Book Trade History

Autograph Letter Signed ('S. Leigh Sotheby') to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Samuel Leigh Sotheby (1805-61), British auctioneer and antiquary
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£200.00

Three pages, 12mo. On aged paper, with a few closed tears and rust marking to blank verso of second leaf of bifolium. He thanks him for sending the books for examination. 'Mrs. Sotheby will take a photograph of the phiz of Peter Schoeffer, But as to the woodcut being of that I do not at present believe it - | The letters & papers are not of the time.' He asks him to translate a passage, comments further on Schoeffer, and asks if his correspondent has 'any new of Paper Factory for me.' Concludes 'Write me the full particulars of what Dutch Collection in the library of Sir Ths.

Printed Memorandum of Agreement with Anthony Blond Ltd, signed 'Ellen Wright', for the English publication rights of her husband's 'Lawd Today'; with a typed agreement between Blond and Hamilton & Co. for the English paperback rights.

Author: 
Ellen Wright (nee Poplar) (1912-2004), second wife and widow of the American author Richard Wright (1908-60)
Publication details: 
Memorandum, London, 29 June 1964; paperback rights, London, 15 May 1964.
£56.00

The Memorandum is a four-page folio (leaf size roughly fourteen inches by nine and a half) bifolium. In very good condition, lightly creased and folded. It details Mrs Wright's royalties (as 'proprietor'), advance and percentages. The paperback rights agreement consists of four typewritten pages, on four leaves, each roughly thirteen inches by eight, stapled together at the head beneath green tape. Very good, though lightly creased and with some fraying to tape. It is signed by the Hamilton & Co. chairman Joseph and witnessed by his secretary E. M. Holloway.

Engraved bookplate headed 'LA FELICITA' DELLE LETTERE'.

Author: 
Antonio Visentini (Venice, 1688-1782), Italian (Venetian) engraver
Publication details: 
Without date or place, but with 'Ant. Visentini Inu. Del. et Sculpsit.' at foot.
£180.00

Dimensions of plate roughly four and a half inches by six and a half wide. Dimensions of paper roughly five inches by seven wide. Clear image on stained, grubby laid paper. Shows mythological figure with helmet and shield holding up a book, within a monumental border with coins, ivy, statuary, etc. This bookplate has been found in conjunction with another reading "Ex Libris Alexandri Torrigiani Med. Doct. Coll. Parmensis", and this may provide a clue to the provenance.

[Printed] Postcard with bifoliate information card, addressed to "The Librarian, The Times Book Club, 93 New Bond Street, London, W."

Author: 
[The Times Book Club]
Publication details: 
No date
£20.00

The item was obviously inserted in a book borrowed from the Times Book Club. The postcard leaf is detachable from the information leaf, the first page of which is headed "The Times Book Club" adding "If you wish to keep this volume, the attached post card should be filled in and posted." The second page says "The published price of this book is [7/6 - entered by hand].The first page of the postcard gives categories to be filled in by the customer (title, author) and the printed statement !I am keeping the copy of this book which I now have.

Document headed “Subscriptions to the Society for bettering the condition of the Poor"

Author: 
Mathew Carey
Publication details: 
Philadelphia, 1829
£250.00

And others. Philad[elphia] manuscript 1829. Single leaf 7.75 x 6.25 inches, variously signed, recto only, in ink and pencil. Folded twice, edgeworn with tears that long ago were reinforced verso with several strange tape-products, none of which have bled through. The designated recipients of any donations include: Stephen H. Tyng [pencil], G.C. Potts, Robt. Ralston, Jackson Kemper , G. T. Bedell [pencil, with flourish],Matthew S. Bevan, James San-- [?], Matthew Carey, Ezra Stiles Ely, G. W.Ridgely, E.

Libraries: Free-for-All? Some Issues in Political Economy

Author: 
Ralph Harris [A.P. Herbert]
Publication details: 
Hobart Paper 19, Institute of Economic Affairs, London, 1962.
£56.00

WITH: "The Rate for the Reading. An Appeal to Parliament from Authors and Publishers Prepared by A.P. Herbert". Pamphlet, 60pp., 8vo, illus. wraps, very good condition. ENCLOSED: Pamphlet, 8pp., 8vo, "The Arts Council and Public Lending Right" (Jan. 1968), folded but good condition AND, a brief TLS from A.P. Herbert, "Alan", to Stephen Tumin, 26 Feb. 1968, saying "I meant to show you this before. This is at least a visible fruit of old scire facias." A.P. Herbert was the most prominent and active of campaigners for Public Lending Right.

