Autograph letters and notes to John Russell Smith, publisher

Miscellaneous writer on subjects such as angling, ports and harbours, tobacco, wood-engraving - and playing cards (see below(DNB):Three ALs, signed (1) and initialled (2) to Smith, [1848], total 4pp., various formats, one in poor condition with minor loss of text.(March) Chatto asks Smith for specific books. He admits that his book on cards (Facts and Speculations on the Origin and History of Playing Cards, 1848) has preoccupied him at a time when he should have been putting the finishing touch "to the first chapter of my Introduction to the Dance of Death" but he expects to finish it in a couple of days. He asks for the bearer of the letter to be given a sovereign "to the account of the Dance of Death". (See Smith's letter below on the subject of payments for The Dance of Death.) Note: The Introduction to Holbein's Dance of Death, published by Smith in 1849, is attributed (perhaps misattributed) in BLC, etc. to F.W. Fairholt*, who illustrated some of Chatto's books. (April) Chatto acknowledges receipt of "the last clean sheets" of the book on cards. He is sending a list of errata found while he was preparing the Index. He insists that an "early copy" be sent to the editor of Blackwood's Magazine, giving final instructions about the description of the book in Smith's Catalogue and, in a postscript, asking that a complete copy be put together for him.(No date) He suggests adding a "Bibliography of Cards to render the work complete, and enhance its value much with Amateurs", giving the impression this would be a simple matter. Smith himself added "I wrote no answer to this JRS".With: Sixteen IOUs numbered 2-17, signed by Chatto and addressed to Smith, for sums ranging from £1 to £5, total £40, dated 15 August 1843-14 September 1846. This unusual survival confirms the view given by the letters of a needy author constantly requiring - and often getting - advances. And perhaps a generous publisher.And: John Russell Smith, Draft ALS to Chatto, 9 May 1848, one page, 8vo, explaining that, because business was bad (see his letter to William Bell above), he could not give Chatto's son £2 "when he called with the MS". He suggests that Chatto should complete the whole of the manuscript of The Dance of Death and he will then see if he can pay the balance (£9). 20 items,