Book Trade History

Autograph Note Signed to J.G. Wilson, Managing Director of Bumpus's, publishers and booksellers

Author: 
C.E. Lawrence.
Publication details: 
The Quarterly Review, 50 Albemarle Street, London, W1, 1 November 1932.
£26.00

Novelist and dramatist. One page, 8vo, good condition. "I was away yesterday - unwell, & today your Bombshell frightens me. Do spare me if possible [all from "Do" underlined] (& certainly if J.M. v. [John Murray V] is there, for he's the one to speak . ..); but Ican't refuse your request if you really want me. There is nothing new to say on the subject of Scott & Q.R."

Autograph Note Signed to [The Managing Director Messrs Bumpus].

Author: 
Godfrey Locker Lampson.
Publication details: 
Barlborough Hall, Chesterfield, 17 June 1932.
£23.00

Author son of Frederick Locker-Lampson (Rowfant). One page, 8vo, good condition. He is grateful for his kind letter about his book {"The Country Gentleman" was published in 1932]."

Autograph Letter Signed "RPWard" to an unnamed correspondent [publisher, John Murray?].

Author: 
Robert Plumer Ward.
Publication details: 
Gilston Park, Tuesday, no date [1838].
£95.00

Novelist and historian (see DNB). One page, 8vo, minor defects, brief annotation by another hand ("author of Tremaine"). He is discussing his progress with "An historical essay on the real character and amount of precedent of the revolution of 1688 / in which the opinions of Mackintosh, Price, Hallam, Mr. Fox, Lord John Russell, Blackstone, Burke, and Locke, the trial of Lord Russell, and the merits of Sidney, are critically considered" (Lodnon, 1838). He says "I avail myself of Mr.

Autograph Letter Signed to T. Gilks, prob. the printer and writer on wood-engraving, Thomas Gilks.

Author: 
Dudley Costello.
Publication details: 
Adelphi, 12 June [no year].
£56.00

Author and journalist (see DNB). Three pages, 8vo, some damage not affecting text. He acknowledges receipt of some proofs and asking him to hold on to the ones he has "until I can make sure of a publisher". He finds the times "bad" and the work would not necessarily be published immediately. They should wait to make their "mark". "I write this in order that you may not let the blocks which you have engaged to [?] for us interfere such pressing & I hope more immediately useful work."

Autograph Signatures on fragment of document.

Author: 
Paul Dominic Colnaghi, Samuel Carter Hall
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£15.00

Colnaghi was a member of the notable family of English printsellers. Hall (1800-89) was an author and editor. Paper dimensions roughly five inches by three inches. Good. From a collection of material relating to the Artists' General Benevolent Fund. Reads '<...> Paul Dominic Colnaghi Esq | | S. C. Hall. | '.

Autograph Letter Signed "A. Fores" to George Cruikshank, caricaturist.

Author: 
Arthur Fores [George Cruikshank]
Publication details: 
41 Piccadilly, 3 December 1831.
£500.00

Partner in Fores & Co., publishers and print sellers, who published some of Cruikshank's work and presumably sold it. He therefore had a vested interest in dealing with the problem he outlines to Cruikshank.

Autograph note signed to an unnamed bookseller.

Author: 
J.C. Watkins.
Publication details: 
Abergavenny, 9 March 1802.
£45.00

John Cheese Watkins, bookseller. Two pages, 8vo, ragged edges (perhaps some loss), text readable. "<??> of the within being forwarded at a certainty [inserted phrase ] by the Coach from the - which leaves London either on Friday night or Saturday morning early --- & which will greatly oblige . .

Autograph note signed to Rodd, Bookseller, Newport St., Long Acre, London (Thomas Rodd, prob. the Younger).

Author: 
Orford (Horatio, Third Earl of Orford)
Publication details: 
Wolterton, 18 Dec. 1827 (but see note below).
£65.00

(1783-1858). Thomas Rodd and Son NOT in Brown or Maxted! One page, 4to, fold marks, text clear and complete. "Mr Rodd,/ I am surprized that the vols. of Humboldt have not been yet sent home, as they were to have been done as soon as possible, and desire that they may be returned to Berkeley square immediately bound or unbound, - the Atlas shd. be sent on receipt of this, it never being intended to have it bound -" Addresss page part of conjoint leaf as foloows: "eighteen/ Aylsham, December {eighteen from above] fifteen 1825/ [address]/ [frank]Orford".

