Book Trade History

Autograph Note, third person, to unknown correspondent.

Author: 
Lady Charlotte Bury.
Publication details: 
10/03/32
£56.00

Novelist (see DNB). Page trimmed with loss of correspondent's name etc., laid down on stiff paper. "Lady Charlotte Bury earnestly requests to have proof sheets sent ot her." Note: Perhaps proofs of ‘‘The Three Great Sanctuaries . . ." published in 1833.

Eleven (11) Autograph Letters Signed to Swan Sonnenschein, publishers.

Author: 
Charles Duke Yonge.
Publication details: 
1882-1883.
£600.00

Historian (DNB). Total thirty (30) pages, 8vo (10) and 4to (1). The subject is his book "Our Great Naval Commanders" published by his correspondents, Swan Sonnenschein, in 1884, from its inception to the proof stage. He begins (16 Dec. 1882) "It is not quite easy to decide whom it would be best to include in such a volume as you propose - Nelson of course stands at the head of all sailors. Next to him, I think, comes Rodney . . . but there are no materials to be procured for a sketch of Hawke . .

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 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 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, third person, to an unnamed correspondent. (publishers Harding, Lepard & Co., prob.).

Author: 
James Henry Arnold.
Publication details: 
Lincolns Inn Fields, 7 March 1821
£45.00

One page, 8vo, good condition, text clear and complete. "Dr. Arnold desires his name may be set down as Subscriber to the history of Shrewsbury by Rev. H Owen & Rev. JB Blakeney . . ./ Large paper". Not in Bent. Not in Besterman. Published 1825, 2 vols. (i.e. much later).

Autograph Note Signed to "Mr Wilkinson" (Robert? see Maxted).

Author: 
Duchess of Rutland.
Publication details: 
Sackville Street, 8 Oct. 1801.
£50.00

See also her letter to Triphook (#2031). One page, 4to, spike-hole reaired, usual condition, text clear and complete: "The Dss of Rutland desires Mr. Wilkinson will be so good to send her a Print of herself, from Sir Joshua Reynolds's Picture the full length, & to bring it to her House No. 28 Sackville St. in the course of this [excision] day, as she is going out of Town,[.] when the Print comes the Dss desires the Person will make a Bill of it & wait for the money -"

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.

One Autograph Note Signed and one Autograph Note, third person, to Mr Wilks [printer, bookseller] and another [publisher]

Author: 
Major C. Muller.
Publication details: 
232 Piccadilly 18[1?]0 and no place or date (same year).
£80.00

Muller published "Relation of the Operations and battles of the Austrian and French Armies, in the year 1809, with three plans by Muller (Printed for T. Goddard, Military Library, no. 1, by R. Wilks, 1810). A. (Dated) One page, 8vo, third person, spike-hole, trimiing, staining but text redable but for a few letters. "Dr Mullers Compliments to Mr Wilks, & sends him the proof sheet back.

Autograph Note Signed to unnamed correspondent (poss. Cadell).

Author: 
Coventry (Earl of).
Publication details: 
Piccadilly, 13 June 179[?].
£50.00

One page, 4to, some discoloration, but text readable. "Sir,/ Please to deliver to the Bearer, Mr Clarke, the Evidence on Mr Hasting's Trial from page 1204 to page 1244 so much being wanting to compleat my Numbers." Note (for dating purposes and identification of correspondent = publisher): prob. Minutes of the evidence taken at the trial of Warren Hastings ... upon an impeachment against him for high crimes and misdemeanors, etc. [London,] 1788[-94]. fol.

Invoice to Jeffery, bookseller.

Author: 
[W?.] Parsons.
Publication details: 
No place or date (see Maxted: John Parsons, London bookseller,1801 (from Pendred).
£45.00

One page, c.6 x 4", trimmed or part of page, edges discoloured, spike-hole, but text clear, possibly incomplete. "Mr Jeffery willl please to pay for the following Books Viz./ Plutarch's Lives £1-2/ Grose's[?] Ethics --6[s]/ F[?]uller's Thinking 4[s]/ ,Sketches?> -2[s]/ Bi[e?]ntons[sic] Characters 3-6/ Browne's Morals 2.6//£2= =/ RichBorough [??= in Kent, perhaps Parsons there?]" Vertically written in a different hand, "Acct the Contents/ W[?]. Parsons".

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 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 "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 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.

Autograph note, third person, to de La Rue, Library, Soho Square.

Author: 
Lady Perceval.
Publication details: 
Curzon St, 10 July [1805 (postmark and librarian's[?]note).
£45.00

One page, 4to, minor defects, text clear and complete. "Lady Perceval's Compts. to <. de La Rue, & requests he will send the following Books, or, if he has them not in the Library that he will be so good as to write for them to Paris./ Gradus ad Parnassum - bonne Edition francoise-/ Les opuscules Latins[sic] de M. Le Bean/ 2 Vols./ Praed[i]um Rusticum de Vaniere [Jacobi Vanierii Praedium rusticum.. Jakob Vaniers Gedichte von der Landwirthschaft.

