Sterling
Sterling Publishing is a New York puzzle, gift and children's publisher founded in 1949, owned by Barnes & Noble from 2003, renamed Union Square & Co. in 2022 and sold to Hachette in 2024.
- Editions tracked
- 36
- First editions
- 32
- Books
- 35
- Years
- 1958 to 2019
About Sterling
Sterling Publishing is a New York publisher covering a broad range of subjects, including puzzle, gift and children's books, founded in 1949 by David A. Boehm and renamed Union Square & Co. in January 2022.
Sterling grew into a broad list with more than 5,000 titles in print and a staff of around 280. Barnes & Noble bought it in 2003 and ran it as a wholly owned subsidiary; the retailer put it up for sale in 2012 but found no buyer. Authors associated with the house include Richard Scarry, Paul McKenna, Colleen Houck, Barton Seaver, Peter Yarrow and Kevin Zraly, and it has produced books for brands such as AARP, Hasbro, Hearst Magazines and USA Today. Open Library records more than 6,000 works under the Sterling name, led by puzzles, crosswords and children's books, with the puzzle setters Frank Longo and Peter Gordon and the children's author Harriet Ziefert among its most frequent authors.
In March 2022 the company bought the British children's publisher Boxer Books. Barnes & Noble sold the business to Hachette Book Group in 2024. Union Square & Co. now operates within Hachette Book Group, with labels including Puzzlewright Press, Sterling Ethos, SparkNotes, Hearst Books, Knock Knock, Flash Kids, Boxer Books and Union Square Kids.
How to spot a Sterling first edition
We have not yet written the guide to Sterling's first-edition conventions. Until we do, check each book's own page: we list its points where we know them. Know how Sterling marked its firsts? Tell us.
AuthorsColleen Houck (2)J. C. Johari (2)Imelda Manalo Pesch (2)Rusty Bensussen (1)Begin Smart Books (1)Allen Carr (1)Sergi Cámara (1)Anne Christie (1)Kamala Das (1)Jonathan Dee (1)
Published by Sterling
Frequently asked questions
How do I identify a Sterling first edition?
Check the title page and the copyright page: a Sterling 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 Sterling books does MyVolumes track?
We track 36 editions published by Sterling, 32 of them first editions, across 35 books.
Where these facts come from
- Union Square & Co., Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Union Square & Co. imprint page, Hachette Book Group (hachettebookgroup.com)
- Sterling publisher page, Open Library (openlibrary.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 18 October 2026.