Autograph note, third person, to Clark[e], Bookseller, New Bond Street (i.e. William Clarke).

Author: 
The Duke of Hamilton (Alexander Hamilton Douglas, etc.).
Publication details: 
Thomas's Hotel, 8 Novr 1826.
£80.00

Book-Collector (DNB)(1767-1852). One page, 8vo, grubby but text readable. "The D of Hamilton will be much obliged to Mr. Clark [sic for "Clarke"] if he will either send by the bearer or procure & send to him at Thomas's Hotel a school book for the Marquess - that he cannot find abroad -/ Petters [Potter's?] Graecian Antiquities[underlined] - ..."

Autograph note signed to Edward Jeffery, No. 11 Pall Mall (as Brown).

Author: 
R. Thornton.
Publication details: 
Grafton St, 26 June (no year).
£35.00

Which, if any? Thornton, Richard 1776-1865, merchant, underwriter, and financier; Thornton, Robert John 1768?-1837, botanical and medical writer. Or East Indian Robert? One page, 8vo, grubbly but text readable: "I beg to decline subscribing to the work mentd to me".

Autograph Note Signed to "Mill".

Author: 
Owen Rees.
Publication details: 
11 Oct. [1821? year James Perry died].
£50.00

Publisher (Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown and Green)(1770-1837). One page, 8vo, trimmed, fold marks, grubby, text clear and complete."Dear Mill/As the Editor of the Annual Biography is proposing a Memoir of Mr Perry for that work, I shall feel obliged by any information with which you can favor him." Perhaps Perry, James,1756-182, Literature and Writing, Journalist (one of DNB's sources is the Ann. Biog.

Autograph Note Signed to Mr. Robertson (not in Maxted - see address on verso).

Author: 
Thomas Hornsby.
Publication details: 
[Ox]ford, 22 Sept. 1784.
£50.00

Astronomer and Radcliffe Librarian (1733-1810). Became Librarian in 1783. One page, 4to, chipped and stained but text readable. "Mr. Hornsby presents his Compliments to Mr. Robertson, & begs the favour of him to deliver the two last Publications of the Royal Society {insert: Small Paper} , to the Bearer, if Mr. Wingrove [Wingrave in Maxted?] has not yet recd. them. As it is the Small Paper which Mr. H[ornsby] chooses to have on account of binding the late volumes of the same size with the preceding ones, Mr. H.

Autograph note signed to Robt Triphook, 21 Golden Square London.

Author: 
R.H. Clive.
Publication details: 
Welsh pool, postmark 20 Feb. 1829.
£45.00

One page, 4to, small piece chipped off, spike-hole, edges discoloured, text complete and clear. "I will thank you to send me a List of the Books you have purchased for me and also a List of late publications.

Autograph Letter Signed to John Russell Smith, publisher.

Author: 
Morris Charles Jones.
Publication details: 
18 Dec. [1858?].
£45.00

Officer of Archaeologia Cambrensis. Two pages, 8vo, Carnarvon, 18 Dec. <[18]58?>, text clear and complete, if illegible at times. "I am desirous of procuring the following Books [prob. separate sheet - lost]: - and of negociating with you for them: on the footing that I should have credit for them, you charging me your usual commission, or interest, upon this account over and above what you would charge for cash. / could procure them for me at your leisure <??> you might find pretty satisfactory opportunities: - [page 2] but the sooner I could get them I should say the better.

Autograph letter signed to Robert Triphook, 23 Old Bond Street.

Author: 
Perceval.
Publication details: 
No place or date (wm 1819).
£100.00

Three pages plus address page, 8vo, some damage and small holes marginally affecting text (including loss of part of name of writer). "Your son addressed me in very unbecoming language this evening respectiie my Debt to you on which subject I can declare most solemnly my entire beleif [sic] up to the present moment that Mr Ranken my Solicitor had paid you in February last[.] I am particularly sorry to find it is not the case & I have not seen him since that time. He will obtain some money for me the end of next month and I hope will give you the amount of your Debt the first.

Autograph letter signed to R. Triphook, 23 Old Bond Street.

