Book Trade History

It is Sir Basil Blackwell, in his DNB entry on Wilson, who described him as 'the most famous English [sic] bookseller of his time'. The freshness and enthusiasm conveyed by this small volume supports Blackwell's view that Wilson viewed 'bookselling not so much as a matter of retail trade as a service in which bookseller and customer met and shared the experience of contact with the precious manifestations of the spirit of man', as well as casting light on the methods and practices which made Wilson so successful.

Magazine: [8] + 80pp. In blue printed illustrated wraps. Internally in good condition, on aged paper, with unopened signatures, in worn and chipped wraps. Stamped in red at head of front cover: 'SPECIMEN COPY.' Announcement at foot of front cover: 'This magazine is not to be introduced into England or its colonies nor into the United States of America.' The first eight pages carry advertisments, as do both sides of the back wrap.

1p., 12mo. Attractively printed within a decorative border, on the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium. The letter reads: 'Dear Sir | The Specimen Book sent you herewith, of which I have much pleasure in asking your acceptance, contains a history of the Caslon Foundry printed with the justly celebrated types engraved by its founder in the early part of last Century.

The text is engraved in copperplate on one side of a piece of card, with plan on reverse of the the premises at 18 Paternoster Square, with Newgate Street, Warwick Lane, Rose Street and Paternoster Row also shown. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with unobtrusive vertical crease. A nice piece of nineteenth-century London book trade ephemera. The text reads: 'Publication Committee | Presbyterian Church of England, | 18 Paternoster Square.

[4] + 47pp., 8vo. In printed wraps. Internally in fair condition, on aged paper, with slight staining to the corners; in worn and chipped wraps. A handsome production, as one might expect from one of the nine founders of the Grolier Club, with a two-page introduction followed by a full-page reproduction of the Ascensius printer's device, and 47 examples of pages set in various point sizes of Cushing, Ancient Roman, Jenson, Satanick, Louis XV, and Century Roman. No copy on COPAC, six American and one French on WorldCat.

One page, 12mo, laid down on larger piece of paper, after formation of a 2" closed tear. text complete and clear. [Cadell] "If the game sent with this tolerably good send it to [Mrs] Grignion with my love. You will tell them it may be Sunday before we arrive as the weather is so uncertain." [Lawless adds] "Madam | I am afraid these are bad, but I believe it is only when it was shot" [whatever that means]. Lawless earned an obituary in the Annual Register.

Bookplate, c.8 x 14cm, marks show it was tipped onto an album page once, ow good. Image of Virgil's head. 3cm diameter, followed by calligraphic "This Book | is to be sold at the Shop of | Abraham Vandenhoek | AND | George Richmond. | the sign of Virgill's Head. | Opposite Exeter Exchange in the | STRAND."

Bookplate, c.17 x 10cm, stained, three letters of address obscured by wear, otherwiswe text clear, mainly good condition. "GARDINER, | Bookseller [...] | and | Bookbinder [...address] Where books are lent to read | at | Twelve Shillings per year [...] || BOOKS BOUGHT, SOLD, OR EXCHANGED || ENGRAVING | and | Copper-plate and Letter-Press | Printing, [...] || New Books, Reviews, Magazines, Pamphlets, [P]lays, &c. | added as soon as published." Note: a Sarah Gardiner of 20 Princes Street exhibited at the RA in 1815.

Trade card, apparently unrecorded, c.6.5 x 5cm, good condition. Text, "Trewman & Son | Printers, Stationers, | Booksellers & Binders. | Fore Street | EXETER || [minuscule] Ezekial, Exon."

8vo, in worn and damaged black cloth. Three sample spines in green cloth are laid down on the front free endpaper, and three sample brown leather spines gilt on the rear pastedown.

Four pages, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on aged paper, with small pinholes to both leaves and slight loss at the head of the second. Substantial first part of long letter, and hence lacking the signature. BBTI has Trelawny [for Trelawney] William Saunders at 6 Charing Cross between 1846 and 1853, and Edward Stanford's entry in the Oxford DNB records that he was an apprentice there, returning as partner in 1852 ('The partnership was dissolved by mutual consent in July 1853.'), and that it was Saunders who proposed Stanford for membership of the Royal Geographical Society.

The 40 items range in size from 25 x 19cm to 5 x 4.5cm. All in good condition, lightly-aged, and all but five laid down on the grey paper leaves of a heavily-worn album, with back cover loose, and with ownership signature of Sir Michael's wife Elisabeth Clapham at head of first page. The couple married in 1935, and one of the 40 items is a card with text in red featuring Elisabeth's maiden name. It conveys 'Good wishes for Christmas & the New Year from Elisabeth Rea | 6 Barton Street, S.W.1'.

Not paginated. [107]pp., 16mo. Internally good and tight, elegantly printed in red and black. In original heavily-worn green leather binding. Small leaf, printed on both sides, advertising the book, loosely inserted. In the twenty-two lines on the reverse Stevens states that 'The price of all these books in substantial andn ornamental bindings of great variety, with leather, calf, morocco or russia backs and corners, and muslin on paper sides, is Four Hundred Guineas (420l.) If with full leather backs and sides, very handsome, the price is Four Hundred and Fifty Guineas (472l. 10s.)'.

20pp., 4to. Stapled. In original card wraps printed in black and red. 317 lots. Worn and aged and with central vertical crease to volume. Central bifolium loose. Advertisement for the auctioneers on inside front cover, and 'Time Table' on inside rear. A second day's sale, on the following day, is advertised as featuring 'The Furniture, Unique Collection of Japanese Works of Art, Bronzes, Old English and Continental Porcelain etc.' In margin of page with conditions of sale is pencil list of the booksellers, headed by 'Museum Book Store (Spencer's man)' and featuring E.

2pp., 4to. On bifolium, with reverse of second leaf addressed to 'Rev. T. Greenwood, | Leeds.' In good condition, on aged paper, with slight discoloration to second leaf. BBTI lists Gawtree as active in Leeds between 1817 and 1822; he took over the Leeds Intelligencer in 1818. The first paragraph reads: 'An opportunity has very unexpectedly occurred this morning of sending a packet. - I inclose you Blackwood, wch. we recd. uncommonly late this month.

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.

xviii + 384 pp., 8vo, orig.[?]green cloth covered boards, slightly "bubbled", endpapers stained, corners bumped, hinge strain, fair condition. With frontispiece of Don Carlos and plate (facing p.229) of Zumalacarréguy. In contemporary green cloth library binding with title in gilt on spine. Bookplate laid down on front pastedown, listing 'Members of the Iron Acton Reading Society. | Books to be kept fourteen days.' Twenty-eight members are listed, from 'Rev. Dr.

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.