Book Trade History

1p., 4to. On aged paper, with damage and discoloration to one margin. Eliza Urquhart begins her letter: 'Gentlemen, | Mr Urquhart has desired me to acquaint you that he thinks it would be adviseable immediately to see Mr Spotswood [i.e. Spottiswoode, then an employee of the book's printer Andrew Strahan] on the subject of accelerating the printing of his work, as from the present tardiness with which the proofs are sent, he thinks the Season will inevitably be lost'.

Greswell's letter is 1p., landscape 12mo; with Ford's note on one side of reverse. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with small central spike hole made by recipient. Greswell's letter is written in a neat, attractive hand, and begins: 'Mr. W. P. Greswell requested J. G. to compare the Glasgow Copy of Euripides with Musgrave's Edition after which it is printed & to let Mr.

Both 48pp., 4to (Part II paginated 49-96). Both in printed blue wraps, with front cover carrying the ownership inscription of R. R. Lloyd. Both with stamps of the St. Albans' Architectural & Archaeological Society, and small taped label to wraps. Both in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in chipped and worn wraps. Part I reprints seven items from 1641 to 1645 (the first: 'Diurnall Occurrences from 27. December to the 3. of January 1641.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and creased paper. He announces the publication of 'a book of outstanding literary importance, namely Meyerstein's "Life of Chatterton". Meyerstein is undoubtedly the greatest living authority on this subject, and his book, the result of nine years original research, contains much unpublished material. I believe it will be recognised as the standard work on Chatterton for many years to come.' He states that he has 'put a great deal of money and time into this book', and asks Wilson to help him 'make it a success'.

Sub-title, "An Address by Basil Blackwell Patiently heard by The Society of Bookmen on April 9th 1934, and now Privately Printed for presentation to certain of his friends." 14pp., beige paper wraps, sl. sunned, mainly good condition. Basil Blackwell has personalised the opening letter explaining the publication, writing the name "Young" after "Dear" and adding his signature at the end. Only one copy listed on COPAC, at Cambridge.

"A paper read before a meeting in London of the Associated Booksellers of Great Britain and Ireland, April 1895." 28pp., 8vo, stiff paper covers, covers, inside cover and ep foxed, contents mainly good but some small closed tears. Front cover inscribed, "Wm. H." (written by Bangs?) and with the stamp of former owner, Chairman of Heinemanns, C.A. Bang. This copy also contains Bangs' card, and, inside front cover, autograph notes by Bangs, and signed by him, as follows: Wm H born 18th May 1863. | started publishing Jan 1890.| wrote this paper 32 years of age | died 5th Oct.

[16]pp., 8vo, discreet stab-holes, good condition. Presumably this item was once bound in to an issue of a periodical. Four copies are listed on COPAC/WorldCat.

2pp., small 4to. In fair condition, on aged paper, with slight loss to one edge. He begins: 'Sr! | I wrote to you a Post or two ago to desire you to send me Voyage de M. Condamine sur la Riviere des Amazons impr. a Paris en 1745. If you have it not in your Shop Pray enquire for it, & send it to me at Ombersley near Worcester: and I wish you would inform me if M. Condamine or any of his company that went with him to Peru, have publish'd any other account of any part of their Expedition? I have read Don Ant.

1p., 8vo. On bifolium. In fair condition, on aged paper with a few small closed tears to edges. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with broken red wax seal, Penny Red stamp and postmarks, to: 'Revd. Dr. Wiseman, | St. Mary's College | Oscott | Nr. Birmingham'. 22 lines of text, closely and neatly written. Daly begins: 'I am sorry to trouble you by laying before you the Letters [not present] of a man of the name of Thomas Male - Bookseller & Bookbinder residing at St. Mary's, who has by representing himself as patronized by you got Credit from me to the Amount of £11 . 9 .

2pp., on a folio sheet (63 x 36cm). In fair condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper. Not filled in. Stamped '577' in red. One side listing the newspapers available from the Monday to the Friday of the week, and the other giving those on the Saturday, 'Odd Papers', 'BRANCHES' and 'TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SUPPLIES'. A range of periodicals is listed, including local and national newspapers, 'Continental Publications', comics ('Sparky', 'Wham' and 'Smash'), specialist ('Architect and Building News') and hobby ('Philatelic Mag.') magazines, 'Bolton Journal Series'

4pp., 8vo. Bifolium. Good, on aged paper. Printed in small type. Curzon's letter, dated from Kedleston, 30 September 1913, is a long report, covering the first two pages of the document, describing his efforts to 'remove from the town and country the great reproach of losing a library devoted to Derbyshire persons and subjects' by securing it for the Borough of Derby. The third page of the document carries 'an appeal made by Lord Curzon of Kedleston to residents in the County and Borough of Derby', headed 'Lord Curzon and the Derby Free Library.

