[ English book trade and 'ringing' of auctions. ] Eight items including three typewritten articles, two by London bookseller Frank Marcham: 'The English "Knock-out."', 'London Dealers and their "Knock-Outs." and 'The Romance of Books and Manuscripts'

A fascinating collection of material, casting light on a furtive and little-discussed aspect of the English antiquarian book trade. (For further information see 'Anatomy of an Auction: Rare Books at Ruxley Lodge, 1919' by J. I. Freeman and A. M. Freeman, and 'Out of Print and into Profit', ed. G. Mandelbrote.) Of the eight items, all but Item Two below are in good condition, with light signs of age and wear. It would appear that some of the material at least was published, but precise details are not known. ONE: Corrected typescript of article titled 'The English "Knock-out." | Frank Marcham. The author's name has been deleted in pencil, and the following added as a subtitle: 'The rare book dealers are "whisperers."' 8pp., 4to. Dated at end in pencil 'Dec: 1931.' With a few emendations in ink, and an entire paragraph deleted. Revealing his own 'Knock-out' nickname to be 'Stormy Petrel', Marcham writes that 'This paper will supply one deficiency. Various collectors have talked about the "Knock-out" and some have tried to explain it, a thing impossible except from actual experience which I have had. My experience was gained among the English trade but French and German dealers of standing and at least one United States dealer have been admitted to the circle in London. Similarly our dealers have combined with the foreigner when abroad.' He discusses the legality of the arrangement, and the practicalities, including the 'London versus Country settlement' and the three London rings ('the "first", a second called "the Buffer State" and the "Rooms."') He gives several reminiscences, including one relating to two costly items, one of which 'took three years to sell and finally went to Mr. Folger [corrected in pencil from 'Huntington'] the other was broken up and must have proved a loss'. The deleted paragraph concerns an item bought in 'a Christie Miller sale' and 'Dr. Rosenbach'. Marcham considers that the practise 'to-day is a shadow of its former self but for forty years it worked untold harm'. He writes that 'Very few names appear in this account for good reasons', and comments that 'The greatest firm in the world [i.e. Quaritch] was never in my experience linked up with the shabby tricks played so often and the great firm that rivals the other [i.e. Maggs] attend [sic] strictly to business.' TWO: Duplicated typescript of article titled 'London Dealers and their "Knock-Outs."' Anonymous. 3pp., folio. With a few minor emendations. Heavily aged, especially the first page. The first paragraph reads: 'There is a fairly wide-spread belief that everything is known about the so-called "knock-out". References are freely made to it by disappointed vendors and would-be purchasers, yet it is safe to say that not one in ten of these people know what they are talking about. An unscientific phase of the evil as practised by the small suburban dealer was dealt with somee years ago by the "Amateur Casual", such as exists to-day unaltered. Hitherto the educated west end tradesman hahs been exempt from attack, though why is not exactly clear. The picture-dealers, the print and curio dealers, and the book dealers each have their own private and exclusive combination. By mentioning these trades it is not intended to convey the idea that they are the only ones affected, the system indeed being all but universal.' Critical of the practice ('The auctioneers are powerless'), and praising the 'higher morality of Oxford or Cambridge'. THREE: Duplicated typescript of article, titled 'The Romance of Books and Manuscripts | By Frank Marcham'. 5pp., 4to. The start of the article only, the fifth page ending mid-sentence. Marcham writes: 'I am not defending the knock out which I think is a silly wasteful way of trading, but I have partaken in many of them, and finally, when sickened of the never ending trickery and shams of dealers, I did much to destroy the thing itself in the rare book trade.' Contains an account of an 'imaginary settlement', largely rehashing the material in Item One. FOUR: Duplicated typescript copy of unattributed and undated letter to unnamed periodical, headed 'The "Knock-Out".' 2pp., 8vo. The author defends the book trade against criticism of the practice, beginning: 'Sir, | You commenced very well on Oct. 23 with a Blow at the Knock-Out, but you have now dropped the windy prefix. Possibly you have imagined an evil and proved it by many words; the fact remains that no single proof has yet been adduced of the existence of such a combination. Discusses the 'Foley First Folio' (regarding which see the Freemans' book, cited above): 'Mr. Philpot possesses over a thousand of the Foley books: has he paid Lord Foley the difference between the auction price and the price he would have to pay a second-hand bookseller; or has he sold some of his wonderful bargains (unmentioned) at fabulous figures?' FIVE: Duplicated typewritten copy of unattributed letter to the editor of the Hornsey Journal from 133 Devonshire Road, Mill Hill [London]. 10 September 1936. He boasts of 'scores of marked catalogues and dividend bills that support my statements about the knock out [...] I have not yet said so but Folger spent £3,000,000 and Huntington £5,000,000 on their collections respectively. Captain Farley (of Friern Barnet) once said to me that he had no idea that any book was worth more than a few shillings. There must be hundreds of others like him.' SIX: Galley proof headed: 'G. A. TRAXLER - | THE ROMANCE OF BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPTS. | By FRANK MARCHAM.' Not reproducing any material from Item Three above, and in no way relating to the 'Knock Out'. Divided under the headings: 'Valuable Books', 'History of Hornsey', 'A Specialised Pursuit', 'Antiquarian Bookseller', 'Story of a Victory' and 'A Big Hand'. SEVEN and EIGHT: Two photocopies. The first a typewritten copy of an undated letter to the bookseller Percy Muir, 'c/o The Superintendent | Model Dwellings | Streatham St W C'. Unattributed, but by Marcham. Commending Muir's 'very able article in the Bibliographical Society's Transactions', Marcham writes: 'You have now a very present knowledge of what Jewish influence and domination means in the filthy article (which I who am catolic [sic] was unable to read to the end'. Continues with references to 'the spirit of Jewry', 'a cesspool', etc. 'I like a typewriting machine because it is so much sweeter to be incoherent upon it without risking innuendoed. [sic]' The second photocopy is of Muir's handwritten reply, on letterhead of the London booksellers Elkin Mathews Ltd, dated 23 October. He thanks him for 'the only written appreciation I have had', adding that he has only been surprised by 'the incompetence' with which 'the attack' was carried out.