Author: 
R.P. Cruden.
Publication details: 
[Gravesend, 2[?] July [wm 1808].
£100.00

Author. Two pages, 4to, bottom portion torn off with minimal loss, spike-hole, hole in conjoint blank leaf (blank save address), discoloured but text readable. "I received yours of the 27th ulto respecting the Sale of the S[?] Hill Books on Saturday next, & soon afterwards I received a Copy of the Sale Catalogue.

Autograph letter, third person, to Triphook.

Author: 
Lord Thurlow (Edward Hovel-Thurlow, 2nd Baron Thurlow).
Publication details: 
Grosvenor Place, 26 March 1829[?].
£125.00

Minor poet (1781-1829). One page, 8vo, some discoloration at the edge, but good. "Lord Thurlow returns his thanks to Mr Triphook for his obliging note; and purposes to have the pleasure of calling upon him tomorrow. Lord Thurlow especially wishes to retain the Prayer Book of Mr Evelyn, valuing it highly. He has marked 4 ["3" excised] books in this day's sale; & requests Mr Triphook will be so good as to purchase them for him.

Autograph letter signed to R. Triphook, St James Street London.

Author: 
Henry Whittington.
Publication details: 
Theberton, Yoxford postmark 26 Aug. 1811[?]
£75.00

One page, 4to, chipped, creased, small holefold marks, other damage but text minimally affected and readable as follows: "I have recieved[sic] Puttenham and Spencer safe and must request you to send me immediately "The secret history of the court of James Ist, 2 vols demi-octavo [underlined]," and two copies of Gilchrist's letter to Gifford" which I see advertised as just published. The former, and one copy of the latter are to be put <?> down to the account of Mr Mitford of Benhall [John Mitford, misc. writer, see DNB]. I hope to recieve[sic] them soon, direct as before.

Autograph note, third person, to Triphook, Bond Street.

Author: 
Lord Yarborough (Charles, Ist Earl of Yarborough
Publication details: 
Brocklesby, [Co. Lincoln] 5 July 1822.
£45.00

One page, 8vo, chipped, edges discoloured, tear on fold mark, text minimally affected and readable. Ld Yarborough will be obliged to Mr. Triphook to send the Cour[t] Calendar for 1822. also the same for France; teh new English Peerage if a good [underlined] one. O'Meara's Exile of Napoleon, if good. the Botanical Magazine, & the Print of Sheridan."

Autograph Letter Signed to Richard Phillips, author, bookseller, editor.

Author: 
William Belsham.
Publication details: 
Hammersmith, 28 July 1819.
£100.00

Political writer and historian. One page, 4to, some defects but text clear and complete. "I have inclosed a few observations, for insertion, if you have room, in your valuable Magazine [The Monthly Magazine], on the present State of the Poor, and suggesting such remedies . . ." He doubts if the measures he suggests will beintroduced and finds other people's ideas on the subject "either visionary or worse".

Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent [Triphook].

Author: 
Thomas Pindar Pantin
Publication details: 
Lutterworth, 4 Sept. 1828.
£80.00

Theological writer (1792-1866). Two pages, 4to, chipping and discoloration slightly affecting text, mainly good. "Sir/ I am obliged to you for affording me a sight of Bede. I should be glad however to know the price [small excision "t"] you intend to set it down at- because looking at your list No 66 the copy there is said to be neat [underlined] 3.13.6. which I suppose cannot be the one now sent as the binding is in a very indifferent state, & the leaf (pages) 33[3?]-334 - is torn almost in two.

Two Autograph Notes Signed to A. "Mr. [Andrew] Wilson, Oriental Press, Wild Court, Wild Street, Lincolns Inn Field.

Author: 
L.D. Campbell. (Lawrence Dundas Campbell)
Publication details: 
A. Stratford Place, Sunday, no date [1804?] and B. St. Alban's Hotel, St. Alban's Street, Wednesday, no date [1808].
£80.00

A. One page, 8vo, bifoliate, spike-hole, fold marks, minor damage, corner nearly detached, text clear and complete. "Dear Sir./ I beg you will do me the favour to let me know immediately on receipt of this, the exact quantity of tonnage it will be necessary to apply for in order to send 500 [underlined] Copies of the Register to Calcutta, 300do. to Madras, and 100 [underlined] to Bombay.