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'J. Sainsbury Esq'. The letter reads: 'Dear Sir | My friend, Mr Charles Smith, is engaged by Mr. Colborn to engrave the portraits of Sir Hudson Lowe, Madame Bertrand and M.

Terms and note: 3pp., foolscap 8vo. Bifolium. Docketted by Wiseman on reverse of second leaf 'Cath Standard', with 'Bagshawe Correspondence 1837-64' in another hand. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. The thirteen terms are headed: 'Mr Richardson on behalf of his firm of Richardson & Sons proposes as follows'. The first two terms read: '(1.) Mr. Richardson To supply (including what he has already paid) £1000. as part of the capital for carrying on the Catholic Standard Newspaper. | (2) £2000. Capital to be supplied in addition to his £1000.

30pp., 8vo. Stitched and unbound. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper, with a few closed tears. Full title: 'Catalogue of a Collection of Works on the Fine Arts, comprising Books of Prints, Picture Galleries, Treatises on Painting, Sculpture and Engraving, Lives of Artists, &c. Forming a Portion of the Library of that well-known Amateur Henry G. Bohn, Esq., Deceased, Late of North End House, Twickenham'. 395 lots. A few items priced in pencil, some with name of purchaser.

One page, 8vo, small closed tear on fold line, mainly good. He is responding to autographs sent to him by Carlson, asking his opinion of autnenticity etc. He cites an example of a letter by Flaxman to confirm the attributuion of pone of the items. He points out that "The inscription 'Elizabeth Gaskell 1818" cannot be in the hand of Mrs. Gaskell the novelist, since her maiden name was Stevenson and she did not become Mrs. Gaskell until 1832." He goes on to a D.G.

1p., 12mo. Good, on aged paper. At the head of the page is the elegant signature of 'T. J. Cobden-Sanderson | 27 November 1907', followed by 'Anne Cobden-Sanderson' and 'Stella Cobden-Sanderson'. The fourth signature, dated March 1908, is illegible. It is followed by 'J Paul Clairmont | Clarence A. Mc.Williams | Ralph Waldo Lobenstine'. Lobenstine (1874-1931) was a Yale-educated physician.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on aged paper, with slight wear to one corner. Signed 'H. Cernuschi'. He begins by stating that from King's 'première lettre' he had recognised his handwriting. He apologises for not being able to comply with a request of King's: 'Je possédais une importante collection d'autographes - mais elle m'a été volee toute entière'. He concludes by instructing King to send to Westminster '600 copies de Bimetalism in England aand Abroad et 50 copies de mon Speech a Paris 1889'.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Tasteful letterhead including the firm's device within an oval, printed in sepia. In good condition: on aged and lightly-worn paper. King was the leading London parliamentary bookseller, and it is interesting to see him apparently offering a work of his own to other publishers. The letter reads: 'Dear Sir | We beg to acknowledge with thanks your offer of a translation of Herculano's "O Monge de Cister," which we much regret our inability to accept - our hands being very full just now, & all our arrangements for some time to come made.

Both items in fair condition, on lightly aged and creased paper. The second letter addressed by the secretary on the reverse, with four torn stamps and postmarks, to 'Mr. Lawrence Hodson | Bradbourne Hall | Ashbourne | Derbyshire'. The 'set of stations' referred to in the first letter is likely to have been based on those executed by Gill in stone in Westminster Cathedral, and completed in 1918. Letter One (3 November 1920): 1p., 12mo.

The three items in good condition, with minor aging and the last two items lightly-creased. ONE: 'The Richard Curle Collection of the Works of Cicely Veronica Westwood'. Published by J. Stevens Cox at the Toucan Press, Beaminster, Dorset, 1961. 19pp., 16mo. In green printed wraps. Stapled. '65 copies printed'. Four-page introduction, in which Cox writes: 'I wish to emphasise, however, that, despite the amplitude of the muster, this is not a Bibliography.

