All Aboard Series Daniel C. Eddy/ Edward A. Rand

The All Aboard Series published in the 1890's by Donohue, Henneberry and Company has a very complicated history. Initially in 1891 Donohue, Henneberry and Company published two All Aboard books written by Edward A. Rand. (not Edward H. Rand as noted in the ad below).

These books are:
All Aboard for the Lakes and Mountains
All Aboard for Sunrise Lands

The first editions of Rand's books were published by D. Lothrop and Company and subsequently were printed by a number of other companies prior to becoming the "All Aboard" series of Donohue Henneberry and Company. Details are discussed below.

In 1897 two more titles, these written by Rev. D. C. Eddy, were added to this series making a total of four books.
All Aboard for Europe
All Aboard for Asia and Africa

Here is an 1897 Donohue, Henneberry ad. The authorship of the Eddy books is misattributed to Rand.

The first editions of Eddy's titles were published by Thomas Y. Crowell and Co. Just like the Rand books, a number of other publishers printed these two volumes. The Eddy books also went through a number of name changes. Details are shown below.

Edward Rand
Edward A. Rand (1837-1903) was a prolific writer of juvenile books in the latter half of the 19th century. He is another one of those authors from the last century whose works as well as his name has gone from great popularity to obscurity. Part of the reason is that his books were published (with a couple of exceptions) by some of the lesser lights of the publishing world (Whittaker, Methodist Book Concern, American Sunday School Union). Another reason is that his writing was much less important to him than his ministerial duties. And finally perhaps the lack of staying power is just based on the vagaries of collectors and their whims.

An argument can be made that his books are too moralistic but yet no more so than the boring tales of Rollo by Jacob Abbott, books which have gone through countless printings by numerous publishers. Many of his books are reasonably entertaining stories but Elijah Kellogg, Optic, Castlemon, etc. are still collected and Rand is forgotten.

Edward A. Rand was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Like Jacob Abbott, Rand graduated from Bowdoin College (in 1857-37 years later than Abbott). For several years he taught and was a principal at local high schools in Maine and New Hampshire. He graduated from the Bangor Theological School in 1863 and at that time was ordained to the Congregational Ministry. He served in Amesbury, Massachusetts from 1864-1867 and then in South Boston (1867-1876) and later in Hyde Park. He moved to Watertown in 1880 and subsequently built the Church of the Good Shepard. He remained there the rest of his life.

He was active in numerous local organizations. Rand was one of the founders of the Watertown Historical Society in 1888 and was its president from 1891 until his death in 1903. He helped organize the Watertown Chapter of the Sons of the Revolution in 1898.

His wife, Mrs. Mary Frances Rand wrote several Christmas books. He had five children - four daughters and a son.

With the exception of a handful of non series fiction and non fiction books, Rand's literary output was mainly in the form of juvenile series books. A number of his books were reprinted in England by Nelson, Nisbet, Hutchinson and a few other publishers. Some of his more popular series included the Look Ahead Series, Up the Ladder Club, School and Camp Series and the Bark Cabin Series.

Edward Rand and the All Aboard books
Rand wrote two All Aboard books. All Aboard for the Lakes and Mountains and All Aboard for Sunrise Lands. Before becoming Donohue, Henneberry's two volume All Aboard Series in 1891 and part of its four volume series in 1897, the books were published by a number of different firms. They were very popular and printed in numerous editions.

In these books Uncle Nat goes on adventures with his nephews Ralph and Rick Rogers. Interestingly in the second book, "Lakes and Mountains" Rand added a character from several of his previous books-Rob Merry.

Publishers that printed the Rand books (details about these publications can be seen here - Juvenile Travelogue Series- All Aboard Series):
D. Lothrop and Company
Fairbanks. Palmer and Company
William M. Farrar
Occidental Publishing Company
Pennsylvania Publishing Company
Oriental Publishing Company
Donohue, Henneberry and Co.
Donohue Brothers
M.A. Donohue and Co.

Rev. D(aniel) C. Eddy

As is frequently the story with 19th century juvenile authors, Eddy was a man of the cloth. He graduated in 1845 from the Hampton Theological Institute in New Hampshire. As a Baptist minister he served a number of churches throughout the East. His work began in the Boston area. In 1861 he was moved to Philadelphia. Later he served in Fall River, Massachusetts and Brooklyn, New York.

In 1854 while in Massachusetts he was elected to the state house of representatives where he acted as Speaker of the House. He was a member of the Know Nothing Party. (One of my personal favorite political parties.)

He frequently spoke out about the evils of alcohol. In 1889 he was elected as a manager in the National Temperance Society.

Although he authored a number of religious and moralistic works, Eddy's best sellers were his juvenile series. The Percy Family and Walter's Tour in the East being the best known. He had traveled overseas to Europe in 1850 and to Turkey and the Holy Land in 1861. These adventures served him well while writing his juvenile books since his series were all of the travelogue type.

In Eddy's two "All Aboard" stories Rupert Van Wert a former headmaster of a school in New York travels around the world. His former students Will, Hal and Charlie read about his exploits in letters he sends them.

Publishers that printed the Eddy All Aboard books (See Juvenile Travelogue Series- All Aboard Series for more information)
T. Y. Crowell and Co.
Belford, Clarke and Co.
L. P. Miller and Co.
Morrill, Higgins and Co.
Charles E. Brown and Co.
Donohue, Henneberry and Co.
Donohue Brothers
M.A. Donohue and Co.

All Aboard for Asia and Africa and All Aboard for Europe were first published by T. Y. Crowell and Co. Eddy wrote these titles with the pseudonym Rupert Van Wert. (The "All Aboard" titles were not used until 1897.) Each volume contains numerous line drawn pictures drawn by many different artists and were clearly taken from other books/journals. Most likely they were publisher's stock photos.

The book's titles changed a number of times between the early and late editions.

Donohue, Henneberry and Company, Chicago
The All Aboard Series was first published by this firm in 1891 with the two Edward Rand books. The silk cloth volume cost $1.50 whereas the illuminated lithographed board covers were priced at $1.00.

The clothbound books had no format change until it was discontinued in 1901.

There are several different illuminated board cover books. Except for the cover there is nothing to distinguish them and thus they cannot be dated or prioritized.

In 1897 the Rev. D. C. Eddy titles were added to make the group a four book series. All four volumes were published in both silk cloth and illuminated board covers.