bookselling

Book Culture, vol. 1, nos 1-4 [of 7, all published]

Author: 
Nathan Haskell Dole, editor.
Publication details: 
Boston, MA., Jan.-April 1899
£50.00

Pp. 16' 16; 32-56; 57-80, one coloured frontispiece.Some wear and tear, marking and sunning, fair condition, complete. Articles and advertising aimed at the book-collector (for example "A Prince of Collectors" (Jean Grolier)).

Two Invoices Unsigned and one receipt signed "T Hookham", for "Mrs Greville".

Author: 
Thomas Hookham, bookseller, bookbinder, stationer, librarian/owner of circulating library, publisher (BBTI)
Publication details: 
One manuscript invoice, July-Nov. 1784; One headed invoice, "at his Circulating Library, No. 147, New Bond Street", 22 Jan. 1785; Manuscript receipt, 26 March 1785.
£150.00

Total three pages, various formats, minor defects. Items include stationery, pens, plays, poetry, periodicals, history

Advertisement for 'Dorking Urban District Book, Waste Paper and Cardboard Drive'.

Author: 
Dorking, Surrey, England [Recycling; the Environment; the Green Party; Publishing History; Bookselling; the Book Trade; Austerity]
Publication details: 
12th April to 1st May 1948.
£45.00

Striking advertisement, in red ink, on one side of a piece of paper roughly seven inches by seventeen wide. With something of a prewar feel, it reads 'DORKING URBAN DISTRICT | BOOK, WASTE PAPER | and CARDBOARD DRIVE | [in box on right] 12th April | TO | 1st May | 1948 [end of boxed text] | Save the Nation from having to import Waste Paper from abroad | PROVIDE | MORE Employment = MORE Cartons for Food | = MORE Materials for Housebuilding ='.

A Catalogue of Letters, Manuscript Papers and Books of Frederick Rolfe (Baron Corvo).

Author: 
Frederick William Serafino Austin Lewis Mary Rolfe [Baron Corvo] [George Frederick Sims]
Publication details: 
Harrow: George Frederick Sims. [Printed by Purbrook & Eyres Ltd. 20 St. James' Walk, London, E.C.1]
£75.00

Eighteen pages, octavo, with four plates on art paper. In original grey printed wraps. Some light staining, creasing and wear. One of 600 copies. Lists seventy-seven items, with addenda of a further eleven. This milestone catalogue was published, according to Sims (A Life in Catalogues, 1994), in May 1949. At foot of title-page: 'N.B. This collection, with the exception of the Addenda of Books, has been sold.'

Receipted Invoice, account of "Messrs [T.?] Gibbs & Co.

Author: 
[James F. Cannell, bookseller, stationer and printer.]
Publication details: 
50 Castle Street, Liverpool, Sept. and Oct. 1836, receipted 30 Sept.1837.
£25.00

One page, 4to, part printed (headed notepaper), poor condition, loss of most of signature of the receipt. They invoiced for circulars they had printed. Correct BBTI 50 Castle Street (or add). Also provides binding service and export.

Poster for English publication of the score of Donizetti's opera 'La Favorite' ['The Favourite'].

Author: 
Gaetano Donizetti [Charles Jefferys and Co., 21 Soho Square]
Publication details: 
Undated, but circa 1843.
£60.00

Roughly twelve and half inches by nine and a quarter. Neatly mounted on piece of cream paper, with surrounding ink rules. Good, with some ruckling and wear to corners. Characteristically arresting arrangement of type. Reads: 'CAUTION. | THE ONLY CORRECT COPY | OF DONIZETTI'S OPERA | THE FAVOURITE | AS PERFORMED IN ENGLISH AT THE | THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE, | IS PUBLISHED BY | JEFFERYS AND CO.

[Printed Circular with MS. additions from the "Trustees of the late Firm of White, Cochrane and Co. of Fleet Street, Booksellers" to the Rt Hon Lord Glenbervie.

Author: 
[White, Cochrane and Co. , booksellers [BBTI 1812; Maxted 1812-1816], publishers [see BLC]
Publication details: 
63 Fleet Street, 3 May 1815.
£120.00

One page, 4to, good condition. The printed circular is a request for the "early settlement" of an outstanding bill, adding that "A Catalogue of the whole of the extensive and valuable Stock of the late Partnership, is now published; and each article will be sold, for ready money, with a Discount of Ten per Cent. from the marked prices." The manuscript portion comprises the name of the debtor and a detailed receipt for payment for numbers of the "Edinburgh Review" (received in 1814 and 1815), signed "[W. Tripp?]".

Invoice, printed heading, account of Sir Robert Kennedy.

