Robert Cocks & Co.

Robert Cocks & Co. was a London-based music publisher founded in 1823 by Robert Cocks (12 October 1797 Norfolk, England – 7 April 1887 London). The catalog of publications, before Robert Cocks died, is said to have exceeded sixteen thousand, and included many important treatises.^[1] When Cocks died, he was believed to be the oldest music publisher in the world.^[2] The firm introduced in London pianists Carl Czerny, Julius Schulhoff, and Alexander Dreyschock and published Rimbault and Hopins' history of the organ and also published pedagogical repertoire for the so-call "Schools" of Spohr, Czerny, Marx, Albrechtsberger, Reicha, and Cherubini.^[3]

Succession of ownership

In 1868 Robert Cocks took into partnership his two sons, Arthur Lincoln Cocks (1830–1863) and Stroud Lincoln Cocks (1832–1907). Since Arthur's partnership was acquired posthumously, Arthur's son, Robert Macfarlane Cocks (1852–1934) carried on Arthur's interest. Robert Macfarlane Cocks and Strould Lincoln Cocks began selling the firm in the last quarter of 1898.^[4] George Augener (1830–1915) was the buyer. The acquisition was completed in 1904 and from henceforth was known as Augener & Co., Ltd. Eventually the company became a division of Stainer & Bell.

Selected early publications

References