The Beckwith Company

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The Beckwith Company was a publishing entity in 1920, based in New York City. It is primarily remembered for publishing a second edition, a second translation, into the English language, in the United States, of the notorious plagiarism and antisemitic forgery and hoax most popularly known by the title as the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. This edition bore the main title of Praemonitus Praemunitus.

The full title of this scandalous and spurious text was as follows:

Præmonitus præmunitus. The protocols of the wise men of Zion, tr. from the Russian

to the English language for the information of all true Americans & to confound

enemies of democracy & the republic, also to demonstrate the possible fulfillment

of Biblical prophecy as to world domination by the Chosen people.

This imprint, from a bibliophile's, or as a physical object, is a beautiful looking book, if its contents are disregarded. A copy is available for reading or examination at The New York Public Library.

The author, or rather, translator and editor, of this edition was Harris A. Houghton. Also, the pseudonym under which this imprint was published, Peter Beckwith, is believed to be Harris A. Houghton, suggesting further that "The Beckwith Company" was merely a front for Houghton to get his new translation of The Protocols published.

It is generally believed that this publishing entity was a front created specifically in order to provide a publishing company that was willing and able to publish and distribute the Protocols. An online search with the New York State, Department of State, Division of Corporations, "Search Our Corporation and Business Entity Database," does not show any such entity as having been incorporated at any time under this name (however, it is assumed that 1920's records are listed). [1]

It is generally believed that support and/or financing for this publication came from the American Defense Society.

There are fewer than half a dozen imprints associated with the "Beckwith" label in libraries. One title is particularly interesting, and for several reasons. It is the following:

  LC Control No.:       25009159
  Type of Material:     Book (Print, Microform, Electronic, etc.)
  Personal Name:        Webster, Nesta Helen.
  Main Title:           Boche and bolshevik,
  Published/Created:    New York city, The Beckwith company, 1923.
  Related Names:        Kerlen, Kurt. [from old catalog]
                        Beckwith, Peter, pseud. [from old catalog]
  Description:          4 p. l., 82 p. 19 cm.
  Subjects:             Communism--Russia. [from old catalog]
                        Propaganda, German. [from old catalog]
  LC Classification:    DK265 .W34

The author, Nesta H. Webster is a recognized antisemite, and she herself was involved in the promotion of the Protocols of Zion.

There is another known work by this entity, namely, Sales Letters for Salesmen. But publisher is located in Dowagiac, Mich. The publisher is styled "The Beckwith Company" and the copyright year is given as 1922. The author is given as Edward G. Weir.