Manuscript Note about book

Author: 
Anon. [Thomas Twining?]
Publication details: 
No place, 20 Nov. 1802.
£25.00

Poss. Thomas Twining, divine, musician, linguist and translator of Aristotle, 1735-1804, DNB. Scrap of paper, 7 x 2", some marks, spike-hole, text clear and apparently complete. "Paley's natural Theology/ in good plain binding./for Mr Twining./ Nov 20. 1802." Twining nor Paley (save pos. ref.) in Besterman.

Autograph letter signed to Mns Bohte Bookseller, York Street, Covent Garden, London.

Author: 
L.M. Guillaume (Laurent-Matthieu Guillaume).
Publication details: 
Paris, 19[?] June 1822.
£75.00

French Bookseller prob. One page and, verso, address and bookseller's note, 4to, In French, small portion lost on opening seal, edges discoloured, all grubby, text moreorless clear. Une infinite de causes parmi lesquelles je trouve le besoin des livres anglais que vous devez me fournir en echange de ceux que vous avez choisi <?> empeche de vous expedier les derniers. Neanmoins ni mon silence ni [?] qui <?> ecoute depuis le 4 Septembre 1820 ne <???> envers vous, et j'ai toujours ces livres a votre des [?].

Autograph Letter Signed to J.C. Loudon c/o Longman & Co., Paternoster Row, London".,

Author: 
Samuel Taylor.
Publication details: 
Whittington Stoke Ferry, 15 Nov. 1833.
£100.00

Four pages, 4to, fold marks, discoloration, some damage with minor loss of text.

2 Notes signed, third person, to "Mr Bohte", bookseller

Author: 
Dr Samuel Parr, divine, schoolmaster and scholar
Publication details: 
15 April 1824 and to "Mr Jones", 23 April [1824].
£125.00

12mo. In a quavering hand (he died the following year), he is returning two volumes of Terence to Bohte with a payment and inviting a visit from Jones. Two items,

Autograph letter signed to an unnamed correspondent [Jeffery re. Lowndes].

Author: 
Edmund Boehm.
Publication details: 
<?> Sidmouth, Devon, 20 Oct. 1810.
£45.00

One page, 4to, grubby, repaired (after being torn in two), text clear and complete. "Sir/ Having received your advertisemt. of the Antiquarian Repertory published by you in 4 Vol. at 12 Gs. a few copies of which remain on large Paper at 20 gs. I should like to purchase one or the other if you would send them to my House in St. James Square or keep them untill my return to town which will not be untill after Christmas perhaps not untill February---". Lowndes says of thenew edition (4 vols., 1807-1809 "Published and edited by Jeffery the bookseller . . .).

Autograph Note Signed to "Mr McCreery/ 21 Took's Court, Chancery Lane

Author: 
"Mr Parry".
Publication details: 
No place, 21 Feb. [postmark 1824].
£45.00

One page (prob. from larger sheet divided since part of an address survives at bottom, 4to, poor condition but text clear and complete. "When Mr Parry returns the enclosed Proof (which he begs to have again soon) for press, he will be able to send copy enough to complete the next sheet. What he now transmits is all he has ready. / Saturday Evening - Febry 21st." Could this be the Arctic explorer?

Autograph Letter Signed to Longmans.

Author: 
Richard Duppa.
Publication details: 
No place or date (watermark 1823).
£125.00

Artist and author (1770-1831).Three pages, 8vo, bifoliate, tears, fold marks but text legible and complete. "My Dear Sir/ You will have a hundred copies of my book delivered to you in boards on Friday morning.

Autograph letter signed to Triphook.

Author: 
W.S. Roscoe
Publication details: 
Liverpool, 21 Sept. 1816.
£125.00

Poet, son of William Roscoe (1782-1843). One page, 4to, spike-hole, edges stained, fold marks, text clear. "I beg to enclose a Bill for £20.8.0 - for £12 due for & £8.8. - from Mr Roscoe / In the letter I believe there was some exchange of Books but I apprehend the account is correct tho' I have mislaid the particulars - / May I beg you to make my compliments to Mr & to believe be . . .". Some figures added in another hand ("5.8/3.3").

Syndicate content