SCRIPOPHILY

These two items cast interesting light on the working practices of a notable firm in a specialist field of printing. ONE: From Perkins, Bacon & Petch, 16 January 1852. 4pp., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. They have received his letter, from which they quote a passage in which Bennet states that on 'account of the inconvenience caused by the time which must elapse before we can obtain a supply of Letters of Credit from London to revert to our former practice of obtaining them from our Edinbugh Engraver.

The Van Diemen's Land Company was formed in 1824 by a group of London merchants, including Charles Richard Fenwick (1822-1888) and Thomas Dyer Edwardes (d.1912), to supply wool for the British textile industry. It received a Royal Charter the following year. In 1826 it was granted 350,000 acres in the northwest of the country. It established its headquarters at Circular Head. The company retains much of the original land grant and is believed to be the last chartered company still operating in Tasmania.

12mo, 8 leaves opening to make seven sets of columns running across seven pairs of facing pages. Stitched, and within original yellow printed wraps, with rough cloth weave. Lightly aged and worn, but in good condition overall, and free from any manuscript entries (i.e. not filled in). The front wrap is headed by a governmental crest, and carries eleven lines of text. Five lines of text, and the slug, on the back wrap ('The Officers engaged in the discharge of their duties under this Ordinance shall not disclose, except to the Governor, or in due course of law, the name of any Depositor.').