Author: 
[William Reynolds, bookseller, binder, stationer, letterpress and copperplate printer, newspaper vendor (BBTI has only bookseller, stationer]
Publication details: 
137 Oxford Street, London, March-May 1819.
£30.00

One page, 8vo, stained and small hole but text clear and complete. Charges for a book on poultry, a Portuguese dictionary and a binding job.

Receipted Invoice, printed heading, account of Lord Glenbervie, signed "C.W. Keller" pp. Rodwell (see BBTI for identifiable dealer 1839 - not mentioned as Rodwell's assistant)

Author: 
J[ames] Rodwell, bookseller "late Partner with & Successor to Mr. Faulder" (BBTI does not mention the partnership)
Publication details: 
46 New Bond Street, London, 1913[-1814].
£35.00

One page, 7 x 4.5", good condition. Annual Register

Manuscript Invoice/Receipt Signed to "Mrs Forbes", Ampthill, [Bedfordshire]

Author: 
E. Handscomb, bookseller [add date to BBTI]
Publication details: 
1823[-1825].
£50.00

One page, 8vo, minor damage and staining. The invoice is to the account of [J?] Handscomb but the receipt is signed by "E. Hanscomb" identifiable with Eb Handscomb perhaps in BBTI though the dates are a problem. Apparently unrelated figures in pencil on reverse.

Proof engraving, by T. Blood, from painting by Samuel Drummond, A.R.A., of Asperne as Freemason.

Author: 
James Asperne (1757-1820), bookseller of Cornhill, London, and proprietor of the 'European Magazine' [Freemasonry; Masonic]
Publication details: 
[London; 1814].
£125.00

Dimensions of paper roughly twelve inches by ten; dimensions of print roughly nine and a half inches by seven and a half. A good clear impression, on aged, creased paper, of a striking illustration showing a portly and sleek Asperne, beautifully turned out in Freemason's robes and paraphernalia, holding a leather-bound book, and seated in an ornately carved wooden chair with the Freemasons' eye in a triangle at its head. Captioned 'Mr James Asperne | BOOKSELLER, CORNHILL, | Past Master of the FOUNDATION LODGE NO. 96 And St. Peter's No.. 249 | P.S.D. of the LODGE of Antiquity No.

Engraved trade card.

Author: 
Thomas Payne, London eighteenth-century bookseller.
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£150.00

On thin laid paper roughly two and three-quarter inches by three and three-quarter inches wide. Good clean image, on aged paper with slight wear in bottom left-hand corner. Enclosed by a border. Reads, in a variety of hands, 'Thomas Payne | BOOKSELLER, | Near the South Sea House | BISHOPSGATE-STREET | LONDON. | Sells all Sorts of Stationary [sic] Wares.' According to BBTI the Thomas Payne who was at this address in 1750 may possibly be the eminent bookseller Thomas Payne I (1719-99) of the Mews Gate.

Trade Card

Author: 
William Curtis, bookseller, stationer, music seller (BBTI 1812-1836)
Publication details: 
No date.
£65.00

Card, c.4 x 3", soiled, remnants of album page on verso (four corners). Within the Royal Arms of the Duke of Clarence is printed "William Curtis / Bookseller / To H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence / Plymouth". At the botton "Harps, Pianofortes &c. on Sale or Hire."

A Priced Catalogue of the whole stock of Theological Books, [...], of the late firm of Dickinson & Higham, together with the additions thereto made during the printing of the catalogue by the firm's junior partner and successor, Charles Higham.

Author: 
Charles Higham (1846-1920), London theological bookseller [Dickinson & Higham]
Publication details: 
London: Farringdon Street, E.C. 1878. [S. & J. Brawn, Printers, 13, Gate Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields.']
£450.00

Octavo, 216 pages. One of 'only fifty copies printed, on thick paper'. Title-page in red and black. Aged and a little stained, in recent half-leather rebinding. 9670 items listed, 'for the most part second-hand'.

Beverly Chew and his Books

Author: 
LSL [ Luther S. Livingston]
Publication details: 
[New York, 191-]
£80.00

Pamphlet, 8pp., 12mo, blank wraps except inside back wrap ("Reprinted from The Nation / 50 Copies"), minor damage at one staple, mainly good. Enclosed: printed anonymous poem entitled "It Takes a Book", one page (verso blank), 12mo, the theme of which is that you can trust a friend to return anything except a book. Not in Beverly Chew. Essays and verses about books. New York: D. B. Updike, 1926)

Receipted Invoice Signed, account of "Dr Stewart / Spring Bank".

