck's Compendium of Fun

A number of subscription firms published Peck's Compendium of Fun.

   Russell Publishing Company, Albany, New York 1883-1884
   A. L. Bancroft and Company, San Francisco 1883
   Forshee & McMakin, Cincinnati 1883
   R. S. Peale & Co., St. Louis 1883
   Caxton Publishing Company, Chicago 1883-1885
   F. A. Davis, Att'y 1884
   Manhattan Publishing Company 1884-1885
   Canadian Subscription Company, Montreal 1884
   Baker & Co., Buffalo, New York (ND)
   W. H. Thompson, Boston (ND)

Peck's Compendium of Fun is an oversized 540 page collection of vignettes written by George W. Peck. It is edited by Elmo (Thomas Handford). The contents include 284 stories. There are 100 illustrations by Gean Smith (Peck's Bad Boy and His Pa illustrator) and miscellaneous others.

The stories were previously published in Peck's Bad Boy, No. 1(1883), Peck's Fun (1879) and Peck's Sunshine (1882).

Belford, Clarke and Company published the first edition of this compilation. A number of subscription firms reprinted it. They are listed above. These books are dated between 1883-1888.


First edition 1883

Belford, Clarke and Company also published an abridged version this title in 1886 and in 1889 (Caxton Edition). In 1890 Donohue, Henneberry published it as part of its Caxton Edition. These books are 272 pages.

1889 Belford, Clarke book



1890 Donohue, Henneberry and Co. book

Two bindings have been seen
1. Extra silk finished cloth
2. Leather Library style with marbled edges.

A Caxton Publishing Company Salesman Sample is shown below. The two possible bindings are displayed. Although this "sample" states that there are 544 pages in the book, I have only seen books with 540 pages.