Two printed Advertisement forms, with copies of advertisements to be inserted, one by Gratton Hayes.

Author: 
The Staffordshire Sentinel (established 1853) [Gratton Hayes; Challinors and Shaw; Pownall Stubbs]
Publication details: 
01/09/97
£45.00

Both items very good and docketed on reverse. Both advertisements appear to have been placed by Challinors & Shaw, solicitors. ITEM ONE (printed on one side of a piece of paper roughly ten inches by eight wide) is headed 'CIRCULATION OVER 180,000 WEEKLY.' Describes the paper as 'The County Newspaper and Leading Journal for Staffordshire' and the 'largest Newspaper and the best and most influential Advertising Medium' in the county.

Collection of thirteen Autograph Letters Signed, addressed to Robinson by various individuals, mostly relating to the publication of Robinson's song 'Gently Down the Stream'.

Author: 
Walter W. Robinson, English composer; Theodore Distin (1823-93), English singer; F. C. Wood, 'Lithographical Music Copyist'; the Original Lilian Minstrels; Grafton Hall
Publication details: 
London; 1871-1878.
£280.00

The collection is in good condition, with each letter entirely legible. Two items particularly aged, and one with a couple of closed tears unobtrusively repaired with archival tape. Each item bears evidence of the fact that the collection was previously held together with a pin. An interesting sidelight into the musical culture of Victorian London. COPAC only locates one copy (at Cambridge) of Robinson's piece, published by W. Sprague of Westminster in [1874], copied by F. C. Wood, 'words by permission of Messrs. Hopwood & Crew'. All items 12mo.

Two Autograph Letters Signed "Sydney C. Cockerell" and "SC Cockerell" respectively, one to to "May [Morris]", daughter of William Morris, the other to "[Emery] Walker".

Author: 
S.C. Cockerell, museum director and bibliophile (DNB)
Publication details: 
Wayside, Cavendish Avenue, Cambridge, 29 March 1914 and Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, 20 May 1914.
£400.00

Six pages, 8vo, water-stained but texts clear and complete. Much of the letters are concerned with elements of his executorship of the will of William Morris - (and trusteeship). In the letter to May he begins by expressing relief that "the Horace [book or manusript] was safe", then discussing a payment of £785 due to her (she adds the comment "About £785 due to me" in pencil at the end) and the payment due to Jenny. "When we were at Kelmscott I explained ot her that all claims contracted after Jan.26 would be payable by your father's executors.

Invoice, account of Colonel Bosville with "T. Egerton AND Autograph receipt signed to P.I. Thelluson (Peter Isaac).

Author: 
Thomas Egerton.
Publication details: 
March-May 1791 AND 14 May 1796.
£250.00

Egerton published first Austen novel. The invoice, 8 x 6.5", lists histories, a basic law book, and military books. Colonel [William] Bosville was a celebrated bon vivant, friend of Horne Tooke, Cobbett, etc (see DNB). The recipient of teh receipt, Thelluson, was a merchant (1737-97)(DNB). One page, c.7.5 x 3", embossed receipt, damage at right edge with loss of three letters only: "Received 14 May 1796 of P.I. Thellus[on] Esq. Fifty five Pounds six Shillings for Books bill delivered/ £55.6-0 Thos Egerton". No other Egerton signature found in BL MSS, HMC or NUCMC.

Manuscript document signed "William ffindall" with crude seal, "Printer in the University of Oxford.

Author: 
William Findall.
Publication details: 
[Oxford], 19 May 1685.
£450.00

Manuscript document, c. 9 x 8", chip from one corner not affecting text, discreet repair to long tear through signature, some soiling and fold marks, text clear as follows: "Bee it knowne unto all men by these presente that William Fyndall Printer in the University of Oxford, in consideration of the summe of five and thirty shillings of lawfull moneys of England to him in hand paid by Wright Croke of the Inner Temple London Esqre.

