Book Trade History

Engraving by Bolton from an illustration by Prior, of 'the Booksellers' Provident Retreat at Abbots Langley, Herts'.

Author: 
The Booksellers' Provident Institution [Thomas Bolton, wood engraver; William Henry Prior (c.1812-82), illustrator]
Publication details: 
[1848].
£250.00

Landscape. Dimensions of paper roughly nine inches by thirteen and a half. Trimmed. Clear image on aged and foxed paper. Captioned 'This ENGRAVING of the BOOKSELLERS' PROVIDENT RETREAT at Abbots Langley, Herts, erected upon ground presented by JOHN DICKINSON, ESQ.

Printed Advertisement Leaf containing list of books printed by him.

Author: 
R. Helder, Bookseller and Printer, 10, Duke Street, West Smithfield, London.
Publication details: 
R. HELDER, Printer, 10, Duke Street, Smithfield.' [circa 1820]
£450.00

Two pages, on a rough-edged leaf approximately seven inches by four. Good, though aged and a lightly stained. A highly interesting list of twenty-seven titles by a radical publisher. Several works relating to Robert Wedderburn and Thomas Davison. Also 'The Cast-Iron Parson', 'A Peep after Hell' and 'GREAT GORGY: giving a Humourous Description of his Journey to Westminster, on Giff, the Ch-lor's Grey Mare'. Ends 'The Trade Supplied with all the Popular Works of the Day. | Printing & Bookbinding | NEATLY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY EXECUTED. | NEWSPAPERS SERVED IN TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Thirty-one secondhand booksellers' catalogues (one a duplicate).

Author: 
Bickers; Alfred Cooper; W. Downing; T. Gladwell; W. George; Kerr & Richardson; C. Lowe; Uriah Maggs; J. Mathews; J. Neale; Parry & Hales; W. Paterson; Reeves & Turner; J. Roche; H. Sotheran; H. Young
Publication details: 
1880-1882; London, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester.
£450.00

all octavo, in worn nineteenth-century binding, with front hinge loose, lacking spine. New endpapers. All items good, on aged paper with occasional foxing. An invaluable collection, providing a snapshot of secondhand bookselling in provincial Victorian England within an extremely short timescale. Several of the booksellers are not represented in the British Library collection, and others are only represented by catalogues of a later date. Of note are the two catalogues published by Sotheran's Manchester arm, the existence of which is not mentioned in Andrew Block's 'Short History' (1933).

Autograph Letter Signed to the Rev. Henry Blunt, Pau, Pyrenees (DNB)

Author: 
Thomas Hatchard, bookseller, publisher (BBTI - 1856 ADD 1842), son of John Hatchard.
Publication details: 
London, 15 March 1842.
£200.00

Two pages, fol., fragile, sl. chipped, inch round hole in second page with some loss of text. Hatchard reports on the distribution of copies of his book ["A Family Exposition of the Pentateuch: Genesis" (J. Hatchard, 1841)] as "From the Author", giving a substantial list occupying the second page (c.80 names consisting of the great and the good, with excisions, corrections and additions, with six names ticked and three show multiple copies). He tells him how many copies have been printed of the first and second editions, the issuing of the second he expects to give the first "a lift".

Manuscript invoice/receipt Signed to Lord Glenbervie.

Author: 
[George Wickins for George & William Nicol, publishers and booksellers (BBTI)
Publication details: 
58 Pall Mall, 1814[-1815].
£45.00

One page, c.8 x 6", minor defects, mainly good condition. 17s 6d received in payment of an invoice for "Philosophical Transactions" for 1814.

Receipted Invoice Signed, account of "Dr Stewart / Spring Bank".

Author: 
[ABERDEEN BOOKSELLER] John Smith, bookseller and stationer, [bookbinder]
Publication details: 
Aberdeen, 50 Union Street, 19 May 1833.
£95.00

One page, c.16 x 6.5", good condition. The list includes history including military, geology, theology and other subjects. A list of volumes bound is appended. Note:A "Lewis Smith", wholesale stationers, printers and publishers, bookbinder and circulating library , occupied 50 Union Street, 1842+ No mention of a "John Smith" (SBTI).

Printed Advertisement Leaf advertising Mavor's 'Voyages, Travels, and Discoveries'.

