BUSINESS

This is a document which would certainly repay investigation. No record of this firm of merchants has been discovered, or even of where they traded. Robison is a Scottish name, and there is an undated reference to a ‘James Robison, merchant in Dumfries’; most Shuttleworth’s hail from the north-east of England, and there is mention of a John Shuttleworth in Manchester in 1820. Other clues in the document suggest a London location: in 1793 Napper and Co.

Paginated [387]-402, fold marks, small rust marks from staples, punch-hole. From the papers formerly held at the headquarters of the National Indian Association and the Northbrook Society, 21 Cromwell Road, later by its former Warden, Roland Knaster. BUT stamped 1917-CLUB, a club founded by Leonard Woolf, frequented by his friends and (re. Wikipedia entry, Gordon Childe, Ramsay MacDonald, Aldous Huxley, H. G. Wells, H. N. Brailsford, Elsa Lanchester, Rose Macaulay,[3] Frederick Pethick-Lawrence, J. A. Hobson, Norah C. James, W. C. Anderson, Mary Hamilton, Emile Burns, E. D.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with two ring-binder punch-holes. The letter begins: 'Dear Mr. Armsrtrong, | I see no other course than that which you are following. It would be looked on as a slight if you were not present at the gathering of Darlington Liberals, though we shall be very sorry not to have your company.' He trusts they will be 'rightly guided with regard to Mr. Ward', whom it will be difficult to replace 'at the “Birmingham News”'. He will 'leave the matter for a few days until we can come to a definite decision'.

[8]pp., 4to. Stapled pamphlet. Aged and worn, with rusting staples. Two-page 'Directors' Report', with topics including a yearly balance of £134,953 5s 3d, the death of Lord Riddell and the decision to 'rebuild the old-fashioned sections of the Company's premises in Southampton Street, Tavistock Street and Exeter Street; centrefold balance sheet; single-page 'Statement Showing Combined Assets and Liabilities of George Newnes, Limited and Subsidiary Companies'; single-page 'List of Magazines and Periodicals'; and cover page. The subsidiary companies included Country Life; W. H. & L.

On one side of 7 x 11 cm piece of card. In good condition, lightly-aged. An unusual and attractive piece of London booktrade ephemera. The whole design, including the text, is engraved, and is in the style of a children's book illustration. With the text represented on a piece of board placed on an easel, around which three children crowd. On the left is a girl in a red dress, with yellow bonnet and umbrella, beside her is a louche individual in a yellow and orange checked suit, and to the right is a zouave, with red hat, holding a paintbrush and palette.

Pp.1-366 (paginated),[4], leather binding, bumped and worn, contents sound and in good condition. Registered number of theCompany given on endpaper. Minutes recorded from the beginning of the Company, first meeting of the Directors, Including Kearley and Tonge - a purchase agreement) 17 May 1895 (Contract for purchase, £10,000, etc.). Subjects include: appointment of secretary, Bankers, auditors, allotment of shares, Bank balances, properties (development and expansion), shares, transfers, shop facias ("International Stores"), purchase of peoperties, repairs and renovations.

12pp., small 4to., on twelve leaves of thick art paper bound with pink ribbon, in blue and brown illustrated chromo-litho covers with flap carrying the royal crest. Internally good, in worn covers repaired with tape. The covers are designed in the distinctive style of the periodThe first eight pages each carry an arrangement of as many as a dozen black and white photographic illustrations of the firm's stock, within a coloured decorative borders (varying from page to page). The last four pages are entirely printed in black. The only text consists of captions to the illustrations.

According to Smiles's entry in the Oxford DNB, he was 'prominent in the negotiations for the amalgamation of the Leeds and Thirsk Railway [by which he was employed] with the North Eastern, which was effected in 1854 and abolished his own office. Thereupon he left Leeds for London on being appointed secretary to the South Eastern Railway (11 November). He held the post for twelve years, in the course of which he successfully arranged for the extension of the line from Charing Cross to Cannon Street (1858–9).

Printed on both sides of a piece of wove paper, 30.5 x 22.5. Text clear and complete, on aged paper with slight wear and a few short closed tears to extremities. The reverse consists of a list of prices for seven types of wine ('Selected from W & A Gilbey's List of 183 varieties.') and six types of spirit ('Selected from W & A Gilbey's List of 72 varieties.'). On the front, beneath the firm's heading (with tiny illustration of the 'Pantheon A.D. 1722') and Mead's details, are the five 'views', ranging in size from 4.5 x 18 cm to 4.5 x 5.6 cm.

