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Private company

D. Appleton & Company

Logo: Harry Marshall Ward, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

American publishing company

D. Appleton & Company was an American publishing company founded by Daniel Appleton, who opened a general store in New York city. He sold books, and published his first book in 1831. The company's publications gradually extended over the entire field of literature.2 It is part of American Book Company.1 It ceased to exist in 1973.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1831Founded1
  • HeadquartersNew York City1
  • Founded inBoston1

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D. Appleton & Company was an American publishing company founded by Daniel Appleton, who opened a general store in New York city. He sold books, and published his first book in 1831. The company's publications gradually extended over the entire field of literature. It issued the works of contemporary scientists, including those of Herbert Spencer, John Tyndall, Thomas Huxley, Charles Darwin, and others, at reasonable prices. Medical books formed a special department, and books in the Spanish language for the South America market, including the works of Rafael Pombo, were a specialty which the firm made its own. In belles lettres and American history, it had a strong list of names among its authors.2

Corporate structure

D. Appleton & Company is part of a group headed by American Book Company. 4 entities, 1 country on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

Built from subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0); major holders from Schedules 13D and 13G. Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

Founded by Daniel Appleton in 1831, in Boston.1

1813 Relocated from Haverhill to Boston and imported books from England

1825 Relocated New York City and entered the book business with brother-in-law Jonathan Leavitt

1831 Published first book: Crumbs from the Master's Table by William Mason (1719–1791)

1848 Daniel Appleton retired; son William Henry Appleton (1814–1899) formed a partnership with his brothers, John Adams Appleton (1817–1881), George Swett Appleton (1821–1878), Daniel Sidney Appleton (1824–1890) and Samuel Francis Appleton (1826–1883)

1849 Death of Daniel Appleton

1857 First New York trade publisher to engage in subscription publishing

1869 Appleton's Journal started

1872 Popular Science Monthly magazine and International Scientific Series started by editor Edward L. Youmans

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1875 Original publication of the memoirs of General William Tecumseh Sherman, one of the first such publications by a Civil War general

1881 Relocated from Leonard Street and Broadway, to Bond Street, New York City; Journal becomes Appleton's Magazine

1890 Co-founded American Book Company, a conglomerate including D. Appleton & Company

1894 Published Songs of the Soil by Frank Lebby Stanton

1900 Filed for bankruptcy and sold Popular Science; re-organized by Joseph H. Sears of Harper's

1905 Appleton's Magazine renamed Appleton's Booklovers Magazine

1919 J. W. Hiltman named president

1924 Purchased Stewart and Kidd, founded in 1914

1931 Published I Sailed with Chinese Pirates by Aleko E. Lilius

1933 Merged with The Century Company, founded in 1881, to form the Appleton-Century Company

1945 Sold hymn books department to Revell Publishing

1948 Merged with F. S. Crofts Co., founded in 1924, to form Appleton-Century-Crofts.

From Wikipedia’s article on D. Appleton & Company, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Leadership

Who has led D. Appleton & Company, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Subsidiaries and ownership

Parent company

From Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 1973Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1890Acquired Acquired by American Book Company1
  3. 1831Founded Founded in Boston1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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