Author: 
E[dward]. Newbery, Bookseller, Corner of St. Paul's Church-Yard, London
Publication details: 
London; [1797].
£60.00

Two pages, on leaf roughly eight and a half inches by five. Very good, with three stab holes along one margin. Headed 'NEW COLLECTION OF VOYAGES AND TRAVELS, [...] This Day is published'.

Two Invoices Unsigned and one receipt signed "T Hookham", for "Mrs Greville".

Author: 
Thomas Hookham, bookseller, bookbinder, stationer, librarian/owner of circulating library, publisher (BBTI)
Publication details: 
One manuscript invoice, July-Nov. 1784; One headed invoice, "at his Circulating Library, No. 147, New Bond Street", 22 Jan. 1785; Manuscript receipt, 26 March 1785.
£150.00

Total three pages, various formats, minor defects. Items include stationery, pens, plays, poetry, periodicals, history

Invoice, very substantial, for "Miss Fordyce", concluding with a statement of receipt signed by Philip.

Author: 
[ABERDEEN; BOOKBINDER] John Philip, bookbinder of Aberdeen (SBTI, d.1847)
Publication details: 
Aberdeen, April 1845, for binding Jan.-june 1846.
£95.00

Two pages, c7.5 x 19", folded, good condition. It comprises more than 80 tiles, some entries are multiple, mainly theological, but other subjects include history, memoirs, and poetry. Brief details of binding work given, and prices, total £4.1.6. Philip also charges for "advertising Scott's Bible" in the "banner" and "Journal". The list is substantial enough to represent a private library.

A Priced Catalogue of the whole stock of Theological Books, [...], of the late firm of Dickinson & Higham, together with the additions thereto made during the printing of the catalogue by the firm's junior partner and successor, Charles Higham.

Author: 
Charles Higham (1846-1920), London theological bookseller [Dickinson & Higham]
Publication details: 
London: Farringdon Street, E.C. 1878. [S. & J. Brawn, Printers, 13, Gate Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields.']
£450.00

Octavo, 216 pages. One of 'only fifty copies printed, on thick paper'. Title-page in red and black. Aged and a little stained, in recent half-leather rebinding. 9670 items listed, 'for the most part second-hand'.

Receipted Invoice, account of "Messrs [T.?] Gibbs & Co.

Author: 
[James F. Cannell, bookseller, stationer and printer.]
Publication details: 
50 Castle Street, Liverpool, Sept. and Oct. 1836, receipted 30 Sept.1837.
£25.00

One page, 4to, part printed (headed notepaper), poor condition, loss of most of signature of the receipt. They invoiced for circulars they had printed. Correct BBTI 50 Castle Street (or add). Also provides binding service and export.

[Printed Circular with MS. additions from the "Trustees of the late Firm of White, Cochrane and Co. of Fleet Street, Booksellers" to the Rt Hon Lord Glenbervie.

Author: 
[White, Cochrane and Co. , booksellers [BBTI 1812; Maxted 1812-1816], publishers [see BLC]
Publication details: 
63 Fleet Street, 3 May 1815.
£120.00

One page, 4to, good condition. The printed circular is a request for the "early settlement" of an outstanding bill, adding that "A Catalogue of the whole of the extensive and valuable Stock of the late Partnership, is now published; and each article will be sold, for ready money, with a Discount of Ten per Cent. from the marked prices." The manuscript portion comprises the name of the debtor and a detailed receipt for payment for numbers of the "Edinburgh Review" (received in 1814 and 1815), signed "[W. Tripp?]".

Invoice, printed heading, account of Lord Glenbervie.

Author: 
Budd & Calkin, booksellers, stationers (add bookbinding and "To their Royal Highnesses The Prince Regent & Duke of Kent"
Publication details: 
"At the Crown & Mitre, No. 100, Pall Mall", March-Sept. 1813.
£30.00

One page, 8vo, defects but text clear and complete. "State Trials" and "Cobbett's Register".

Autograph Note to Messrs Hodder & Stoughton, publishers.

Author: 
Charles Higham (1846-1920), London theological bookseller [Hodder & Stoughton]
Publication details: 
Undated [1890s]; on Higham's letterhead, 'FROM | CHARLES HIGHAM, | Second-hand-Book-Seller, | 27a FARRINGDON STREET, LONDON, E.C.'
£35.00

One page. Dimensions of slip roughly four inches by five and a quarter wide. Somewhat aged, but entirely legible. Reads 'British Quarterly Review | Can you tell me what was the last part of this issued, if it is possible to get a title-page and index to vol 83. My last part is 166 April 1886'. Docketed note of reply states that no title was published to the volume containing April 1886.