The three items are all in very good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with slight marking from rusty paperclips. Manuscript: 13pp., 4to. On 13 leaves, paginated 1-13. With a few emendations and corrections. The two typescripts, both well typed, have different layouts to one another. First (smaller) Typescript: 9pp., 4to. Second (larger) Typescript: Carbon copy. 9pp., 4to. The article begins: '"The iniquity of oblivion blindly scattereth her poppy . . .

Both items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with slight rust spotting. Manuscript: 12pp, 4to. On twelve leaves, paginated 1-12. With emendations and corrections. Note at head of page: 'Dates & title meant to be typical only: subject to revision from collection catalogue etc & to fit later details of book.' Also at head of page, in red pencil: 'Aquatint collection draft first chapter'. Manuscript: 9pp., 4to. On nine leaves attached with stud (last leaf loose).

On 11 x 6.5 cm rectangle of paper, laid down on the pastedown of a 12mo calf front board. Beneath the title: 'This Library is enriched with every work of merit, as soon as published; and comprises such a variety of Travels, Histories, Biography, Novels, Plays, and Literature in general, as cannot fail to graify every Class of Readers. | The Daily Papers taken in.' Following this are the yearly, half-yearly, quarterly and monthly terms for borrowing two and four books. Further text follows, beginning: 'Books read by Non-subscribers charged according to the Size.' and ending 'T. M.

Cloth-backed boards, [16]pp. + frontis., 4to, edges and corners rubbed, sl hinge strain, Title on upper cover, frontis (illustration of Bentley bindings), pages within red borders. This is an offprint (no. 44 of 50 copies only) of Sadleir's essay in "The Colophon" in 1932, which later appeared in a slightly revised form in "Nineteenth-Century Fiction", vol.II, revisions of "style rather than content". This copy was apparently acquired by Roger Senhouse, co-owner of Secker & Warburg, in 1936 (according to a note by Alex Fothergill, bookseller, former owner).

1p., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'dear Ernest'. Marked by Gye 'Ansd.' He is sending Gye 'a word of congratulations on the august appointment to Tangier'. He apologises that he cannot be 'part of the celebration on March 23'. He concludes: 'I hope you are pleased and that everything will prosper. | No answer required of course'.

1p., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged paper with minor traces of mount on the reverse. Addressed to 'Chas. Sumner Esq. | Boston Mass.' At the time of writing Sumner, having returned from Europe the previous year, was practising law at Boston. Regarding 'American Themis, A Monthly Journal of Jurisprudence and Judicature', edited by John O'Connell, Sedgwick writes that he is sending 'two or three nos. of a new Legal Magazine wh.

1p., landscape 8vo. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with small spike-hole (not affecting text), and minor traces of previous mount on reverse, which is docketed 'J. Nourse to T. Longman, 1770.' The bill lists five items, from 'Johnsons Dicty 2 V. folio' to 'Sherwin's Tables', with the date of purchase and price, coming to a total of £14 8s 4d. The receipt at the foot of the page reads 'April 4. 1771 Received the Contents - | [signed] Thos Longman'.

3pp., 12mo. 55 lines, neatly and closely written. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'Mr W. Shoberl.' An excellent letter, giving an experienced and knowledgable view of the state of the mid-Victorian British booktrade. Redding begins by stating that he is 'indeed concerned to hear the statement' Shoberl has communicated to him. He wishes it was in his power to forward Shoberl's wishes.

12mo, 2 pp. 34 lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. He received Walford's manuscript and 'did free my spirit, as I promised I would, without loss of time'. The matter is now in the hands of the printer of the Daily Telegraph, who, 'at the time of going to press, is master of of the situation, and often delays, from night to night, giving a place to our best-loved paragraphs.' Turner marked his copy with 'a mem to the effect' that it should be shown to 'Mr. Arnold'.

12mo, 1 p. 15 lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper. He requests 'the favour of a copy of Dr 's work "The Hoe & the Canoe," for review'. He claims to be 'a friend of Lord Elgin the Governor', and to have been 'a long resident in the Canadas' in his 'official capacity', ending: 'it will afford me the utmost pleasure to say all I can in behalf in [sic] the reviewing publication with which I have the honour of being connected, of Dr 's work'. The truth about 'J. B.