Author: 
[ABERDEEN BOOKSELLER] John Smith, bookseller and stationer, [bookbinder]
Publication details: 
Aberdeen, 50 Union Street, 19 May 1833.
£95.00

One page, c.16 x 6.5", good condition. The list includes history including military, geology, theology and other subjects. A list of volumes bound is appended. Note:A "Lewis Smith", wholesale stationers, printers and publishers, bookbinder and circulating library , occupied 50 Union Street, 1842+ No mention of a "John Smith" (SBTI).

Fragment of printed advertisement.

Author: 
George Burbage (died 1807), eighteenth-century Nottingham printer, bookseller and stationer
Publication details: 
Undated.
£50.00

One page. On leaf roughly nine and a half inches by seven wide. Aged, with frayed edges, and with slight loss to head, affecting decorative border, and extensive loss at foot, involving several lines of text. Begins 'G. BURBAGE, PRINTER, BOOKSELLER and STATIONER; ON THE LONG ROW, NOTTINGHAM, TAKES this Method to acquaint the PUBLIC, that he has just laid in an entire new Assortment of STATIONARY [sic] GOODS, - Also a neat COLLECTION of PAPER HANGINGS for ROOMS, CEILINGS and STAIR CASES: [...]'.

Advertisement leaf containing list of architectural books.

Author: 
A. Webley, bookseller, at the Bible and Crown in Holborn, near Chancery-Lane
Publication details: 
Undated [circa 1765].
£200.00

Dimensions roughly eight inches by five and a half. Very good on aged paper. All but top edge rough. One page, blank reverse.

Autograph Note to Messrs Hodder & Stoughton, publishers.

Author: 
Charles Higham (1846-1920), London theological bookseller [Hodder & Stoughton]
Publication details: 
Undated [1890s]; on Higham's letterhead, 'FROM | CHARLES HIGHAM, | Second-hand-Book-Seller, | 27a FARRINGDON STREET, LONDON, E.C.'
£35.00

One page. Dimensions of slip roughly four inches by five and a quarter wide. Somewhat aged, but entirely legible. Reads 'British Quarterly Review | Can you tell me what was the last part of this issued, if it is possible to get a title-page and index to vol 83. My last part is 166 April 1886'. Docketed note of reply states that no title was published to the volume containing April 1886.

Invoice, very substantial, for "Miss Fordyce", concluding with a statement of receipt signed by Philip.

Author: 
[ABERDEEN; BOOKBINDER] John Philip, bookbinder of Aberdeen (SBTI, d.1847)
Publication details: 
Aberdeen, April 1845, for binding Jan.-june 1846.
£95.00

Two pages, c7.5 x 19", folded, good condition. It comprises more than 80 tiles, some entries are multiple, mainly theological, but other subjects include history, memoirs, and poetry. Brief details of binding work given, and prices, total £4.1.6. Philip also charges for "advertising Scott's Bible" in the "banner" and "Journal". The list is substantial enough to represent a private library.

[Printed] Prospectus for "Skelton's Antiquities of Oxfordshire" with related ms. material.

Author: 
[OXON.] [Joseph Skelton]
Publication details: 
Magdalen Bridge, Oxford, Jan. 1824.
£450.00

Two pages, 4to, stabbed, minor foxing, mainly good condition. It announces that Skelton is preparing a !series of Engraved Illustrations of the Antiquities of the County of Oxford", anticipating 50 plates "from Original Drawings made purposely by Mr. F. Mackenzie" with letterpress by a Member of the University. There will be 12 quarterly parts in Elephant or Atlas 4to. He adds a long list of subscribers from HRH the Duke of Ambridge to "Wykeham, Miss, Thame Park, Oxon." and including the Duke of Marlborough and booksellers (Arch, Major, Munday & Slatter, Simcoe).

Engraved Trade Card in form of receipt.

Author: 
James Crokatt, Fleet Street bookseller
Publication details: 
Undated [circa 1740]
£225.00

Dimensions roughly one and a half inches by two inches. One page, blank verso. Tipped in on piece of yellow paper. Within ruled border. An attractive item, with an illustration of key at head. Beneath this, in copperplate, 'Bought of I: Crokatt | at the Golden Key near | ye. Inner-Temple-Gate | Fleet-Street.' Crokatt, an associate of Dodsley, with whom Samuel Johnson worked, traded from the 1720s to the 1750s.

Two Autograph Notes Signed "P.J. Dobell" to C.J. Windle.

Author: 
Percy J. Dobell, bookseller.
Publication details: 
Dobell's Antiquarian Bookstore, 24 Mount Ephraim Road, Tunbridge Wells, 8 & 10 May 1939.
£50.00

4to, good condition. Dobell describes a defective "tract" ("A Precious Apple") and speculates on its authorship (Lady Eleanor Douglas). He will send it to be examined. Another hand (presumably Windle) has added pencil notes on the reference works which do not list the item and speculating "probably part of a larger work with different title."