Catalogue of Books for sale at the annexed prices', numbers 49 (Jan. 1873) to 72 (Dec. 1874); with 'The American Bibliopolist', vols. 5 and 6 (New York, Jan. 1873 to Dec. 1874); and incomplete 'Catalogue of Standard English Books' (undated).

Author: 
J. Sabin & Sons [Joseph Sabin (1821-81), Anglo-American bookseller]; Robert Clarke & Co., Cincinnati
Publication details: 
J. Sabin & Sons, Publishers, 84 Nassau Street, New York. 14 York Street, Covent Garden, London. 1873.
£250.00

All items octavo. All in good condition, on aged paper, bound together in heavily-worn contemporary half-calf. Ownership inscription of the art dealer Faris C. Pitt on front free endpaper. The various issues of the 'Catalogue of Books' vary in length from eight pages to twenty-eight.

Autograph Letter Signed "N. Roqueplan" to an unnamed correspondent. In French.

Author: 
N. Roqueplan, Theatre manager, editor "Le Figaro", author inc. "La Vie Parisienne" (1852).
Publication details: 
Opera, Theatre de La Nation, Paris, 14 Sept 184 [printed year not completed]
£76.00

Two pages, 8vo, minor defedcts, text clear and complete, if somewhat illegible. He begins: "J'ignorais personellement monsieur, la Combinaison [locative?] dont vous avex ete vistime et je comprends fort bien que vous la trouvez mediocrement ingenieuse, vous nous avez habituee aux plus galant precedes, mais . . . " He goes on to say that they won't offer compensation, understanding that they are changing their "loge" and will collect what belongs to them, etc.

Parts of two letters, one from George Bentley, publisher, to Montgomery, the other vice versa.

Author: 
Florence Montgomery
Publication details: 
One dated 25 April (no year).
£25.00

Novelist (1843-1923). Both scraps laid down on 8vo-sized page. George Bentley says " . . . & I find this commodity scarce already./Truly Yrs / George Bentley". Montgomery says " . . . Believe me /Truly Yrs/ Florence Montgomery".

Autograph Note Signed "Josephine Preston Peabody (Mrs Lionel Marks)" to The Four Seasons Company, publishers.

Author: 
Josephine Preston Peabody.
Publication details: 
192 Brattle Street, Cambridge, Mass., 8 Jan. 1916.
£56.00

American children's author, etc. One page, 8vo, good condition. "I beg to enclose my subscription to 'The Poetry Journal' for 1916."

[Manuscript]"Trustee in Bankruptcy of Grant Richards to Mr A. Moring / Assignment of Goodwill and publishing rights of 'Worlds Classics &c'", Signed by H.A. Moncrieff, Accountant, "Trustee of the estate of . . . Grant Richards in Bankruptcy"

Author: 
[BOOK TRADE; PUBLISHING HISTORY] [Grant Richards, Publisher]
Publication details: 
07/10/05
£595.00

Two leaves, vellum, folio, one page blank, folded, good condition. Details he bankruptcy of Grant Richards are given, mentioning the addresses of his premises, and continues: "The said Alexander Moring [publisher, de la More Press] has recently agreed with the said . . . Moncrieff for the purchase of the stock in trade copyrights publishing rights and goodwill of the business of the said Grant Richards . . . [17 April 1905] for the sum of Nine Thousand pounds and upon payment of Three Thousand five hundred pounds . . .

Parchment Manuscript Indenture, consisting of the counterpart lease of No. 50 Holywell Street, Strand, Middlesex, from the Revd Charles Felton Smith, Edwin Augustus Smith and others to John Bedford Leno.

Author: 
[BOOK TRADE] John Bedford Leno [CHARTISM; RADICALISM; UXBRIDGE]
Publication details: 
01/01/76
£325.00

Leno (1824-94) was a printer, publisher, poet and editor, and a significant figure in nineteenth-century radicalism. In 1845, while a printer, he led a group of radical workers who started a Young Men's Improvement Society and circulated a manuscript newspaper entitled the 'Attempt'. He then became branch secretary of the local Chartists. In 1849 the 'Attempt' became a printed journal, the 'Uxbridge Pioneer'. In 1861 he was editor of the 'Poetic Magazine' and in 1881 of the 'Anti-tithe Journal'.

