S. P. Rounds’ Book and Job Printing Office

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S. P. Rounds’ Book and Job Printing Office and Printers Furnishing Depot
Location: 155 (old 139) Randolph, opposite Court House
Life Span: 1855-1871
Architect:

Fergus’ City Directory Supplement, May, 1856

Leonard Baldwin

Rounds S. P.

D. B. Cooke & Co.’s City Directory for the Year 1859
Rounds & Co.,, (Sterling P. Rounds, James J. Langdon, and Alexander Zeese), electrotype foundry, 155 Randolph
Strong & Wiley Brothers, (David O. Strong, Christopher V. and Benjamin B. Wiley), bankers, 137 Randolph
Hottinger & Kastler, (Jacob Hottinger and Nicholas Kastler), saloon, 139 Randolph
Arnold Francs & Co., (Francis Arnold), mathematical and optical instrument mkrs 55 S. La Salle

Halpin & Bailey’s City Directory for the Year 1863
Wiggers Henry, pictures, 153 and 155 Randolph, h. same
Knobelsdorf Charles, (land) agt., 151 Randolph, h. Division, nr. Wells.
Arnold Francs & Co., instrument mkr 55 S. La Salle, h. n.s. Walnut, bet. Wood and Paulina

Halpin’s Chicago City Directory for 1864
Wiggers Henry, looking glasses, etc., 153 and 155 Randolph, r. same
Arnold F. & Co., (Francis Arnold & ———), engineers and surveying instrument mkrs 40 La Salle

Fergus’ City Directory Supplement, May, 1856

Chicago Tribune, February 20, 1856

S. P. Rounds’ Book and Job Printing Office and Printers Furnishing Depot, is removed to No. 138 Randolph Street, in the new Stone Front Building, opposite the Court House, on Randolph, and opposite will’s Bank, on La Salle.

Second Entrance from the corner of La Salle,—third, fourth and filth stories.

Counting Room in front of third story, where he will be happy to welcome all his old customers, and as many new ones as will favor him with their patronage.

Having recently made very extensive additions in the way of New Type.—a New Power Press,—having unquestionably the finest Office in the city; and, from my long experience in this business, I am now prepared to compete with any establishment, East or West, and respectfully ask a share of patronage.

Chicago Tribune, July 1, 1858

Editors In Luck.—Hottinger, of No. 139 Randolph street, sent us yesterday a barrel of lager beer which was excellent and of the purest quality. He has the thanks of everybody in the Press and Tribune establishment for his very generous remembrance that yesterday was our wedding day. Mr. Hottinger is one of the firm of Blatz & Co., of Milwaukee, the well known and extensive brewers, and the expellent quality of their ale and beer has given them a wide and deservedly high reputation. Those who wish a glass of genuine lager beer should drop in at the saloon No. 139 Randolph street.

Chicago Tribune, September 10, 1858

Sterling P. Rounds has on exhibition a variety of electrotype cuts.

Chicago Tribune, January 8, 1859

In connection with our Type Foundry and Printer’s Furnishing business, which we have carried on in this city for the past Ten Years, we have for a long time been solicited to establish a bona fide and regular Advertising Department.

The following is only a fair sample of hundreds of similar letters from Publishers in the West, and we publish them that the business men of Chicago, who advertise in Country Papers, may see the position we occupy in regard to the Press of the North West, and that through this agency alone can they reach the Country Newspapers and have the’t advertisements promptky attended to.

The Wisconsin Editorial Convention at its Second Annual Session in Madison, in October, passed a resolation condemning “the present system of General Advertising Agencies,” and appointed us their only authorized Advertising Agent a this point, to receive and contract for Chicago Advertisements.

Messrs. Bounds & Langdon:
We are highly pleased that you have consented to stand between the Publishers of the Advertising Shark and gladly avail ourselves of the privilege tendered, of making you our agents in Chicago.

