January-February 2010The horatioNEWSBOY Alger Society Page 1 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION A magazine devoted to the study of Horatio Alger, Jr., his life, works, and influence on the culture of America. VOLUME XLVIII JANURY-FEBRUARY 2010 NUMBER 1 Ralph Raymond’s Heir Gleason’s Pictorial Novelettes or, clues to an Alger first edition -- See Page 3 ‘In a New Hampshire World’ Places to visit ... things to do -- See Page 9 Page 2 NEWSBOY January-February 2010 HORATIO ALGER SOCIETY To further the philosophy of Horatio Alger, Jr. and to encourage the spirit of Strive & Succeed that for half a century guided Alger’s undaunted heroes. Our members conduct research and provide schol- President's column arship on the life of Horatio Alger, Jr., his works and influence on the culture of America. The Horatio Alger Society embraces collectors and enthusiasts of all juvenile literature, including boys’ and girls’ series, pulps and dime novels. Spring is here! The sun is shining, the weather is OFFICERS warm, and most of us have set our clocks forward. I LAWRENCE R. RICE PRESIDENT enjoy Winter with its cold temperatures and snow, but ROBERT G. SIPES VICE-PRESIDENT am always ready for Spring. Of course, after mowing the CHRISTINE DeHAAN TREASURER yard all Summer long, I am always ready for Winter. ROBERT E. KASPER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Oh, the joy of living in Indiana, where seasons change ROBERT PETITTO (2010) DIRECTOR and basketball reigns supreme. I hope your favorite BARRY SCHOENBORN (2010) DIRECTOR teams win their NCAA Championship basketball games, MARY ANN NYBERG (2010) DIRECTOR except when they play Purdue! ARTHUR W. SMITTER, JR. (2011) DIRECTOR I hope this finds everyone well and looking for- ROBERT L. KERSCH (2011) DIRECTOR ward to our 2010 convention “In a New Hampshire J. JEFFERSON LOONEY (2011) DIRECTOR World.” Art and Pat Young have a superb convention ARTHUR P. YOUNG (2012) DIRECTOR planned, but it will not be complete without each of BRADFORD S. CHASE (2012) DIRECTOR you. I hope to see you all there. ROBERT G. HUBER (2012) DIRECTOR I have been asked the following question by two LEO “BOB” BENNETT (1932-2004) EMERITUS RALPH D. GARDNER (1923-2005) EMERITUS different people this week. “Why don’t you consider a serial printing of a story as the first edition?” My answer PAST PRESIDENTS is that I consider the serial printing the first printing, but KENNETH B. BUTLER GEORGE W. OWENS not the first edition in book form. The definition of “First JACK ROW WILLIAM R. WRIGHT Edition” according to ABC For Book Collectors by John DR. MAX GOLDBERG ROBERT E. KASPER Carter is “…the first appearance of the work in question, STEVE PRESS MARY ANN DITCH JUDSON S. BERRY JOHN CADICK independently, between its own covers…” Maybe it is LEO “BOB” BENNETT CARL T. HARTMANN semantics; however, by this definition, which is com- JERRY B. FRIEDLAND ARTHUR P. YOUNG monly accepted, serials and bound serials do not consti- BRADFORD S. CHASE CAROL NACKENOFF tute a first edition. ROBERT E. SAWYER ROBERT G. HUBER One of the individuals followed up the question with EUGENE H. HAFNER ROBERT R. ROUTHIER another question. “Then why collect periodicals contain- D. JAMES RYBERG MICHAEL MORLEY ing the serial stories?” My response is that many collectors are focused on first-edition books; however, the die-hard Newsboy, the official newsletter of the Horatio Alger Society, is published bi-monthly (six issues per year). collector, the completist who strives but may never reach Membership fee for any 12-month period is $25 ($20 for his goal, desires the periodicals not only for the serial seniors), with single issues of Newsboy $4.00. Please make stories, but for the additional content and context. remittance payable to the Horatio Alger Society. The serial story contained in a single periodical read Membership applications, renewals, changes of address by itself is incomplete, and to read a serial story straight and other correspondence should be sent to Horatio Alger through requires a more dedicated approach as it is easy Society, P.O. Box 70361, Richmond, VA 23255. to become distracted and sidetracked by other stories, Newsboy is indexed in the Modern Language poems, humorous sketches, letters, advertisements, etc. Association’s International Bibliography.You are invited to visit the Horatio Alger Society’s official Internet site at That said, I thoroughly enjoy collecting and reading www.thehoratioalgersociety.org periodicals containing material written by authors of Newsboy ad rates: Full page, $32.00; one-half page, $17.00; interest. For instance, the first time I read Silas Snobden’s one-quarter page, $9.00; per column inch (1 inch deep by approx. Office Boy, I read it in parts as I did not own a bound 3 1/2 inches wide), $2.00. Send