Autograph Note Signed to unnamed correspondent.

Author: 
Arthur Taylor.
Publication details: 
No place, 28 May (no year).
£45.00

Printer to a publisher. One page, 8vo, some marks, mainly good. "Sir/ You must be quite aware that it is not usual for a Printer to be sent about to seek Payment out of the proceeds of a work./ I must again request that you [underlined] will arrange the settlement, which has already been deferred far beyond the time." There is an Arthur Taylor in Brown (i.e -see also Todd - good info.

Autograph Note Signed to an unnamed correspondent.

Author: 
Charles Butler.
Publication details: 
Lincoln's Inn, 15 Sept. 1820.
£75.00

Legal and misc. writer (1750-1832). Part of page (trimmed), 5 x 5", stained but text clear and complete. "I wished to see you, on your return from Clark, tomention my doubt whether the manuscript, which I put into your hands, is proper in its present state, for insertion in the review, which [excisions] you notived [excison] to [inserted] me;- If you will have the goodness to return it to me, I will endeavour to cast it into a more proper form for your publication:-".

Autograph note, third person, to William Clarke, 38 (another hand-post office?) New Bond Street, bookseller.

Author: 
Lady Perceval.
Publication details: 
18 June 1812 (year added in another hand?).
£35.00

One page, 7.5 x 6.5" (cut back from 4to), edges discoloured, tear and small mising portion (seal torn off) not affecting clear and complete text. "Lady Perceval troubles Mr Clarke with the Inclosed to forward to <??> Sykes & Co.[not in Maxted or Brown - not a bookseller?] & Mr <?> requests the Abbe 'de <?>' Medaillons & Books may be in Mr Cs' keeping till he hears further ---"

Autograph letters (2) t[Blandford] to a bookseller [prob. Triphook].

Author: 
Marquis of Blandford
Publication details: 
One headed "Syon Hill", no date on either.
£400.00

(12 Feb.) three pages, 8vo, small tear on fold, discoloration at edges, spike-hole text clear and readable.

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 note unsigned to "Chalmers Esq/ 37 Jermyn Street", London.

Author: 
Greenwood & Co.
Publication details: 
London, 4 Dec. 1830, 13 Regent Street, P[all] Mall".
£45.00

One page, 4to, bifoliate, some damage, but text complete and legible. "Chalmers Esq. to Greenwood & Co./ Greenwoods Atlas. Subscription to first and second parts coloured -------£7-7-0//". Verso "George Grantham". Verso of bifoliate leaf (recto blank) brief address as above and a note "G Greenwood/ County Maps/ Dec. 1830/ £7.7.0".

Two autograph Notes Signed to James Maclehose (publisher) and {James Maclehose].

Author: 
J.M. Mackenzie.
Publication details: 
No date (addressed to Maclehose) and 1 Melville Street, Portobello, 6 July 1842.
£80.00

One page and two pages (1842), 12mo, bifoliate, former has recipeint's name on verso of second leaf, textsa clear and complete. (No date) "My dear Sir,/ There are two commas wanting in the last proofs. I have indicated their proper places; and I charge you to see them supplied under pain of being indicted before the Editor himself for treasonable insubordination." (1842) "My dear Sir,/ I will send you, by Friday's post, the first part of the next article, and by Monday at the latest, the second.

Autograph letter signed to Bohte ("Compliments to Mrs Bohte")

Author: 
D.G. Wait (Daniel Guilford Wait).
Publication details: 
Redland House, W. Bristol, 10 April 1824.
£65.00

Hebraist and Biblical scholar (1789-1850). One page, edges discoloured, chipped, text complete and clear. "I was mentioning to a friend here Ebert's Bibliographisches Lexicon, who wishes much to see it: Mrs Wait [prob. mother, he was unmarried re. DNB] will leave town on Sunday, when she will arrive on Saty ["for" excised] on her way to this place. Would you entrust me with a copy to shew him, & direct it to me on Saty morng. to the care of Mrs Wait, at Mrs Bowdens 33 Gt Coram St. Brunswick Square? & if he does not take the copy, I will bribng it back.

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").

Autograph Note Signed to an unnamed bookseller.

Author: 
<?> Sulston [pp.Lady Jersey].
Publication details: 
Middleton near Oxford, 6 Dec. [1826 - the year of Ainsworth's bookselling visit, Ellis, i.159
£85.00

See de Ricci, Quaritch, for Earl of Jersey, Francis Child, Osterley Park. One page, 8vo, spike-hole, sl. grubby, text readable and complete. "Lady Jersey wants to a person to come down & arrange the Library here - It w[oul]d be a work of 7 or 8 Days & requires an intelligent Person used to the <?> - If there is any ["Person" excised] one [inserted] whom you hear of or belonging to you whom you could recommend to do it be so good as to write to Lady Jersey <?> upon it -". S.M. Ellis, Ainswworth, i.159, quotes Ainsworth letter: " . . .

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