Book Trade History

Autograph Note Signed to an unknown correspondent.

Author: 
S.C. Hall.
Publication details: 
Art Journal Office, 15 June (n.y.).
£30.00

Irish author and editor (1800-1889). One page, 8vo, good. He is thanking his correspondent on behalf of his wife for his contributionof a “little picture . . . in aid of the governess asylum”.

Autograph Letter Signed to [Samuel Christie-Miller].

Author: 
B.B. Woodward.
Publication details: 
Buckingham Palace, 10 Sept. 1869.
£50.00

Librarian at Windsor Castle. Three pages, 8vo, good condition. "I am one of hte unfortunates of the earth . . ." He is unable to accept an invitation to Britwell (hence the identification of Samuel Christie-Miller as the correspondent) because he "cannot keep off the demands of the printers any longer, & I must work." He hopes, however, to welcome him to the Library (Windsor) and to have the invitation to Britwell repeated. He adds a paragraph about "the great loss all Bibliophiles have experienced in the death of Mr Thomas Watts of the British Museum.

Autograph Letter Signed to Mrs de Salis.

Author: 
B.B. Woodward.
Publication details: 
Windsor Castle, 18 May 1866.
£45.00

Librarian at Windsor Castle (DNB). Three pages, 8vo, good condition. He has received a reply to his letter to publishers, Chapman & Hall who claim to have sent "No.II" (prob. of ‘The Fine Arts Quarterly Review,’ which appeared from May 1863 to June 1867, which Woodward founded and edited) at the "proper time" but they have sent another copy. The titlepage, index &c will be given when the new number comes out." He discusses his excessive "mental work" and current "idling", and requirement of a "real holiday".

Autograph Letter Signed to Ifan Kyrle Fletcher.

Author: 
Serge Leslie.
Publication details: 
Los Angeles, March 1858.
£120.00

Ballet. Fletcher was a bookseller specialising in Performing Arts and founder of the Society for Theatre Research. One page, 4to, chipped, four small tears, fold mark, punch-holes, small hole in centre, but complete and legible. He thanks Fletcher for submitting a print to "us" (Leslie and Niles?) but they decline regretfully, requesting others from the Romantic Period as they occur. "The 'Pas de Quatre' is most beautiful and now graces our walls." He requests an English translation of "Stepanow alphabet les Mouvements du Corps Humain".

Autograph Letters Signed (six) to J.G. Wilson, Chairman of J & E. Bumpus.

Author: 
James Milne.
Publication details: 
London, 1929-1933.
£120.00

Author of "The Road to Kashmir" and others. Total seven pages, 8vo (4) and 4to (1), good condition. He discusses "The Road to Kashmir" (sales, etc.) and "A Window on Fleet Street". He discusses at length a circular relating to the latter from John Murray which he sends (not present) in response to Murray's request for him to send it to "good book readers and good book buyers". (Wilson is "the goodest [bookseller] in London".) Frank Mumby describes Wilson as "one of the outstanding booksellers of the day" (1956 ed., p.235). Six items,

Typed Letter Signed to Prof. S. Langdon (Oxford), with seven related items.

Author: 
Arthur Probsthain.
Publication details: 
41 Great Russell Street, London, WC1, 7 May 1931 [-1932].
£225.00

Bookseller (Oriental and India). All eight items with fold marks, but good condition. They relate to the publication of Sir John Marshall's (ed.) "Mohenjodaro and the Indus Civilisation" (3 vols., 1931), described by Probsthain himself in Andrew Block's "A Short History of the Principal London Antiquarian Booksellers" (1933): "[My] largest work . . . has for its subject the discovery of most ancient India . . . edited by Sir John Marshall, Director-General of Archaeology in India.

Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed correspondent.

Author: 
J.H. Parker.
Publication details: 
Oxford, 19 Nov. 1836.
£100.00

Oxford Bookseller and Publisher (1806-1884). Two pages, 8vo, chipped and sl. marked, but text mainly clear. "Sir/ At the requestof Mr. Hill and Mr. Renand I write you a few lines respecting the books you wished to enquire about -on the Articles I send - but it is the most scarce of 's pieces- The Harmony of Confessions is a very [underlined] book.

Typed Letter Signed (1943) and three Typed Notes Signed to J.G. Wilson, Chairman of Messrs J & E. Bumpus

Author: 
Humphrey Milford.
Publication details: 
OUP, 4 & 11 Oct. 1929, 26 May 1932, and 16 March 1943.
£120.00

Publisher, Oxford University Press. One page each, 8vo (2) and 4to (2), one grubby, fold marks, minor defects, but texts clear and complete. Two are goodhumoured, brief, and concerning social trivia. The one sent in 1932 goes: "This is to introduce Sir Wallis Budge. I have told him you are the best bookseller in London, and would be able to get him all he wanted." (one ms. correction and one ms. addition). The letter dated 1943 discusses the works of Mark Rutherford: "I remember in very old days you were a devoted admirer of my late brother-in-law, Mark Rutherofrd.

