Dover Publications
Hayward and Blanche Cirker opened their book business in 1941 from an apartment building called The Dover in Forest Hills South, Queens. They began by selling remaindered textbooks through the mail to a small group of customers. Their first official publication was Jahnke and Emde's Tables of Functions with Formulas and Curves. This specific volume became available because United States law voided its German copyright during World War II. The unexpected success of that single title established a new way to publish esoteric works at low prices. One of their earliest best sellers was Albert Einstein's The Principle of Relativity. Einstein reluctantly agreed to republish his work even though he worried it had become outdated.
Dover Publications focuses on reissuing books that are out of print from their original publishers. These titles often come from the public domain or were scarce historical editions. The company makes these books available at significantly reduced costs compared to standard market prices. Most Dover reprints appear as photo facsimiles of the originals. They retain the original pagination and typeset while sometimes adding a new introduction. The firm usually adds new and more colorful cover art to its paper-bound editions. They also retitle some books to reflect modern dialect and categories. An example is Woodward's National Architect which became A Victorian Housebuilder's Guide. This approach targets niche markets like woodworking enthusiasts who need affordable technical resources.
Beginning in the 1950s, Dover issued a series of Listen & Learn language courses prepared using teachers from Columbia University. For a time, the publisher also released a catalog of LP phonograph records under the title Mono Stereo at a Low Price. Some releases included selected recordings of Schubert's solo and chamber works featuring pianist Friedrich Wührer. Noteworthy among Dover's original issues was an extensive series documenting pianist Beveridge Webster. This collection ranged from Beethoven's Hammerklavier sonata to the second piano sonata by Roger Sessions. By using lower recording levels, the company could include more minutes than usual on each LP. However, the lower recording levels meant more noise and more vulnerability to scratches. Dover's foray into recordings was not as successful as its core business of book republication. The company eventually abandoned this audio venture entirely.
In 1951, Dover issued some of the earliest standard-sized paperbacks that became known as trade paperbacks. Since the 1960s, the vast majority of Dover's titles have been paper-bound books of various sizes. Dover paperbacks had sewn pages unlike most paperbacks which were held together with glue. Glued bindings often suffered from page drop-out over time. The sewn construction allowed these books to last longer despite their low cost. This format helped transform the paperback book market during the mid-20th century. The strategy proved effective enough that it remains a defining characteristic of the publisher today. Most modern readers encounter Dover products in this specific physical form.
Starting in the 1990s, Dover has published a specialized line of low-cost reprints of public domain literature known as Dover Thrift Editions. These volumes are generally priced at US$5 or less. The firm also maintains several lines of foreign language books available to international buyers. In 2015, the company branched out into graphic novel reprints overseen by acquisitions editor Drew Ford. Ford was formerly a comics writer and editor before joining the publishing house. This expansion added new categories to an existing catalog focused on mathematics, science, and engineering texts. The diversification efforts reflect a shift toward broader audiences while maintaining the core mission of affordable access.
Hayward Cirker died in 2000 at the age of 82. In that same year, Dover Publications was acquired by Courier Corporation. Courier itself was acquired by RR Donnelley in 2015. RR Donnelly split into three separate entities in 2016. Dover became part of LSC Communications during that restructuring. In 2020, LSC Communications, Inc. and 21 affiliated debtors filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The company was purchased in December 2020 by the private equity holding company Atlas Holdings. Blanche Cirker died in 2022 after decades of involvement with the business she helped build.
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Common questions
When did Hayward and Blanche Cirker open Dover Publications?
Hayward and Blanche Cirker opened their book business in 1941 from an apartment building called The Dover in Forest Hills South, Queens. They began by selling remaindered textbooks through the mail to a small group of customers.
What was the first official publication released by Dover Publications?
The first official publication released by Dover Publications was Jahnke and Emde's Tables of Functions with Formulas and Curves. This specific volume became available because United States law voided its German copyright during World War II.
How does Dover Publications format its reprinted books compared to standard market prices?
Most Dover reprints appear as photo facsimiles of the originals that retain the original pagination and typeset while sometimes adding a new introduction. The company makes these books available at significantly reduced costs compared to standard market prices.
Why did Dover Publications abandon its audio venture into LP phonograph records?
Dover's foray into recordings was not as successful as its core business of book republication due to lower recording levels creating more noise and vulnerability to scratches. The company eventually abandoned this audio venture entirely.
When did Hayward Cirker die and what happened to Dover Publications that same year?
Hayward Cirker died in 2000 at the age of 82. In that same year, Dover Publications was acquired by Courier Corporation.