A Collection of Children's & Young Adult books published by Abelard-Schuman

London, New York: Abelard-Schuman; Criterion Books, 1956-1973.

Price: $6,500.00

A collection of 126 children’s books, books for young adults, as well as some works for adults, published by Abelard-Schuman and their affiliate Criterion Books, from the private library of Lew and Frances Schwartz, the firm owners. They were published between 1956 and 1973, with most dating from the 1960s. Most are first editions, including many Advance Review copies, in good or very good condition. All are in their original dustwrappers.

In its heyday Abelard-Schuman was a small but active quality firm owned by the husband-wife team of Lew and Frances Schwartz, with offices in London, New York and Toronto. Frances was a specialist in juvenile books, thus this became the specialty of the house, along with science-fiction and fantasy, mysteries, and historical surveys, aimed primarily at young adults, but also including some novels for adults. The firm also specialized in new and up and coming authors, the best-known being Isaac Asimov, and illustrators such as Franz Josef Tripp, Michael Foreman, and others. In 1960 the firm purchased Criterion Books, which also specialized in young adult books.

Throughout the 1960s the Abelard-Schuman/Criterion imprint retained its prestige and earned its bread and butter principally through sales to libraries. Some notable titles include *For The King* by Ronald Welch [pseudonym of Ronald Oliver Felton], *Pyewacket* by Rosemary Weir, *The Wise Man of Schilda* and *The Little Ghost* by Otfried Preussler (both illustrated by F.J. Tripp), and the novel *A Jack Is a King* Inscribed by the author Norman Keifetz to Lew Schwartz.

An unusually hard-to-find collection of children’s and young adult books in nice condition and without the library markings typically found in this publisher’s book. A detailed list is available.


Item #345689

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Item #345689 A Collection of Children's & Young Adult books published by Abelard-Schuman. Abelard-Schuman.
A Collection of Children's & Young Adult books published by Abelard-Schuman
A Collection of Children's & Young Adult books published by Abelard-Schuman
A Collection of Children's & Young Adult books published by Abelard-Schuman