Book Trade History

Poss. Thomas Twining, divine, musician, linguist and translator of Aristotle, 1735-1804, DNB. Scrap of paper, 7 x 2", some marks, spike-hole, text clear and apparently complete. "Paley's natural Theology/ in good plain binding./for Mr Twining./ Nov 20. 1802." Twining nor Paley (save pos. ref.) in Besterman.

One page, 4to, some discoloration and damage, but text clear and complete. "We fully expected you the night before last but your note of yesterday morning left not a doubt in our minds but that you would have been punctual to your appointment, it is highly necessary that we should see you, therefore pray return some answer that may dissipate doubt and suspense, is very busy staining the wals of the room and has therefore desir'd me to communicate his ideas --" I cannot identify the writer of the letter of "Ireland who may be the witer John Ireland (d.1808, DNB) of "Hogarth Illustrated".

Book Collector. One page, 4to, discoloured, sl. chipped, fold marks, mainly good, clear text. "Mr. Watson Taylor requests Mr Triphook to send him down Ld Byron's new Work as soon as it comes out. enquiring first whether he is in Town at the time. He also wishes to have "Hints on the formation of Gardens & pleasure Grounds royal 4to coloured 3 gs. - at Gale & Jenners also the Rejected Addresses on drawing paper hot pressed - 10/6d.

See de Ricci, Quaritch, for Earl of Jersey, Francis Child, Osterley Park. One page, 8vo, spike-hole, sl. grubby, text readable and complete. "Lady Jersey wants to a person to come down & arrange the Library here - It w[oul]d be a work of 7 or 8 Days & requires an intelligent Person used to the <?> - If there is any ["Person" excised] one [inserted] whom you hear of or belonging to you whom you could recommend to do it be so good as to write to Lady Jersey <?> upon it -". S.M. Ellis, Ainswworth, i.159, quotes Ainsworth letter: " . . .?>

A. One page, 8vo, bifoliate, spike-hole, fold marks, minor damage, corner nearly detached, text clear and complete. "Dear Sir./ I beg you will do me the favour to let me know immediately on receipt of this, the exact quantity of tonnage it will be necessary to apply for in order to send 500 [underlined] Copies of the Register to Calcutta, 300do. to Madras, and 100 [underlined] to Bombay.

One page and two pages (1842), 12mo, bifoliate, former has recipeint's name on verso of second leaf, textsa clear and complete. (No date) "My dear Sir,/ There are two commas wanting in the last proofs. I have indicated their proper places; and I charge you to see them supplied under pain of being indicted before the Editor himself for treasonable insubordination." (1842) "My dear Sir,/ I will send you, by Friday's post, the first part of the next article, and by Monday at the latest, the second.

Legal and misc. writer (1750-1832). Part of page (trimmed), 5 x 5", stained but text clear and complete. "I wished to see you, on your return from Clark, tomention my doubt whether the manuscript, which I put into your hands, is proper in its present state, for insertion in the review, which [excisions] you notived [excison] to [inserted] me;- If you will have the goodness to return it to me, I will endeavour to cast it into a more proper form for your publication:-".

Two pages, 4to, corner torn off with seal (must have been delivered by hand), text clear. Do errors and changes indicate a draft? - but sealed? "Sr. / I am but just now returned from a long tour in the North of England Scotland &c which has prevented me seeing & replying to your very kind communication of the late Mr Rivetts Letters [two words underlined] from Athens &c.

(1749-1829). Two pages, 8vo, good. "Mr Triphook/ I called yesterday at Cary's for a Map, & He [sic] informed, that there is an excellent English Gazet[t]eer lately published by Capper, & printed for Baldwin Pater Noster Row - I have long sought for one, & will be much obliged to you to look out for that for me - / And I am sure you can procure me the last Eton School List, now their Vacation has commenced. I wish you make Enquiry at the Heralds [sic] Office about Sr George Naylers Work of the Coronation.

