Andrews McMeel Publishing
Andrews McMeel Publishing is the Kansas City book publisher behind the Calvin and Hobbes and Far Side collections, the book arm of Andrews McMeel Universal since the 1970s.
- Editions tracked
- 73
- First editions
- 63
- Books
- 73
- Years
- 1988 to 2024
About Andrews McMeel Publishing
Andrews McMeel Publishing is a Kansas City, Missouri, book publisher best known for collections of syndicated comic strips such as Calvin and Hobbes and The Far Side, and it is the book division of Andrews McMeel Universal.
The parent business was started in 1970 by Jim Andrews and John McMeel as Universal Press Syndicate. It moved into books in 1973 by buying the Catholic publisher Sheed & Ward, which it sold in 1983 to concentrate on humour titles. The book division traded as Andrews, McMeel and Parker from 1975 (Parker being creative director George Parker) and as Andrews and McMeel from 1986, before taking its present name when the parent became Andrews McMeel Universal in 1997. Jim Andrews died in 1980.
The syndicate began distributing Gary Larson and Bill Watterson in 1985, and by 1989 the collected Far Side books had sold more than 12 million copies. It also publishes collections of FoxTrot, Peanuts and other strips, a book by the film critic Roger Ebert, whose column later moved to the syndicate, and in the United States it published Rupi Kaur's poetry collection the sun and her flowers (2017).
The company is privately held, with Simon & Schuster handling distribution, and in 2025 it acquired Quirk Books.
How to spot a Andrews McMeel Publishing first edition
We have not yet written the guide to Andrews McMeel Publishing's first-edition conventions. Until we do, check each book's own page: we list its points where we know them. Know how Andrews McMeel Publishing marked its firsts? Tell us.
AuthorsBill Watterson (14)Lincoln Peirce (9)Cube Kid (5)Lang Leav (4)Courtney Peppernell (4)Rupi Kaur (3)Debbie Tung (3)Sarah Andersen (2)James Gurney (2)Gary Larson (2)
SeriesCalvin and Hobbes
Published by Andrews McMeel Publishing
Frequently asked questions
How do I identify an Andrews McMeel Publishing first edition?
Check the title page and the copyright page: a Andrews McMeel Publishing first edition gives the first date of publication with no later impression or edition stated. Each book's page here lists its own points.
How many Andrews McMeel Publishing books does MyVolumes track?
We track 73 editions published by Andrews McMeel Publishing, 63 of them first editions, across 73 books.
Where these facts come from
- Andrews McMeel Publishing, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Andrews McMeel Universal, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Andrews McMeel Universal History, Funding Universe (fundinguniverse.com)
- The Sun and Her Flowers, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Andrews McMeel Publishing (Q4759092), Wikidata (wikidata.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 17 October 2026.