The Country Press seem to have been unfortunate enough to receive the attention of a class of scoundrels. who, having been broken up in swindling lottery and “girt” (?) enterprises by the authorities, take to acting as bogus “Advertising Agents.” It is high time the scoundrels were routed, root and branch, and we hope you will so use your influence as to induce Type Founders in the various cities of the Union to follow the example you have placed before them. By urging this matter upon the attention of Type Founders in other places, we feel sure you fill confer favor on a suffering country Press. The agency for advertising in the Country Press legitimately belongs to some branch of the craft, and there are none more worthy the trifling emoluments arising from it than the founder who is in constant communication With the Press, and who has and is entitled to far more confidence than the swindling scamp who crawls into some 7 x 9 garret, there to rob the printer of his hard earnings, and impose upon the Founder by pretending to supply the Trade with “every description of printing material” when in most cases the “Agent” could not tell a “shooting tick” from a barnyard shovel, and
is more familiar with the use of bogus jewelry than either, for of such is the pay we receive from a majority of the few than ever intend to pay.

Enclosed is the blank sent us, filled out, and we hope to hear that you have retained the entire agency of your city in this line. Yours, &c.,
Jenny & Peabody. DuQuois, Perry Co., Dec. 5, 1858.

A reliable Advertising Agency is what has long been needed in Chicago. I have suffered to a considerable extent through the rascality of Chicago Advertising Agents, and now I am heartily glad that two hones and well-known “typos”—such as you are, gentlemen,—have determined to see their fellow craftsmen righted.
Yours Respectfully,
Paul Watkins,
Ed. and Pub. “Mining Journal”

Advertising Agency.—Rounds & Langdon.—One of the greatest misfortunes of the newspaper press is the irresponsible hands into which the business of Advertising Agencies has of late years fallen. There is not a newspaper published in the country whose account books do not show large amounts due from distant advertising agents, and which it is in vain to attempt to collect. Into such bad repute have these advertising agencies got that we have come to regard with suspicion every new firm proposing to transact this branch of business and have for some time past confined our transactions strictly to such old firms as we know to be honest and responsible.

We have been led into this train of remark by an announcement from Messrs. Rounds & Langdon, of Chicago. that they intend to open an advertising agency in connection with their newspaper furnishing business. Is has been our good fortune to be acquainted and transact business with these gentlemen for many years past, and it affords us great pleasure in improving this opportunity of endorsing them as upright, courteous, prompt, and faithful in all their business relations. They enjoy the confidence and esteem of all who know them, and the new business in which they are about to embark will prove a mutual advantage to their customers and themselves. We wish them abundant success, and hereby authorize them to act as the only advertising agents of the Transcript in Chicago.—Peoria Transcript.

The Cabinet.—This beautiful little visitor for the month of November is at hand. We have exhausted our stock of panegyric in praise of the Cabinet, and can only say that its present number is up to its predecessors.

Rounds & Langdon, its conductors, in obedience to a request of the Wisconsin Editorial Convention, have decided to act as Newspaper Agents for the city of Chicago. Accompanying the Cabinet a blank form is forwarded which publishers will sign and return. We have fixed ours up, and it is now on file at Chicago. Our connection with Newspaper Agents has been unprofitable to us. and we had about concluded to let them go to the gentleman with fancy feet and caudal appendage; but so great faith have we in Rounds & Landon, and such is our confidence in their regard for the true interests of the Western Press, that they can make for the Times any bargain which they see proper, and we will honor their contract by a prompt fulfillment,—North Iowa Times,

The Printers’ Cabinet.—This beautiful little sheet is again before us. Among other good things contained in it, is the announcement that the proprietors, Messrs. Rounds & Langdon, intend establishing an Advertising Agency in Chicago, for the benefit of the country Press. We hail this announcement with joy, for we are sick of the whole tribe of Agents that we have dealt with heretofore: but in the above-named gentlemen, country newspapers have friends that will deal honestly with them, success to them.—Effingham Pioneer.

Advertising Agency.—For a long time past the publishers of the Northwest have sadly felt the need of a reliable and trustworthy Agency, and in consequence thereof have suffered materially. We have been so often deceived, that we began to look upon all agencies who sent us favors with distrust. But this state of things promises no longer to exist, as our enterprising friends, Messrs. Rounds & Langdon, of Chicago, are about establishing an Advertising Agency which cannot fail to meet the wants of the printers of the Northwest. Their enterprising spirit, coupled with the necessary capital to insure prompt payment, will give them precedence.—Grundy Co. Herald.