ads, with check payable to Horatio Argosy Alger Society, P.O. Box 70361, Richmond, VA 23255. version of containing the story, nor did I own the The above rates apply to all want ads, along with ads offering book published by Doubleday or Polyglot. non-Alger books for sale. However, it is the policy of the Horatio I have found that reading a story as a serial provides Alger Society to promote the exchange of Alger books and related insight into how the readers of yesteryear felt when Alger materials by providing space free of charge to our members for the sale only of such material. Send ads or “Letters to the they read the story in parts. Serials are written to leave Editor” to Newsboy editor William R. Gowen (PF-706) at 23726 N. (Continued on Page 4) Overhill Dr., Lake Zurich, IL 60047. E-mail: [email protected] January-February 2010 NEWSBOY Page 3 Ralph Raymond’s Heir Gleason’s Pictorial Novelettes; or, clues to an Alger first edition By Bob Sipes (PF-1067) For over 50 years, it has been understood within the oratio Alger, Jr. used many pseudonyms; how- Alger community that the first edition of Ralph ever, one most interesting is “Arthur Hamilton.” Raymond’s Heir was a 25-cent large pamphlet adver- HThis pseudonym was used for just two serial- tised as available in Gleason’s Pictorial Novelettes ized novels, Helen Ford and Ralph Raymond’s Heir; or, series. Ralph Raymond’s Heir has never been located in The Merchant’s Crime. It is accepted that the Arthur this format, and until recently no examples of Gleason’s Hamilton pseudonym was used for the Helen Ford seri- Pictorial Novelettes have been available for review. An alization, since it was a advertisement for the novel for young girls and Gleason’s Pictorial Nov- was published at the elettes in the 8 April 1865 same time as two other issue of Gleason’s Liter- Alger novels in Golden ary Companion provides Argosy. a list of 12 titles and the However, it is not following description. known why Ralph We have just published Raymond’s Heir; or, The the following highly en- Merchant’s Crime was tertaining Novelettes in published under the large pamphlet form; each Arthur Hamilton pseud- book contains, besides a onym. complete novel and short Ralph Raymond’s Heir Stories, over Fifty large, was first published as a fine engravings, and is serial in Gleason’s Liter- complete in itself. ary Companion and ran Views are given in the for four issues from 9 books of every Populous June 1869 to 10 July 1869. City in the World; of Interestingly, the subtitle Buildings of note; of all The Merchant’s Crime the principal Ships in the was printed in larger font Navy and Merchant than the title Ralph Service; accurate Por- Raymond’s Heir. I believe traits of every noted the prominence of the character in the World, font and the appealing both male and female; subtitle influenced the Sketches of Beautiful later printings into car- Scenery; with numerous rying the title The specimens from the Ani- Merchant’s Crime. The mal Kingdom, the Birds Gleason’s Literary Com- of the air, and the Fish of panion was a family jour- Alger’s Ralph Raymond’s Heir first appeared as a serial the sea; with Humorous nal devoted to polite lit- in Gleason’s Literary Companion, June 9-July 10, 1869. engravings, etc. erature, wit, humor, It is apparent from the prose, and poetry. Each issue was 11½ by 15¾ inches and above description that these “books” contained much 16 pages in length, with four columns to a page. Horatio more than the title story, and the description provided Alger, Jr. published, by my count, 190 short stories, two little detail regarding their format. By 1867, the adver- poems, and one serialization, Ralph Raymond’s Heir, in tisements listed the series as Gleason’s Pictorial Novel- Gleason’s Literary Companion. (Continued on Page 5) Page 4 NEWSBOY January-February 2010 President's column (Continued from Page 2) Editor's notebook you hanging in anticipation, waiting impatiently for the next issue to arrive. They are surrounded by other pieces of literature that catch your attention, draw you in, and beg The 2010 convention is just a few weeks away, and I you to read them. While reading Silas Snobden’s Office Boy, hope you have made plans to attend. Just in case you I read another story serialized over nearly the same issues. misplaced the registration form sent with the last issue, The Conquest of the Moon by Andre Laurie is vintage another is enclosed, along with our schedule of events. science fiction and is interesting, yet not believable. Today, More information on the convention can be found on that is. Many readers of 1889 may have found it believable Pages 9-11, basically a quick guide of things to see and that man could pull the moon toward the earth by power- do during your free time while visiting Portsmouth.