Book Trade History

One page, 4to, grubby, repaired (after being torn in two), text clear and complete. "Sir/ Having received your advertisemt. of the Antiquarian Repertory published by you in 4 Vol. at 12 Gs. a few copies of which remain on large Paper at 20 gs. I should like to purchase one or the other if you would send them to my House in St. James Square or keep them untill my return to town which will not be untill after Christmas perhaps not untill February---". Lowndes says of thenew edition (4 vols., 1807-1809 "Published and edited by Jeffery the bookseller . . .).

Two pages, 4to, tears, chipping, text legible and complete. "My Dear Sir,/ Not being acquained with any Bookseller in Manchester I wrote to a relation of mine to get the Dissenters' Magazine advertised in the Manchester Gazette & to request [excision] Mr. Prentice to take a few Copies of the Ist. No. on sale but [sic] a few days ago I recd a Letter from Mr. Ellerby informing me that the Advertisement would appear in the Manchester Times & that the Magazine would be sold at his shop in Piccadilly[.] Now I have no [inserted] personal disrespect for Mr.

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.

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.

Two pages, 12mo. Very good. Thanks his correspondent for 'your kind letter & for the hospitality you have given me in the North American Review. I hope you will be able to bring out my article in the March Number as the political Kaleidoscope changes so quickly that some part may appear belated if it is long delayed.' Asks for a change to be made if it is not possible to bring the piece out in the March issue. Signed 'W E H Lecky'.

One page, trimmed, 6 x 5", some defects but text clear and apprently complete, as follows: "Professor Wilson wishes the enclosed LIst to be set up immediately [underlined]; & a proof of it to be ready in the [shop?] [phrase underlined] at 10 O'Clock tomorro morning [underlined] as it will be wanted at 1/2 Eleven." A further instruction, "Set it up in the same [?]" is crossed out. An interesting insight into Wilson's relationship with Blackwood's printers.

One page, very good. Postcard illustration of Marie Taglioni. In Bentley's distinctive neat hand. 'If & when Angus & Robertson's traveller shows you a book called Dead Funny, illus. by Bill Tidy, pubs. Ask & Grant, I hope you'll feel compelled to place a huge order: The Grant is Arabella's husband, just breaking into publishing (mad!) How are you & Billie? We should love to see you both, but I doubt that you ever come this way. If you do, you can count on a warm bed & reception. Try & make it sometimes.' Signed 'Nick'.

Engineer. "Born in Paris on June 21, 1774, former Adviser of State, free Member of the Academy of Science, [he] was, in 1832, general Inspecteur of 1st class and president of the general Council of the Mines" (from Internet). Also author. One page, 8vo, good condition. Text either third person or, more likely, secretarial as follows: M. H. de Villefosse a l'honneur de saluer Monsieur le Bibliothecaire de l'Institut, de lui envoyer l'ouvrage de M. [Solvyns?], et de le prier de remettre en echange du porteur de ce billet l'ouvrage de M.

Printed wraps, illus.., fold mark mainly affecting covers, mainly v.g. NO estimate or price lists

Saunders & Otley, publishers (BBTI), declining to "undertake the work he mentions". 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.

Evangelical churchman and preacher (1869-1936), National Secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association. First letter one page, quarto; second letter one page, octavo. Both very good though dusty. Both signed 'A. K. Yapp'. One letter docketed, and both bearing R.S.A. stamp. LETTER ONE: '[I]t is most probable that we can render the assistance indicated in your letter, and I should be very glad to meet you at some time mutually convenient.

Journalist (1855-1931), editor of Vanity Fair, 1889-1904. One page, quarto. Very good, if a little dusty. Docketed and bearing R.S.A. stamp. There is 'no apparent chance' of F. V. Brookes delivering his 'promised lecture' at the R.S.A. 'Of course I would be willing if necessary to read this paper for my old friend; but [...] I would very strongly urge that it would be better in every way to postpone this lecture for some time. Its subject is one that is peculiarly Mr. Brooks's own, and I think no one else would deal with it so well.' Signed 'Oliver A. Fry'.

Keeper of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum (1819-87). One page, 12mo. Docketed in ink on blank second leaf of bifoliate. 'I feel it my duty to publish a second edition of our Catalogue of Duplicates before the Sale takes place as there are so many mistakes. | As you went through the prints so carefully I should be glad to avail myself of your notes if you would kindly lend them to me for a day at the same time, I should wish to fullhy acknowledge the favour'. Signed 'Geo. Wilm Reid'.

Wraps, illustrated, 5 June 1961, inscribed by the scholar C.E. Wright who has noted prices and purchasers beside 9 items which interested him. He also notes that Cherry-Garrard originally paid £5000 for a missal. A flick through the pages throws up Back, Bligh, Dalrymple, Scoresby for polar exploration.

178 pages, 8vo. Poor: foxed and stained in worn and damaged boards. INSCRIBED by Iraizoz ('22 Agosto 1964') to his 'amigo y companero' Jose de la Luz Leon. A few unobtrusive annotations.

Fragment of a letter, c.3.5" x 3", laid down on slightly larger card, surving text as follows: "I have no story suitable. Hope you had a pleasant trip. Very truly yours / H Rider Haggard".

4 pages, folio. Somewhat grubby and creased, but in good condition overall. A standard Blond printed contract with manuscript additions and deletions. Signed 'Nelson W Aldrich /' and Anthony Blond'. The work does not appear to have been published.