Invoice, printed heading, account of Sir Robert W. Vaughan.

Author: 
[Peter Brett, bookseller and stationer (1762-1792, BBTI)]
Publication details: 
201 Strand, London, 6 July (no year).
£25.00

One page, 8vo, good. He sends newspapers post free "to all parts of the Kingdom." He charges mainly for items of stationery but also an almanack.

Typed Letter Signed to Eimar O'Duffy, Irish author.

Author: 
Ben Abramson, American bookseller and publisher (1898-1955).
Publication details: 
The Argus Book Shop Incorporated, 333 South Dearborn Street, Chicago,6 Dec. 1933.
£60.00

One page, 4to, good condition. He gives belated thanks for writing to them "and sending us your contribution for our catalogue." They delayed so that thanks would accompany a copy of the catalogue. They have sent the catalogue under separate cover and "hope you will find it enertaining. Too, we hope that you will find our comments on your work not unworthy of your talents." See Donald C. Dickinson, "Dictionary, for discussion of the "rambunctious" bookseller, including his interaction with major literary figures.

Eight items relating to royalties due from Richards for Lucas's 'The Open Road' following Richards' bankruptcy.

Author: 
Edward Verrall Lucas (1868-1938), English author; Grant Richards (1872-1948), English publisher
Publication details: 
London; 9 March to 7 April 1905.
£220.00

The collection as a whole is in good condition, although lightly creased in places and somewhat dusty and aged. All items have unobtrusive pinholes, and Item Seven has fraying and closed tears to extremities. An interesting correspondence casting light on publishing practices at the turn of the nineteenth century. ITEMS ONE TO FIVE: 12mo letters from Lucas's solicitors Field, Roscoe & Co., each on the firm's letterhead, to the 'Receiver and Manager appointed to carry on [Richards'] business', H. C. K. Stileman, dated 9, 11, 18 and 21 March, and 1 April 1905.

Autograph Note Signed to Saunders & Otley, publisher and bookseller (active 1826-1851; BBTI)

Author: 
[BOOKBINDING] A[rchibald] Leighton, bookbinder (prob. II, active 1801-1841; BBTI).
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£55.00

Piece of paper, bifoliate, c.5 x 4", good condition. "Gent. / These books belong to you - I will call & explain tomorrow / A. Leighton". Archibald Leighton II helped invent and develop 'book cloth binding' between 1820 and 1832. (BBTI).

Autograph Note Signed ('Geo Gregory') to 'Mr Hawley'.

Author: 
George Gregory, Bath bookseller
Publication details: 
4 June 1919; on firm's ornate letterhead.
£75.00

One page, on paper roughly seven inches by eight wide. Good, on lightly creased paper. Stamped with date. He thanks his correspondent for 'the typed list'. Headed 'Memorandum from | GEORGE GREGORY, Book Merchant, Library Buyer and Exporter, | The Imperial Book Store, | 5 and 5a ARGYLE STREET, BATH. | Out-of-Print and Rare, or Out-of-the-Way Books sought for and reported promptly, with option of purchase. Send me your List of Wants. | Licensed Valuer. Stock well classified in Thirty Rooms. Libraries Purchased. | Bankers: UNION OF LONDON & SMITHS BANK, LTD., BATH.

[The Cooperative Printing Company] Printed Letter Signed (printed signatures) by Thomas Hughes, author of "Tom Brown's Schooldays", and others

Author: 
[PRINTING HISTORY] Thomas Hughes and others.
Publication details: 
176 Fleet St, E.C. London, no date.
£300.00

Four pages, fol., tear on fold marks, other defects but text clear and complete. The ten signatories also include W. Morrison (presumably the philanthropist, Walter), T[homas]. Brassey, R.M. [Castor?], Auberon Herbert ("the originator of Voluntaryism" (Wikipedia - see alos DNB), Hodgson Pratt (Peace advocate (DNB), [P.H. Hillard?], Edw. Owen Greeening, Tito Pagliardini and another (undeciphered). A socialist project concerning which I have found little information.

Receipt, printed heading, signed "E Harris".

Author: 
Eliz[abeth] Harris, bookseller, stationer, printer, bookbinder (adds to BBTI)
Publication details: 
96 High Street, Shadwell, LOndon, 31 Dec. 1833) - date extends BBTI
£75.00

One page, 6.5 x 5.5", good condition. Payment for one number of "Blackwood's Magazine". Note spelling "Recieved".

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