Two pages, 12mo. Very good. Thanks his correspondent for 'your kind letter & for the hospitality you have given me in the North American Review. I hope you will be able to bring out my article in the March Number as the political Kaleidoscope changes so quickly that some part may appear belated if it is long delayed.' Asks for a change to be made if it is not possible to bring the piece out in the March issue. Signed 'W E H Lecky'.

One page, trimmed, 6 x 5", some defects but text clear and apprently complete, as follows: "Professor Wilson wishes the enclosed LIst to be set up immediately [underlined]; & a proof of it to be ready in the [shop?] [phrase underlined] at 10 O'Clock tomorro morning [underlined] as it will be wanted at 1/2 Eleven." A further instruction, "Set it up in the same [?]" is crossed out. An interesting insight into Wilson's relationship with Blackwood's printers.

English architect (1766-1840). Very good. On piece of paper (roughly 4 1/2 inches by 5 1/4 inches) cut from envelope, with partial Windsor address on reverse. Formal letter in the third person to Priestley & Weale, architectural booksellers in High Holborn. Reads 'Mr. J Wyatville's compts. to Messrs. Priestley & Weal [sic] supposes the number herewith returned to have been sent by mistake as he does not subscribe to the work.' Cutting from book catalogue 'tipped' to foot of letter. Docketed in pencil at head.

One page, very good. Postcard illustration of Marie Taglioni. In Bentley's distinctive neat hand. 'If & when Angus & Robertson's traveller shows you a book called Dead Funny, illus. by Bill Tidy, pubs. Ask & Grant, I hope you'll feel compelled to place a huge order: The Grant is Arabella's husband, just breaking into publishing (mad!) How are you & Billie? We should love to see you both, but I doubt that you ever come this way. If you do, you can count on a warm bed & reception. Try & make it sometimes.' Signed 'Nick'.

Engineer. "Born in Paris on June 21, 1774, former Adviser of State, free Member of the Academy of Science, [he] was, in 1832, general Inspecteur of 1st class and president of the general Council of the Mines" (from Internet). Also author. One page, 8vo, good condition. Text either third person or, more likely, secretarial as follows: M. H. de Villefosse a l'honneur de saluer Monsieur le Bibliothecaire de l'Institut, de lui envoyer l'ouvrage de M. [Solvyns?], et de le prier de remettre en echange du porteur de ce billet l'ouvrage de M.

Printed wraps, illus.., fold mark mainly affecting covers, mainly v.g. NO estimate or price lists

Saunders & Otley, publishers (BBTI), declining to "undertake the work he mentions". Originally from a larger archive, the residue of which is described in #3157 (Hewlett's papers), this and other items appear in my ABE inventory in book id#s 3124-3156.

Keeper of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum (1819-87). One page, 12mo. Docketed in ink on blank second leaf of bifoliate. 'I feel it my duty to publish a second edition of our Catalogue of Duplicates before the Sale takes place as there are so many mistakes. | As you went through the prints so carefully I should be glad to avail myself of your notes if you would kindly lend them to me for a day at the same time, I should wish to fullhy acknowledge the favour'. Signed 'Geo. Wilm Reid'.

Journalist (1855-1931), editor of Vanity Fair, 1889-1904. One page, quarto. Very good, if a little dusty. Docketed and bearing R.S.A. stamp. There is 'no apparent chance' of F. V. Brookes delivering his 'promised lecture' at the R.S.A. 'Of course I would be willing if necessary to read this paper for my old friend; but [...] I would very strongly urge that it would be better in every way to postpone this lecture for some time. Its subject is one that is peculiarly Mr. Brooks's own, and I think no one else would deal with it so well.' Signed 'Oliver A. Fry'.

Evangelical churchman and preacher (1869-1936), National Secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association. First letter one page, quarto; second letter one page, octavo. Both very good though dusty. Both signed 'A. K. Yapp'. One letter docketed, and both bearing R.S.A. stamp. LETTER ONE: '[I]t is most probable that we can render the assistance indicated in your letter, and I should be very glad to meet you at some time mutually convenient.

