Page 33 - June 2018 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
P. 33
the Game
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OUUGUGHLGHHLUGHHLUUGUGGUGHLGHHLGHLIN IN BRBRIN BRLILLIL N NNN BRBBRBLL
HISTORY OF MCLOUGHLIN BROS.HISTORY OF MCLOUGHLIN BRHHHHHHISSTSTORTOORSTOORISHIISHI TSTTSTORTOORTOHH RY OU ROOSOSSOS.OOSOSSOSS.S
R RY
R R R R
O O O
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by Maxine Carter-Lome, Publisher
W hile you might not recognize the name McLoughlin Brothers, or the names of their books and
games for that matter, chances are the colorful and dominant illustrations that defined their
merchandise will look familiar, especially if you frequent antique shops and shows, and follow
specialized toy, game, and publishing auctions. From the mid-19th until the early 20th century,
McLoughlin Bros. was the foremost American publisher of children’s books, and a leading maker of
children’s games and toys. Today, the games, books, and toys that enthralled generations of young
children are back as collectibles, reminding us that objects of inspiration and imagination are timeless, and
always valued.
All in the Family
John McLoughlin, Sr. was an unemployed
Scottish coachmaker when he entered the New
York publishing industry in March of 1819.
While working for the Sterling Iron Company
he met Robert Hoe, who manufactured printing
presses. McLoughlin became interested in
printing and began working for the New York Antique 1889
Times in 1827. In 1828 he purchased a used McLoughlin Brothers
printing press and type and set up his own busi- 2-puzzles-in-1 Farm
ness on Tryon Row in Manhattan. Here he Animals set selling
wrote and published McLoughlin’s Books for for $199 on eBay
Children, a collection of semi-religious tracts.
In 1840, John, Sr. formed a partnership
with Robert H. Elton, a wood engraver, to
publish toy books, comic almanacs, and valen-
tines under the name Elton and Co.
McLoughlin’s son, John McLoughlin, Jr., had
been an apprentice at the firm of Robert H.
Elton and when the senior partners for Elton
and Company retired in 1850, John Jr. took
over the firm. He changed the name to “John
McLoughlin, Successor to Elton & Co.” 1897 McLoughlin Brothers Little Folks Painting Book,
features chromolithograph illustration and this copy was
McLoughlin eventually became known as the untouched inside, selling for $195 on rubylane.com
Cover of Ten Little N***ers published by McLoughlin
Brothers and sold for $375 at an auction in 2012; another
copy of the book sold that same year for $450 at a gallery
photo: Liveauctioneers.com
At left: Illustration for the Improved Game Tiddledy
Winks, circa 1890 photo: The North American Tiddlywinks Association
June 2019 31
THE ARARAARRAARAARARTRRTRT OFT OTOOFOFFT OFTT OOFOFT TTT OOOOFOFFOFTT
T T T TH
T the Game
T T TH
THE ART OFT OFHHEHEHEHEHHHEHEHE AARARTARRTAARRTEE AEEE
T T T T TH
F F F F F F
TH
TH
RFUULFUL ULULFULULFUFULUULULL
THE COLORFUL OLORFHEE CHEHEHEHHEHEE
RF
RF
R RF
TH
TH RFU
T TH
T T
THE CCCCCCOLOOLORLORORROOCOCO OLLOL ROROCOC
R
RYY OY OFOFY OFOY OY FOFOF MMCM LOCLOMCLOMF MMFMCMCCMCLOLLOLFF
OUUGUGHLGHHLUGHHLUUGUGGUGHLGHHLGHLIN IN BRBRIN BRLILLIL N NNN BRBBRBLL
HISTORY OF MCLOUGHLIN BROS.HISTORY OF MCLOUGHLIN BRHHHHHHISSTSTORTOORSTOORISHIISHI TSTTSTORTOORTOHH RY OU ROOSOSSOS.OOSOSSOSS.S
R RY
R R R R
O O O
R R R
by Maxine Carter-Lome, Publisher
W hile you might not recognize the name McLoughlin Brothers, or the names of their books and
games for that matter, chances are the colorful and dominant illustrations that defined their
merchandise will look familiar, especially if you frequent antique shops and shows, and follow
specialized toy, game, and publishing auctions. From the mid-19th until the early 20th century,
McLoughlin Bros. was the foremost American publisher of children’s books, and a leading maker of
children’s games and toys. Today, the games, books, and toys that enthralled generations of young
children are back as collectibles, reminding us that objects of inspiration and imagination are timeless, and
always valued.
All in the Family
John McLoughlin, Sr. was an unemployed
Scottish coachmaker when he entered the New
York publishing industry in March of 1819.
While working for the Sterling Iron Company
he met Robert Hoe, who manufactured printing
presses. McLoughlin became interested in
printing and began working for the New York Antique 1889
Times in 1827. In 1828 he purchased a used McLoughlin Brothers
printing press and type and set up his own busi- 2-puzzles-in-1 Farm
ness on Tryon Row in Manhattan. Here he Animals set selling
wrote and published McLoughlin’s Books for for $199 on eBay
Children, a collection of semi-religious tracts.
In 1840, John, Sr. formed a partnership
with Robert H. Elton, a wood engraver, to
publish toy books, comic almanacs, and valen-
tines under the name Elton and Co.
McLoughlin’s son, John McLoughlin, Jr., had
been an apprentice at the firm of Robert H.
Elton and when the senior partners for Elton
and Company retired in 1850, John Jr. took
over the firm. He changed the name to “John
McLoughlin, Successor to Elton & Co.” 1897 McLoughlin Brothers Little Folks Painting Book,
features chromolithograph illustration and this copy was
McLoughlin eventually became known as the untouched inside, selling for $195 on rubylane.com
Cover of Ten Little N***ers published by McLoughlin
Brothers and sold for $375 at an auction in 2012; another
copy of the book sold that same year for $450 at a gallery
photo: Liveauctioneers.com
At left: Illustration for the Improved Game Tiddledy
Winks, circa 1890 photo: The North American Tiddlywinks Association
June 2019 31
