[‘I can’t really afford even a guinea for a book’: Hugh Williamson, Oxford University Press book designer.] Autograph Letter Signed to London bookseller Andrew Block, describing his collecting interests and constraints, and giving a wants list .

Author: 
Hugh Williamson (1918-1992), book designer with Oxford University Press and author on printing [Andrew Block, London bookseller]
Publication details: 
Undated; on letterhead of the Oxford University Press Warehouse and Trade Department, London.
£60.00
SKU: 24141

See Nicolas Barker’s typically-elegant obituary of Williamson in the Independent. 2pp, 4to. The obituary of the recipient Andrew Block (1892-1987) in ‘The Private Library’ was subtitled ‘the doyen of booksellers’; his business was established in 1911. On aged and worn paper; folded three times. Signed ‘Hugh Williamson:’ and addressed to ‘Mr Block’. Thirty-one lines in a close, calligraphic hand. Having been ‘particularly lucky’ every time he has called on Block, and having acquired ‘the 12mo Baskerville, the Pickering in Caslon’s types and the plays printed by John Bell’ on his last visit, he asks him to ‘keep an eye open for one or two cheap items’. Before giving a list of books he ‘particularly’ needs, from the Aldine Press to Baskerville, he describes his interest ‘in the development of roman and italic types, which means that most of the books I need were printed before the end of the 18th century. On the other hand, I can’t really afford even a guinea for a book unless it’s the kind of thing I could sell again for as much as I gave, in case of need. The result is that I’m willing to put up with bad condition in the binding, missing plates and text pages etc which might put off the “proper” collector.’