One page, A4. In poor condition: creased and dogeared with several closed tears and a staple in the top left-hand corner. With 'not valid' in ms in top right-hand corner. The contribution, to be delivered by 1 August 1965, was to have been five thousand words in length, 'at the rate of 10 guineas for each thousand words of the contribution'. In the event it was replaced by Maureen Duffy's piece on 'Lesbianism in London'. Signed by 'Cressida Lindsay' and by 'Desmond Brian' on behalf of Blond.

One page, A4. Creased, dogeared and with a few small closed tears. The contribution was to be five thousand words in length, 'at the rate of 10 guineas for each thousand words'. Signed by 'Gillian Freeman', and by 'Desmond Brian' on behalf of Blond. Docketed record of two payments of fifty guineas in red ink manuscript in top right-hand corner.

Blackwood, Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple, first Marquis of Dufferin and Ava 1826-1902, diplomatist and administrator (DNB). One page, 8vo, tarces of having ben laid down in album, text cleqar and complete. "My dear Murray / A thousand thanks for your kind little note about Mrs Elliot's book . . ."

English engraver (1789-1843). Two pages, 12mo. Edges trimmed (with some loss to text), lightly creased and with some damage to head. Asks if the recipient has in his collection a print of Horace Walpole. 'If you have will you let me see it for , with price marked, will either return it or send the Money, Business preventing my <?> out <?> [...] Impressions of the Vandicke, should you have any grand Heads after that Master I should listen to see soon'. Signed 'W. F. Fry'. Docketed at head 'Mr Fry Engraver'.

Son (1854-1936) of the publisher John Murray and partner in the firm. The husband (1828-1915) of the recipient was a connoisseur and print collector. Two pages, 12mo. Folded three times. In very good condition. He cannot accept the dinner engagement for the 13th June. 'I have unfortunately an engagement on that evening to dine with friends in this neighbourhood.'

Journalist, economist and politician (1800-90), M.P. for Leeds. Two pages, 12mo. In poor condition: grubby, folded three times and with two spike holes at foot. 'I am not aware that I have any power to obtain a Midshipman's Commission for any one: but if I had, I should not think it right to use it except in the application of the parents or guardians of the young man wishing for it. I must therefore request you to make your wishes known to your parents; & if they desire it I might forward to the Board of Admiralty a written application from them.

Architect and engraver (1839-1922). One page, 12mo. With mourning border. In good condition, but with evidence of previous mounting on brown paper on reverse. Addressed to 'Dear Doctor'. He thanks him for his 'kind care of us' ('your crippled patient gave you much trouble') and asks him to accept a copy of his 'Belgium' ('Etchings in Belgium. With descriptive letterpress', 1878), which he is sending through the '' and 'will probably arrive someday'. Signed 'Ernest George'. Docketed in ink on reverse.

Bookseller (see DNB). One page, 8vo, conjoint blank laid down on backing paper. Text clear and complete, as follows:"I have just learned that the assignees of Sherwood & Co [publishers] are within a month to make a final dividend in that Estate & write this note to inform you of that circumstance in order that time may be given to the Bond Bill holder to preapre their proofs."

Publisher ("Hurst & Blackett"). Two pages, 8vo, conjoint blank leaf, verso with remnants of laying down process, mourning black edge, text clear and complete, saying that he'll call on Dixon the following morning at the Athenaeum Office "to settle the acc[oun]t for the last issue of New America and also to consult y[ou]r wishes as to the new volume wh[ich] is to be prepared for the Autumn" [ "Spiritual Wives (pubd 1868]) which led to him being accused of indecency.]

Author of "The Bengal Lancer". One page, obl.8vo, very good condition. "Our mutual friend Mr E.F. Benson suggested I should write to say when I expected to have the book ready which you have so kindly consented to read. / At present I can only give the ends of the week to revision, but I hope to have it ready for you by March 10 at latest. Thanking you for your interest, . .

Elizabeth Vassall Fox, Lady Holland, Society Hostess (DNB). Remnants of laying down process, chipped, text complete and clear, as follows: Lady Holland informs Mr Jeffery that in the set of English Poets sent to here there are six volumes wanting viz. 59, 60, 61, 62, 63 & 64 - which she wishes him to find as soon as possible in order to have the collection bound - She retruns one number of the Edinburgh [Review] as by mistake he has sent her two- / Holland House / Friday"

Diplomat (1755-1846) and bibliophile, one of the British Museum's greatest benefactors. Grenville's book collection, formerly in the Museum at Bloomsbury, is now kept with George III's books in a glass tower in the new British Library at Euston. Both items in very good condition, glued to the remains of a brown-paper mount. In a somewhat shaky version of Grenville's distinctive neat hand, so perhaps late productions. The note reads 'My Dear Sir | I am very sorry that, hearing of Lady Cawdor's illness I had promised Mr Gaskell to dine with him if I did not dine with Lady C.

Inchbald ran a 'gentleman's boarding academy'. The recipient Ward (1781-1871) was a master cutler and diarist, and one of the founders in 1822 of the Sheffield Literary and Philosophical Society. Three pages, 4to. Dusty but in very good condition, with small piece of second leaf of bifoliate cut away in opening the red wax seal. '[...] I write to you [...] to impose upon you some possibly irksome task. - Things are here in a Train towards the establishing [of] a public library & reading room.