Catalogue of Manuscripts for Sale, and other items

Two items sewn together, with additional two ALSs dividing them, disbound, no wraps. First item: (Printed) "Catalogue of Manuscripts for Sale", 16pp. 8vo, inc. title, trimmed at bottom with slight loss of text, initially listing subscribing authors by name or by the titles of books they have published, also listing other subscribersand giving the name of the secretary, J. Playster Steed. Classes of works are then listed (from novels to theology, offer made of "proof slips 3 vol. novels . . . previous to publication in book form (section headed "Provincial Press"). There follows an eleven-page list of "Fiction", "Magazine Articles", "Sporting", "Educational", "Novelettes", "Theology" - giving author (or "By the author of ... "), details of other writing (periodical contributions), quotations from reviews, etc. Second item: Two Autograph Letters initialled "[F.A.N?]" mentioning the catalogue and his work published by Nisbet called "Characteristics of Human Life" (no trace found in UK or USA). Third Item: (Printed) 30pp., 8vo (possibly incomplete), initially giving the aims and systems of the Society (as agents - "supports the interests and promotes the welfare of those desirous of following a remunerative literary career" - and publishers). "Systems" include author's choice of sellin MS outright or optherwise (six alternatives). "Advantages of Membership" (2pp.) are then listed; followed by "Extract from Report, January 1887", giving full detail of published works, including extensive quotation from reviews (one half to full-page). Note: No famous authors. Also see James Hepburn, "The Author's Empty Purse, p.43 (and the surrounding Chapter). The London Literary Society were part of the undergrowth from which the Literary Agent emerged ("literary agent as vanity publisher"). BLC lists 51 titles published by the Society, 1885-1887 (one dated 1880).