About George T. Bisel Company, Inc. Publishing - One of the Nation's Oldest Legal Book Publishers

       

George T. Bisel            Publishing House         Franklin Jon Zuch - President & CEO

For 146 years, George T. Bisel Company, Inc. has served the legal profession of Pennsylvania and the Nation as the definitive publisher and resource for books on Pennsylvania law, legal information and procedures.  Now led by the family’s sixth generation, the company’s exclusive published works of legal books, specialty law journals, instructional works, forms and other media is the most comprehensive and up-to-date library of Pennsylvania legal material available. 

In 1876, the company was established in Philadelphia by William Felix Bisel, an attorney, who also served as a private in the 1863 26th Pennsylvania Militia during the Civil War.  In 1877 Felix was joined by his 18 year-old brother, George.  The Bisel brothers and family were from Turbotville Borough, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.  In the early days of the business the brothers sold law blanks and stationery.  

On June 8, 1881, William Bisel died at age 34 leaving the humble enterprise for George to carry on.  He traveled throughout Pennsylvania calling on lawyers and judges with a product line that included law blanks, stationery, pen points, ink and pencils, since stationery stores as we know them today were not widely available outside the big cities.  In time, used law books were added to the line, no doubt the roots of today’s publishing business. In the early days, modest quarters were rented in Philadelphia at Sixth and Walnut Streets, an area known as Lawyers' Row.  It was followed by moves to several locations in the 700 block of Sansom Street.  These locations were near the old Court House on Independence Square. (Note: since that time that block developed into the famed "Jewelers' Row" of today.)

During this period, Mr. Bisel began publishing new Pennsylvania legal publications, including predecessors to what later became leading Pennsylvania reference and practice sets, such as Purdon's Pa. Digest, Dunlap's Book of Forms and Troubat & Haly's Practice.  George Bisel spent his remaining years residing at the Chalfonte Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ, and he died on March 28th, 1941, at the age 82. With our move to 710 South Washington Square in May 1948, Bisel’s modern era began.  Starting with a 15 year lease, our building was purchased in 1963.  Under continuing family management, this period saw the beginning of publication of Pennsylvania practice texts, the foundation of today’s respected publishing collection of legal materials on practice and procedure in our Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Today, under continued family management by its sixth generation, George T. Bisel Company continues its 146 year tradition of service to the Pennsylvania Bench and Bar, as well as out-of-state law libraries. 

For more information about publishing or purchasing books, please contact Paul Roberts at: 800-247-3526 or proberts@bisel.com