Wraps, illustrated, 5 June 1961, inscribed by the scholar C.E. Wright who has noted prices and purchasers beside 9 items which interested him. He also notes that Cherry-Garrard originally paid £5000 for a missal. A flick through the pages throws up Back, Bligh, Dalrymple, Scoresby for polar exploration.

178 pages, 8vo. Poor: foxed and stained in worn and damaged boards. INSCRIBED by Iraizoz ('22 Agosto 1964') to his 'amigo y companero' Jose de la Luz Leon. A few unobtrusive annotations.

Fragment of a letter, c.3.5" x 3", laid down on slightly larger card, surving text as follows: "I have no story suitable. Hope you had a pleasant trip. Very truly yours / H Rider Haggard".

One page, A4. In poor condition: creased and dogeared with several closed tears and a staple in the top left-hand corner. With 'not valid' in ms in top right-hand corner. The contribution, to be delivered by 1 August 1965, was to have been five thousand words in length, 'at the rate of 10 guineas for each thousand words of the contribution'. In the event it was replaced by Maureen Duffy's piece on 'Lesbianism in London'. Signed by 'Cressida Lindsay' and by 'Desmond Brian' on behalf of Blond.

One page, A4. Creased, dogeared and with a few small closed tears. The contribution was to be five thousand words in length, 'at the rate of 10 guineas for each thousand words'. Signed by 'Gillian Freeman', and by 'Desmond Brian' on behalf of Blond. Docketed record of two payments of fifty guineas in red ink manuscript in top right-hand corner.

4 pages, folio. Somewhat grubby and creased, but in good condition overall. A standard Blond printed contract with manuscript additions and deletions. Signed 'Nelson W Aldrich /' and Anthony Blond'. The work does not appear to have been published.

Son (1811-93) of the essayist (1778-1830), and editor of his works. Three pages, 12mo. Stained and grubby. Docketed, with date on blank reverse of second leaf of bifoliate. He will be pleased to see the portrait which his correspondent describes. 'I very well remember that there was a chalk portrait by Bewick which would seem to be that you mention and there was an engraving of it in the life of my Father which I wrote some short time after his death & I do not remember whence that impression was derived.

English engraver (1789-1843). Two pages, 12mo. Edges trimmed (with some loss to text), lightly creased and with some damage to head. Asks if the recipient has in his collection a print of Horace Walpole. 'If you have will you let me see it for , with price marked, will either return it or send the Money, Business preventing my <?> out <?> [...] Impressions of the Vandicke, should you have any grand Heads after that Master I should listen to see soon'. Signed 'W. F. Fry'. Docketed at head 'Mr Fry Engraver'.?>

Blackwood, Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple, first Marquis of Dufferin and Ava 1826-1902, diplomatist and administrator (DNB). One page, 8vo, tarces of having ben laid down in album, text cleqar and complete. "My dear Murray / A thousand thanks for your kind little note about Mrs Elliot's book . . ."

Son (1854-1936) of the publisher John Murray and partner in the firm. The husband (1828-1915) of the recipient was a connoisseur and print collector. Two pages, 12mo. Folded three times. In very good condition. He cannot accept the dinner engagement for the 13th June. 'I have unfortunately an engagement on that evening to dine with friends in this neighbourhood.'

Son (1794-1842) of King William IV by Mrs Jordan. One page, 12mo. In good condition, though slightly grubby and with remains of brown-paper mount adhering above address on verso of second leaf of bifoliate. Reads 'Lord Munster presents his Compts: to Mess Evans & Co of Pall Mall & will feel obliged to them to give him some information respecting some Arabic or other oriental MSS - which they are to sell by auction -'. Munster was for some time President of the Asiatic Society. For Robert Harding Evans (1777-1857), the greatest of all book-auctioneers, see M.