Autograph Note, third person, to the Lord Mayor of London and wife.

Author: 
Anthony Panizzi.
Publication details: 
British Museum, 3 June (no year).
£45.00

Chief Librarian, British Museum (1797-1879). One page, 8vo, bifoliate, sl. marked, fold marks, text clear and complete. "Mr Panizzi presents his compliments to the Lord Mayor . . . and regrets very much that a previous engagement will prevent him from having the honour . . ."

Autograph Letter Signed and two autograph notes signed to J.G. Wilson, Chairman of J & E. Bumpus's.

Author: 
Thomas Moult.
Publication details: 
London, 20 Aug. and 14 Nov. 1930, and 15 Nov. 1932.
£60.00

Miscellaneous Writer (Poetry Society). Total 4pp., 8vo. He is enlisting Wilson's aid in selling his new book (favourably reviewed by Evelyn Waugh) and requesting a list of distinguished visitors to Bumpus's (bookshop) (Walter) Scott {Centenary] Exhibition to establish who was interested in Scott at that time. Frank Mumby describes Wilson as "one of the outstanding booksellers of the day" (1956 ed., p.235). Four items,

Typed letter signed to J.G. Wilson, Chairman of Bumpus's, booksellers

Author: 
John Johnson
Publication details: 
18/08/32
£45.00

OUP. One page 8vo. A brief note about unpacking "Buenos Aires material" which had presumably been there for an exhibition.

Typed Agreement on the production of Christie's "Appointment with Death".

Author: 
Bertie Alexander Meyer and Derrick de Marney.
Publication details: 
London, 5 May 1944.
£150.00

Agreement "to be associated in the exploitation of the said Play", 4pp., folio, manuscript correctionsand additions initialled throughout by the above parties, and finally signed by both. WITH: Typed copy of the agreemen,t5 May 1944, between Agatha Mallowan (Christie) and Bertie Alexander Meyer for the rights to produce a play, 4pp., folio, NOT signed; AND: Typed copy of agreement, 30 Sept. 1942, between the same parties for the rights to "Ten Little Niggers", 4pp., folio, some pencilled annotation, NOT signed; AND: Typed copy agreement, 9 Sept.

Two typed notes signed to J.G. Wilson, Chairmand of J & E Bumpus, booksellers.

Author: 
Norman Collins
Publication details: 
14 and 18 July 1947
£40.00

Novelist. One page each, 8vo. He is responding to an invitation and outlining a busy schedule. 2 items,

Autograph Letter initialled "R" to Daniel George, author and publisher's reader

Author: 
Rupert Hart-Davis
Publication details: 
17/05/44
£45.00

Publisher. 2pp., 8vo. He discusses his reading which includes Blunden's "Cricket Country", some done for professional reasons.

Autograph Letters Signed to unknown correspondent(s?),

Author: 
Walter Crane
Publication details: 
Holland Street and Neufchatel respectively, 3 Nov. 1904 and 31 August 1931
£180.00

Artist and Poet (1845-1915). Two Autograph Letters Signed, 2 pages and one page respectively, 4to, staining and damage especially to 1910 letter, but texts clear. (1904) Crane outlines his understanding of "the terms under which 'The Golden Primer' was produced" based on his co-author's (Meiklejohn) letters - three fifths of the proceeds. He quotes relevant detail from two letters,on of which discusses a cheap edition for schools. "I find a dummy copy of this with a cover design of mine & Blackwood's imprint". He thinks a re-issue in the "original form" a good idea.

Autograph postcard signed to J.G. Wilson, Chairman of Bumpus's, booksellers

Author: 
R.H. Bruce Lockhart
Publication details: 
21/02/33
£35.00

Author. Two sides of card used, thanking Wilson for obtaining for him an invitation from John Buchan to be a guest at the National Book Trade Dinner and for the "splendid showing" he arranged for his book (probably "British Agent") at Bumpus's.

Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed correspondent, and a MS examination text

Author: 
Samuel Lee
Publication details: 
11/07/33
£200.00

Orientalist and Cambridge Professor (1783-1852). Two pages, 4to, responding to a request for advice for the son of the correspondent who is engaged in preparing a Hebrew Lexicon. Lee gives some solid advice but finally points out that he is engaged on a similar task. WITH: the manuscript text with corrections, two pages, 4to, in Lee's hand, of the examination for the Crosse scholarship (presumably a Cambridge prize) involving Greek, Arabic, Hebrew and Syriac. WITH: an 8vo print of Samuel Lee. Three items,

Autograph note signed to the Revd Mr. Lye (perhaps Edward Lye - see DNB)

Author: 
Peter Whalley
Publication details: 
29 Sept. 1766
£100.00

Author and editor (1722-1791). Two pages, 4to. comprising a note and a list of questions, a tear but not affecting text. Whalley requests Lye's help in getting answers to these questions concerning the history of Easton (Northants), a history drawn "from Mr Bs [Bridges'] Collections". Whalley eventually published "History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire" compiled from Bridges' manuscript collections in 1791.