The neatest paper which comes to our exchange table is the Printers Cabinet, of Rounds & Langdon, Chicago. It is an exquisite specimen of the art.

By the way these gentlemen, in addition to their business of keeping a warehouse of everything needed in s printing office, have volunteered to act as Advertising Agents for such newspapers as desire it. Our acquaintance with them satisfies us that they will prove an honorable exception to the general rule with such agencies, and we have set them down as our agents in Chicago.—Green Bay Advocate.

Messrs. Rounds & Langdon, the enterprising Type Founders of Chicago, have taken the initiative step whereby the whole of the present “Advertising Agency” swindle can be swept away.. They offer to act as Advertising Agents for Chicago for the Press of the whole country. Now we ail know them to be men of undoubted integrity, and there is not a publisher in Michigan but would sooner trust his business to them than to any of the numerous and irresponsible agents of that city. Let us all accept their proposition, binding ourselves to have no other agents. We will then effect a similar contract with the Cincinnati Type Foundry, Johnson of Philadelphia, and Bruce, or some well known established founder in New York, and we will save thousands of dollars to the Press of the state in one year. We have all suffered loss by swindling Advertising Agents: now let us compel foreign advertisers to do their business with our agents rather than theirs. Here 1s an opportunity for reform without combination or association, and so far as this paper is concerned, it will take no more advertisements through any agency but such Type Founder as is well established and known to be responsible,—Flint (Mich) Dem.

Messrs. Rounds & Langdon, of Chicago, purpose to establish a Newspaper Advertising Agency in Chicago, provided they find suitable encouragement from the country Press. For our part, we have entire confidence in the firm, and have filled up the blank sent us appointing them our agents for that city, and hope all the town papers will do likewise—Linn Co, Register.

An Excellent Idea.—At the solicitation of a number of newspaper publishers, Messrs. Rounds & Langdon, proprietors of the Chicago Type Foundry, have made arrangements to open an Advertising Agency in connection with their establishment. This will be good news to the craft and we will hear of no more dishonored advertising bills in Chicago.—Jonesboro’ Gazette.

Yielding to the expressed desire of the in general, we have opened, in addition to our Foundry business, a systematic advertising Agency, and shall here after make it a prominent part of our business.

We are prepared to make contracts with all business houses who are alive to the importance of judicious advertising, and who desire to advertise in one or a hundred Country papers, in any section of the entire Northwest, at satisfactory rates.

Parties can at all times find nearly every paper published in the West on file at our office, and can there receive information as to circulation, and the best means of placing their trade before the public.

Having dealt with almost every publisher in the entire Northwest, for the past ten years, we are fully posted as to who are responsible parties, and the circulation and business of most of the offices. This fact, in addition to our standing as business men, we trust is sufficient guaranty to Chicago Houses that their business will be done safely, promptly and reasonably.

Chicago Tribune, October 24, 1860

IN A NEW PLACE—The extensive Printing Establishment, Stereotype Foundry and Printers Furnishing Warehouse of Sterling P Rounds, has been removed from Randolph street to new quarters in Laflin’s block just completed on State street between Lake and Randolph, where Mr. Rounds is better settled than ever before for the extensive business his enterprise and energy have built up. The craft throughout the Northwest know him and will find him out in his new “sit.”

Chicago Tribune, May 26, 1865

INSURANCE MATTERS.—Since the old Hartford Insurance Company reared its magnificent temple at No. 40 LaSalle street, and dedicated it solely to insurance interests, this street has become a favorite business thoroughfare. The office on the northeast corner of Randolph and LaSalle street hug been taken by a prominent agency, making eight leading agencies and local offices within a block, and representing over forty companies. These do the bulk of the insurance business of our city. It is well thus to multiply offices in a grand insurance center, and not less a convenience to the public loan to the companies themselves The Hartford Insurance company and Mr. Bissell, its General Agent, are entitled to the credit of initiating this movement, which in connection with the new Chamber of Conmerce and other improvements, now moking and in contemplation, will make LaSalle street one of the business centers of Chicago,

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