52pp., 4to. Stapled. Aged and worn, with slight loss to fore-edge of title. With label, stamp and shelfmark of the Education Department Reference Library. Scarce: no copy in the British Library, and the only copy on COPAC at Leeds.

Attractive booklet, paper wraps, 31pp., 12mo. "Designed and published by Chareles W. Hobson [...]". Brett's was an insurance company, arguimng how essential they are to any business. No copy listed on COPAC etc.

[1] + 30pp., folio. In brown printed wraps. Worn and aged, with some damp staining to the first dozen leaves. Printed on art paper, and with the thirty pages of the catalogue filled with illustrations of every aspect of the firm's stock, from 'Composition enriched pine panel mouldings' to 'Fibrous plaster cornices'. The price list is printed on 4pp., folio, in a bifolium, as is one supplement of 'Additional fibrous plaster cornices & bands and composition ornaments'. The other supplement is a fold out poster (44 x 28.5 cm) carrying illustrations of 'Cast lead word'.

The three items, all in manuscript, are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. All three are folded into the usual packets, with the two items by the accountants each titled in manuscript on the outside. Item One (Gibson's report): 'Report to accompany the Accounts of "Vanity Fair" for the six months ending 30th. Septr. 1880'. In Bowles's autograph, and signed by him at the foot, 'Thos. G. Bowles | 10 Novr 1880'. 1p., foolscap 8vo.

5pp., foolscap 8vo. Attached with green ribbon. The sale was a protracted affair, and the detailed nature of these accounts may be due to Murray's desire to justify his charges of £22 1s 6d. The first entry reads: '1881 | Novr. 1st. Attending Mr. Bowles on his calling and receiving his instructions to act for all parties in the Sale of 1/18th. Share in "Vanity Fair" and General Roberts Executors would call and hand me the necessary papers [6s 8d]'. Other entries include 'Novr. 28th [1881] Writing Mr. Bowles that the Deed would be ready for his signature tomorrow morning [5s]', 'Jany.

The ten items total 19pp., 4to. Each is a bifolium, with the address and postmarks on the reverse of the second leaf. Each is docketed by Otard Dupuy. All ten are in excellent condition, on lightly-aged paper. The six firms are: Bevan & Smith, Liverpool, two letters (both 1850); Christopher Bushell & Co., Liverpool (1859); John Currie, two letters, both in French: London (1828) and Stockton (1828); A. Leveau, three letters: Aberdeen (1849), Exeter (1850) and Sunderland (1850); William Strachan & Co, London (1828); George Wildes & Co., London (1828).

The nine letters are in very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Each is 1p., 4to., and all nine are bifoliums with the address and postmarks on the reverse of the second leaf. Each letter docketed by Otard Dupuy; one carries long notes in French by the house, and another calculations by them. The letter of 25 March 1874 gives a good indication of the tone of the correspondence: 'Dear Sirs | We confirm our list of the 25th ultimo and have yours of the 22nd.

1p., 12mo. On aged paper, with traces of grey paper mount adhering to the reverse. He thanks the unnamed male recipient for the 'very kind favor of the 23rd. Instant': 'my Parliamentary duties & business engagements demand so much of my time that I am obliged to decline, with but very rare exceptions indeed, all invitations of the character named'. He asks the recipient 'to have me excused complying with your wishes'.

On one side of a piece of landscape 8vo grey wove paper. Clear and complete. Discoloured and worn, with spike hole at centre. Printed part of receipt reads 'London, ..........18..... | 49, Friday Strt. Cheapside. | M............ | Bought of Joseph Webb, | Importer of Cigars.' The bill is for '2lbs. Bengal Cheroots - 9/- | 18/-', with the receipt reading '1852 | Aug 4th. paid [signed] Jo: Webb'. Docketed on reverse 'Webb | 18/'. Webb does not appear to have traded from the site for very long, and little is to be discovered about him.

The collection of fifty-three Typed Letters Signed and six mimeographed circulars, in various formats, is in good condition on lightly-aged paper, with all texts clear and complete, and with a couple of items with closed tears. Providing an interesting sidelight into workings of the English branch of one of the twentieth-century's leading multinational corporations. Arden's letter (8vo, 1 p), dated 8 April 1955, is addressed to the Rogers' daughter 'Miss J. Rogers'.

12mo: 8 pp (a 43 x 27 cm leaf, printed on both sides and folded twice to make four unopened leaves). Pamphlet. Text clear and complete on lightly-aged and spotted paper. 'Conditions of Sale' on reverse of title. 170 lots, with lots 48 to 68 priced and named by the auctioneer, who gives the total as £4 9s 6d, with 'Commission & Exps.' of £0 8s 6d. Interesting manuscript note at head of title: 'Lot 65 not sold - is the Drawers & Dresser in the Storeroom in the Parlour which were not a part of the Tenants Fittings and belong to the Landlord - and were not taken by Mr.