Autograph letter signed to unnamed correspondent

Author: 
J.R. Seeley
Publication details: 
4 Nov. [1878?]
£35.00

Historian and essayist (1834-1895). One page, 8vo. He discussses Baron Tauchnitz's involvement in one of his books [probably the "Life and Times of Stein; or, Germany & Prussia in the Napoleonic Age" (Todd 1849, Cambridge, 1878)]. "As to the honorarium, I am advised that Baron Tauchnitz ought to make an offer".

Autograph letter signed to Calder[?].

Author: 
Jeremiah Joyce.
Publication details: 
Highgate, 5 Dec. 1808.
£100.00

Compiler and educational writer, including "Scientific Dialogues" (1764-1816). One page, 8vo, sl. grubby and frayed but text clear and complete. "I enclose you what I drew up for the M{onthly] Magazine" asking for it to be returned as it is his only copy. He refers to the ill health of Mrs Calder [?], presumably the correspondent's wife to whom he sends good wishes and compliments. In a postscript he says "you will in No. Xii of Nicholson have an article on Will - freedom, by the author of the art.[?]Necessity".

Autograph letters signed (x 4) to "J. Strathall"

Author: 
Beriah Botfield
Publication details: 
1845-1849
£200.00

Bibliographer (1807-1863). Total 5pp., three 8vo, one 4to, mainly concerning his exploration of his own family history (Boteville, etc.).

Autograph letter not signed to The Editor of the Quarterly Review (Lockhart).

Author: 
Rev. Arthur Hudleston.
Publication details: 
11/02/33
£45.00

Two pages, 8vo, good condition. With a note identifying the writer who simply describes himself in his letter as "The Author of the accompanying volume of sermons" of which he asks the Editor to give an early notice. He offers the "accustomed remuneration [!] for this trouble through his publishers." He asks for the book to be returned to his publishers (Rivington) if no review is contemplated. N.B. Rivington published Hudleston's "Discourses on Religion and Morality".

Statements of Account (x 2), signed.

Author: 
W.H. Russell
Publication details: 
1853
£65.00

Irish war correspondent amd miscellaneous writer (1820-1907). 2pp., 8vo. One signed twice by Russell, the other initialled. The statement gives details of three articles contributed to the Miscellany, including "The Lewis - What is it?".

Autograph Note Signed to "Grey" of the British Museum

Author: 
J.E. Alexander
Publication details: 
06/10/51
£35.00

General and military writer (1803-1885). One page, 8vo. He encloses a memorandum (?) about "Mr Fowler's Colonial Fishes of Canada" (drawings), asking if any of his friends would like to subscribe. The memorandum is written on a conjoint page and is from R.J. Fowler. He is anxious for his drawings to go to London and discusses them with their prices

Autograph Letter, third person to Sir Cuthbert Sharp, antiquary

Author: 
John Wilson Croker,
Publication details: 
14/04/24
£35.00

Statesman and writer. 2pp., 8vo. He thanks Sharp for sending some books to him but points out that the books need not have travelled under Francis Freeling's cover as Croker's held good unrestrictedly.

The Colonel Mark Wilks and Sir Tollemache Sinclair Napoleon Collection

Author: 
A Member of the Bibliographical Society
Publication details: 
n.d.
£45.00

Privately Printed. 50pp., 4to, grey wraps, sl. sunned, mainly vg.

Autograph Letter Signed to "The Editor, Temple Bar"

Author: 
Francis Allitsee
Publication details: 
1 Nov. (n.y.)
£25.00

Song writer (1849-1912). 2pp., 8vo. He expresses fulsome gratitude for being allowed to set a lyric (unnamed) to music.

Autograph Note, third person, to the Librarian of the London Library.

Author: 
Lord Clanricarde.
Publication details: 
Stratton St, 18 March 1869.
£50.00

One page, 8vo, signs of having been laid down text clear and complete. "Lord Clanricarde will be much obliged if the Librarian of the London Library will send him by the bearer, the Life & Memoirs of Lieutenant Drummond [over excision], some time Chief Secretary in Ireland."

Autograph note signed to unknown correspondent (name removed).

Author: 
Robert Curzon.
Publication details: 
24 Arlington St, 28 May 1867.
£85.00

Traveller, discoverer of manuscripts, diplomat and author, fourteenth Baron Zouche (or de la Zouche) of Harringworth (1810-1873). One page, 12mo, good condition though name of correspondent removed. "I shall have great pleasure in accepting your kind invitation to dinner on the 6th of June. If I am not at Paris at that time. I do not expect to be there, but am not quite certain. I will write again in case I should go."

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