Evolution of Ghosts

Also of note in the early era is the address Dow & Lester's address. In the unnamed era, the address is "67 & 68 Cowcross Street London, E.C." Later eras list the address as "Foresters' Hall Place, E.C." The address for Frederick A. Stokes Co. remains consistent throughout. 

These early era books are somewhat rare. While there's no way to know how many of these books were made, scarcity can be a guide. 

1908 - Cecil Henland Era

By 1908, Cecil Henland's name appears for the first time as the "arranger". These books are the most common to come across. The only other changes to this era is the slight adjustment to formatting on the title page to accommodate a list of other publications from Henland. Her other works are similar to this one in that they are books you interact with rather than novels or other long form writing (this is an assumption as I've only seen one of the other books credited to Cecil). 

1916 - New Title Page Pattern

In 1916, a new red pattern is used around the title page. Nothing else changes. 

1920 - Fourth Era with New Cover Design

Around 1920, a fourth era comes out from the same pair of publishers, also with Henland's name as the arranger. This era keeps the new title page pattern and added a black box on the front cover.

This later era contains several outliers that I've only seen evidenced once. There may be another era divide in this time period, but there's not enough evidence for it. For example, there is one silver copy with a black and white title page. No other copies I've seen have a black and white title page. 

1938 - Capini Vequin Era

In 1938, a fourth and final era began. This time it was only released by Stokes and it included a different name as compiler (where it used to be arranger): Capini Vequin (the pen name of Elizabeth Vernon Quinn). The format of the book changed in this new era and from all signs, was a much smaller run. In fact, the only issue I have seen included a tip in stating, 

"This copy of THE GHOSTS OF MY FRIENDS is presented to the guests of the 38th Annual Banquet of the American Booksellers Association National Convention by Frederick A. Stokes Company with an eye to increasing the levity of the occasion and with the pious hope that the pastime thus inaugurated will not become too insidious." 

It further states that if a recipient fills their book by Labor Day, they can mail it to Stokes to be judged against the other books and the winner--based on the form and figure of the ghosts, not the names they are formed from, would receive $50. Coincidentally, this was one year before Stokes shuttered operations, and the book was not mentioned in a book about Frederick A. Stokes Company publications. Maybe that $50 is what set them over the edge. 

Imitations

In addition to these ghost books, there are a couple imitation books didn't quite get to the same level of popularity. One was Your Hidden Skeleton from The John C. Winston Company out of Philadelphia, PA. This is a fairly rare book, but there were at least a couple versions. Two green versions are verified to exist, one with a frontispiece of George Washington's signature and the other with just the title. There are also pictures of a red version and one with a jacket. 

A final more obscure book in this vein is titled "Autograph Ghosts" and is described as "a blank book, hand-built" by craftsman, with a brown grain leather cover tied with soft cord. $1.00, including a special pen to insure a good record. Graduates will want them." Mentioned in the Indianapolis News, 26 May 1909, but no copies are known of.