On one side of a piece of paper 21 x 14 cm. Mourning border. Very good, on lightly aged and spotted paper. Twenty-four lines of text announcing the 'death of our esteemed partner [...] for so many years [...] our fellow-labourer in the field of literary enterprise'. Cassell is described as 'a man of vigorous intellect and untiring energy, whose constant aim it was to render effectual assistance towards moral, social, and religious elevation of the people'.

A collection of twenty-two items, with one printed envelope, all in good condition, and relating to a complex order to one of the United Kingdom's best-known business concerns. Interesting for the light it casts on the best business practice in the British building industry of the 1930s. Includes typed two-page foolscap estimate, dated 1 November 1930, initialed and on the firm's letterhead, addressed to H. V.

British businessman (1872-1955), chairman of the Medici Society Ltd, chairman and managing director of Henry Stone & Son Ltd, printers. Very good. Mostly octavo, with a few quarto and 12mo. Some bearing the Society's stamp and others docketed. Occasional rust marks from paperclips. Mainly concerned with the day-to-day activities of the Royal Society of Arts, of which Milne was a prominent member, around the time of the Second World War. On 7 September 1939: 'I hardly anticipate that you are likely to have trouble in regard to occupation of the premises.

British economic historian (1860-1927), a disciple of Arnold Toynbee, and proponent of the historical method pioneered in Germany by such scholars as Roscher, Hildebrand and Knies. The manuscript items are all 12mo, the typed item quarto. All twelve docketed and bearing the Society's stamp, and signed 'W. T. Ashley'. The collection is in very good condition, though grubby in parts and with one or two creased corners. An interesting and characteristic correspondence. ITEM ONE (3 pages, 12mo, 5 August 1913): Declines proposal to act as examiner.

2 pages. 4to. A frail item in need of repair, discoloured with age, creased, and with some wear and loss and a number of closed tears. The text is very neatly written, with all but five of the ninety-four entries entirely legible. The otherwise blank verso of the second leaf of the bifoliate docketed with the heading and 'Hall Department'. There entries cover the years 1761 to 1764, and are divided into five columns: 'when elected', 'Names', 'Wages', 'when advanced' and 'Offices'. The second page is headed 'Accountants Office'.

4to and 8vo. Somewhat grubby and creased, but in good condition otherwise. The six items, all addressed to Messrs Coutts & Company, are, in chronological order: ITEM 1, 5 manuscript pages, 4to, headed 'Duchy of Cornwall, | Buckingham Gate, S.W. | 1912.

English traveller, writer and Governor of City of London College (1891-1991). First and last letters, two pages quarto; middle two letters, one page quarto. All in good condition and either docketed or bearing the Society's stamp. In first letter, further to a conversation, Duly asks if he can give a lecture on 'Ships sweat & condensation'. 'I have been away with a Leverhulme Fellowship on Carriage of Goods by Sea & am now on the Pacific Coast again where I find v. great interest in my previous papers & requests for a further account of more recent work.

Twenty-two leaves, stitched (last leaf loose), in original marbled wraps. 12mo (roughly ten centimeters by fifteen centimetres). Written in a small, neat hand, over columns ruled in red. In good condition although worn and dogeared, except for the loose leaf which is discoloured, frayed and worn, and rear wrap (which carries accounts on its interior), which has loss to the foot. Text entirely legible.

Attractive illustration, in red, green, yellow and black, on piece of white card roughly nine and three-quarter inches by six and a quarter, neatly mounted on piece of black card roughly ten and a quarter inches by seven and three-quarters. At head a parody of the London Underground black rectangle over red circle, roughly six and a half inches by three and a quarter, bearing the notice 'ALIGHT HERE' in white letters. Beneath this the words 'FOR EVERY SMOKER.', with a red arrow at foot pointing to a box of Swan Vesta matches. Very good, though lightly foxed.

Burn (died 1950) was President of the Institute of Actuaries, and a leading figure in twentieth-century British insurance. Dimensions five inches by eight inches. Folded once. In good condition on good thick wove paper. Headed by company crest with motto, between 'HOLBORN | BARS' and 'CHRISTMAS | 1921'. Reads 'With heartiest Christmas & New Year Greetings to all members of the Prudential Staff. | from | Joseph Burn | General Manager | & Actuary'.