Album of Press Cuttings, contemporary articles and autograph letters from the publisher's archive re. the publication of "The Ocean of Story", Translated by C.H. Tawney ]

Author: 
From the Publisher's Archive [ N.M. Penzer, editor.]
Publication details: 
Charles J. Sawyer, London, 1924-1928
£450.00

(The Ocean of Story) Album of Press Cuttings and Letters relating to the First Publication of The Ocean of Story; Being C.H. Tawney's Translation of Somadeva's Katha Sarit Sagara, Edited by N.M. Penzer, as published by Charles J. Sawyer, London, 1924-1928, as follows: 4to., 75pp., of press cuttings, contemporary articles and letters. (Some dust staining but otherwise good). The Autograph Letters comprise:Collins (J.P.) TLs, 3pp., 8vo., with ms. postscript and corrections, from St.

Autograph Letter Signed, apparently to his publishers Sampson Low & Co.

Author: 
Sir William Laird Clowes
Publication details: 
Sark. 9.9.02.'
£25.00

British naval historian (1856-1905), author of a standard history of the Royal Navy (7 vols, 1897-1903). One page, on piece of stiff paper, roughly four and a half inches by three and a half. In poor condition, discoloured and stained, and with one small hole and some fraying to extremities. Reads 'Thanks for yours of the 8th. | I am afraid that I can only express the hope that you will, in this case, keep the price as low as possible, - as I do not know the business aspects of the question.

Autograph Letter Signed to the bookseller [George] Offor.

Author: 
Robert Mushet
Publication details: 
24 Augt 1819 | Mint'.
£65.00

Mushet (died 1828) was an officer of the Mint, and author of 'An Inquiry into the Effects Produced on the National Currency, and Rates of Exchange, by the Bank Restriction Bill' (1810). The recipient (1787-1864) edited Bunyan. One page, octavo. Good, on slightly grubby discoloured paper with one spike hole. Two short printed accounts of Musket laid down at foot of page. Reads 'Dear Sir | I shall be obliged to you to send me this afternoon or early tomorrow morning a Copy of Ede's Book of Coins'. Signed 'R Musket' and addressed, on revese of second leaf of bifoliate, to 'Mr.

Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent.

Author: 
J. W. Whymper.
Publication details: 
43 Lambeth Road, 30 Sept. 1876
£125.00

Wood-engraver. Two pages, 8vo, good condition. "I have just received yr last two drawings. / I will have these drawn I think, for photography gives a coat to the wood and when you think your tints are too light - you find them too dark. / With regard to the Beach cut I am persuaded that in printing it will now come very near the original, the colours of which I think you must have forgotten, and I have written to Mr Smiles (who seems to wish to get on without the subject) to try it at press - now it has been more finished - which I trust you will also approve. . . . PS.

Five Typed Letters, one signed by Unwin himself, the others pp. "T. Fisher Unwin" to Menzies, the Secretary of the Royal Society of Arts..

Author: 
T. Fisher Unwin
Publication details: 
1 Adelphi Terrace, London, WC, 8 June 1914-18 Sept. 1914.
£200.00

Publishers. Total five pages, 4to, one torn without loss of text, fold marks, creasing, otherwise good condition. (8 June) "I should be pleased to lend you the blocks from Mr. Pennell's 'Lithography', of which you left a list for a fee of 5/- each. The frontispiece of Mr. Pennell by Whistler is a lithograph, but I have a similar half tone block which I could lend you2. He has to charge. (11 June) They have ordered the blocks to go to Messrs Clowes from two firms. (13 July) One firm failed to send a block and they return money. They request return now they are finished with.

Autograph Letter Signed to G. K. Menzies, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
George Herbert Whitaker [WHITAKER'S ALMANACK]
Publication details: 
22 January 1919; on letterhead 'Office of WHITAKER'S ALMANACK, | 12, WARWICK LANE, PATERNOSTER ROW, | LONDON, E.C.'
£38.00

Bookseller and publisher (1862-1933). One page, 12mo. Very good, docketed with the Society's stamp. 'In reply to your circular letter, I beg to apply for admission as a Fellow of your Society and herewith forward my application together with my cheque value 2 guineas, which in the event of not being elected, please return to | Yours faithfully | George H. Whitaker'.

