PUBLISHER: Lovell, Gestefeld & Company, New York, 1892-1894?
ABOUT: ".... With the theosophist Ursula Gestefeld, Lovell organized a satellite firm in 1892, Lovell, Gestefeld & Company, which published occult, labor, and feminist books." (Stern). "Lovell had his own subsidiary, and as one might expect it was the most interesting. Lovell, Gestefeld & Co., the firm organized with his feminist friend, opened for business in August 1892 at 125 East Twenty-third Street, where, as their advertisement declared, 'in addition to their Miscellaneous and Standard Works, they will make a speciality of Occult, Metaphysical and Christian Science publications...' After Lovell's trust collapsed, it became the Gestefeld Library and Publishing Company, and then in 1896 its entire stock was bought by the Metaphysical Publishing Company." (Tebbel II:350).
"Twentieth century feminists would find themselves completely at home with Ursala N. Gestefeld's books about the new woman, described in Lovell's advertising as a 'broad-minded, self-sufficiet soman who realizes she is a woman first and a man's adjunct afterwards; realizes what she owes to herself as well as to him and is not content to live for him alone, the world well lost.' Lovell was so involved with Mrs. Gestefeld that he set up a subsidiary to publish books for the female cause." (Tebbel BC, page 149). "Lovell, Gestefeld & Co., the firm organized with his feminist friend, opened for business in August 1892. Their advertisement declared that, 'in addition to their Miscellaneous and Standard Works, they will make a speciality of Occult, Metaphysical and Christian Science publications, of which they will carry a large and complete stock at all times.' Mrs. Gestefeld lived on the upper floors, while the firm occupied the first floor and basement. Her Exodus Society held its meetings on the first floor. The company published what was undoubtedly the most exotic list in New York, including works on progressive labor, women's rights, mental science, palmistry, astrology and hypnotism, theosophy, and the occult." (Tebbel BC, page 150).
LUCILE’s ISSUED BY Lovell, Gestefeld & Company: No copies of Lucile with this imprint have been reported.
1892 PTLA: Lovell, Gestefeld & Company. Meredith, Owen. Lucile. Paper. .30. .... Lovell's Literature Series. Desirable works of current and standard literature in a convenient and economical form. [Lucile is #79 at $.25].
Last revised: 27 May 2015