Description![lecount_100.jpg][1] Image courtesy of Heritage Auction Galleries www.ha.com Best Book Finishers in the Country San Francisco California 1. "Established as Cook & LeCount , March 1850; changed to LeCount & Strong, Nov. 1852, and to present style Feb. 1865. This complete and extensive establishment unsurpassed in the United States deserves more than a passing notice. Its present proprietor in conjunction with his associate, commenced business in the infancy of the city, and has participated in its early vicissitudes caused by the conflagrations which were so destructive. In the early part of 1853 , the present splendid structure occupied by Mr. LeCount was erected at an expense of $82,000 and exhibits, in all its details, completeness of adaption, the result of the perfect acquaintance of its enterprising owner in the business in which he is engaged, It is 26 by 90 feet, and four stories in height, One of its early and most successful merchants Mr L. considers as his permanent home the city which his enterprise has aided to enlarge and adorn." San Francisco directory 1856-57 page 126. Some doubt should be raised as to the march 1850 establishment of partnership. The Business is not found in the Bogardus May 1850 Directory. They are listed in the Kimball September 1850 Directory. From the advertisement this seems to be a well established firm offering: printing, publishing, bookselling, lithography as well as binding. It is likely that this firm had been established for some time. Wm B Cooke was listed in Bogardus 1850 directory as a bookseller and stationer (wholesale and retail) at this address. LeCount, from later listings, is clearly a bookbinder. It should be noted that Bogardus directory was published in May 1850 and there was no mention of the LeCount partnership that LeCount states as having taken place in March of 1850. 1. Bonnard 1852 S.F. Business Directory, ad. pg. 91. 2. Josiah J. LeCount Bookseller 139 Montgomery 1852-53 Parker San Francisco Directory pg.72 3. W. B. Cooke D. & Co., NE cor. Montgomery and Merchant st. 1859-60 San Francisco Business Directory 4. ad. pg. xxxii 1860-61 S.F. Business Directory 5. 624 Montgomery; 1861 S. F. Business Directory 6. No listing in 1862, '63, '64,'65 business listings. 421-423 Sansome importers and retail stationary. Listing in residential listings.1864, Langley's 7. Wm. B. Cooke & Co, 624 Montgomery,San Francisco Business Directory, 1867 8. Advertisement pg. 145 & 660 manufacturing and Importing, Steam Printers, Book Binders, Paper Rulers, San Francisco Business Directory,1868. 9. Listed in 1869 as William B. Cooke, no listings in 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, S. F. Business directory. 10. William B. Cook & Co. 723 Market, San Francisco Business Directory 1877 ,78,& 79. 11. 1879 is the last listing for Cooke [1]: /media/attachments/bbdir_entry/640/lecount_100.jpg (lecount_100.jpg)