Autograph Letter Signed "a la Bible. on R. du cherche midi [89?]".

Author: 
Guillaume Depping.
Publication details: 
Bibliotheque Imperiale "midi [89?]".
£56.00

Miscellaneous author. Two pages, 8vo, good condition. He asks politely for two pieces of information. Firstly, they have a book with engravings about Liberia "fondee par les Americains". He wonders if Liberia has a charge d'affaires in Paris or London. Secondly, he'd like to publish an article on "votre Bibliotheque americaine" and hopes they'll provide documentation.

A collection of autograph letters signed or initialled to [John] Lane, publisher

Author: 
D.Y. Cameron.
Publication details: 
Dun Eaglais Kippen and other places, 1903-1916, one undated.
£800.00

Artist and etcher. See new DNB for substantial entry. Twelve autograph letters and notes signed, all 8vo, total 35+ pages, good condition. Contents: (undated letter) asking Lane to get a "Miss Hester Frow" work as illustrator with a weekly or monthly periodical (19 May 1903) He tells Lane to expect a letter from a Miss White concerning "an interesting matter" which she had already put before another London publisher, but Cameron thought Lane "the real man for the subject". He thinks the projected book would have a large circulation and she is "well known" as is her father, J.

Note, third person from G. Wakeling (upholsterer) to Nichols, with Autograph Note in Nichol's hand.

Author: 
[ John Bowyer Nichols ]
Publication details: 
Wakeling's note, 36 Gerrard Street, Soho, [I]st Feby 1828.
£56.00

Printer and antiquary. The item, 2pp., 4to, trimmed, some staining, chipped corner, hole in middle losing day from the date, comprises a note in the third person from Wakeling and some unrelated antiquarian notes in J.B. Nichols' hand. Wakeling, perhaps a funeral director as well as an upholsterer (although Wakelings appear in the British Book Trades Index) , formally informs Nichols that "a funeral Carriage will be provided for his conveyance".

Typed message (to departing employee?), on printed letterhead, with thirty-eight signatures (of work-colleagues?).

Author: 
Medici Society [Cobden-Sanderson]
Medici Society
Publication details: 
Without date; on the company's Grafton Street letterhead.
£100.00
Medici Society

Company founded in 1908 by Philip Lee Warner and Eustace Gurney, 'to bring artists' work to the appreciation of a wider public'. One page, quarto. Folded twice. Good, but slightly foxed and lightly creased. The typed message reads ' "The best of Prophets of the future is the Past" | With the best of wishes for future success.' The signatures are arranged in four columns. The inclusion of 'Cobden-Sanderson' is unexplained.

Autograph Letter Signed to [Wm. Bellows, son of publisher of pocket French Dictionary].

Author: 
Ed. Tallichet.
Publication details: 
[[Headed notepaper with printed account of the "Bibliotheque Universelle" in left margin] Lausanne, 21 juin 1902. En francais.
£36.00

Directeur de "La Bibliotheque Universelle et Revue suisse". Two pages, 8vo, good condition. Most of the letter consists of information about and praise of a hotel in the Alps.

Autograph Letter Signed to J.T.J. Hewlett, author of "Peter Priggins" and other books.

Author: 
Henry Flower.
Publication details: 
1846
£35.00

Henry Flower, presumably the bookseller and publisher in BBTI, discussing Hewlett's Dunster Castle in congratulatory terms, hoping for a meeting. Originally from a larger archive, the residue of which is described in #3157 (Hewlett's papers), this and other items appear in my ABE inventory in book id#s 3124-3156.

Autograph Letter Signed to J.T.J. Hewlett, author of "Peter Priggins" and other books.

Author: 
Drinkwater Meadows
Publication details: 
1843
£45.00

Drinkwater Meadows (DNB), actor, taking up Hewlett's offer of help to get him published in the New Monthly Magazine. (Nothing by Meadows is listed in the Wellesley Index for NMM, but he contributed a series to Ainsworth's Magazine, Oct. 1845-August 1845.) Originally from a larger archive, the residue of which is described in #3157 (Hewlett's papers), this and other items appear in my ABE inventory in book id#s 3124-3156.

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