Receipted Invoice, part printed, Signed, account of [Lechbury? - in pencil]

Author: 
David Ferrier, Scottish bookseller.
Publication details: 
Bible Depository, 17 Leith Street, Edinburgh, 29 March 1860
£30.00

One page, 8vo, good condition. A "Sederunt Book".

Printed Advertisement Leaf, with illustration.

Author: 
William and Joseph Marshall, Bookseller and Stationer, 'At the Bible in Newgate-street, over against the Blue-Coat Hospital Gate'
Publication details: 
Undated [circa 1720].
£250.00

Dimensions roughly six inches by three and a half. Wormed (but only affecting two letters of text) on aged paper. One page, blank reverse. Wood cut at head, roughly one and a quarter inches square, illustrating a leather-bound book with clasps. Thirty-three lines of text, beginning 'At the Bible in Newgate-street, over against the Blue-Coat Hospital Gate.

Invoice, printed heading, account of Sir Robert Kennedy.

Author: 
[William Reynolds, bookseller, binder, stationer, letterpress and copperplate printer, newspaper vendor (BBTI has only bookseller, stationer]
Publication details: 
137 Oxford Street, London, March-May 1819.
£30.00

One page, 8vo, stained and small hole but text clear and complete. Charges for a book on poultry, a Portuguese dictionary and a binding job.

Keepsake, limited to two hundred copies, with signed illustration of 'L'abbaye en 1368' by Beaudouin.

Author: 
Fernand De Nobele, French bookseller; Josephine Beaudouin (c.1910-2005), French illustrator
Publication details: 
1969; Paris.
£120.00

Beautifully printed bifolium on thick wove paper. Dimensions of leaf roughly thirteen inches by ten; dimensions of illustration roughly nine and a half inches by eight. Tissue guard. Recto of first leaf and verso of second blank. Letterpress on verso of first leaf reads 'Fernand De Nobele, libraire pres St-Germain-des-Pres, vous adresse ses meilleurs voeux pour l'annee 1969. | [L'abbaye en 1368]'. Illustration signed at foot 'Josephine Beaudouin', with the limitation '190/200'. For De Nobele - President of ILAB between 1965 and 1967 - see Anthony Rota's 'Books in the Blood' (2002).

Fragment of printed advertisement.

Author: 
George Burbage (died 1807), eighteenth-century Nottingham printer, bookseller and stationer
Publication details: 
Undated.
£50.00

One page. On leaf roughly nine and a half inches by seven wide. Aged, with frayed edges, and with slight loss to head, affecting decorative border, and extensive loss at foot, involving several lines of text. Begins 'G. BURBAGE, PRINTER, BOOKSELLER and STATIONER; ON THE LONG ROW, NOTTINGHAM, TAKES this Method to acquaint the PUBLIC, that he has just laid in an entire new Assortment of STATIONARY [sic] GOODS, - Also a neat COLLECTION of PAPER HANGINGS for ROOMS, CEILINGS and STAIR CASES: [...]'.

A file of material including a Catalogue issued by Thomas Arthur, bookseller,and correspondence

Author: 
Gillyatt Sumner, antiquary and collector, Beverley, Yorks.
Publication details: 
1860
£320.00

File of papers giving insight inot the buying and record-making procedures of an antiquary and collector.They are crudely sewn together, with some damage and staining, texts clear and complete except railway receipt (trimmed), collection comprising: a. Catalogue ("Part Fifty-Three", Feb. 1860, from Thomas Arthur, 45 Booksellers' Row, Strand, London, W.C. ( some items ticked by Sumner, including item 454 Ratsall's History of . . . .Southwell" which is also marked "Ordered"). b. Invoice from Thomas Arthur, 13 Feb.

Autograph Letter Signed "W. Galignani" to "Monsieur le Baron" [not named]. In French.

Author: 
William Galignani, publisher, 1798–1882.
Publication details: 
"Samedi matin" [ no place or date, perhaps c.1870?].
£90.00

Two pages, 8vo, fold marks but good condition. He apologises for not returning a book he had borrowed from the Baron ("L'almanack Medical"). He had taken it to the country "pour en lire quelques passages a mon frere" and forgot to bring it back. He plans the eventual return. "L'etat de la sante de mon frere ne s'ameliore que peu et bien lentement - Il reviendra de la campagne probrablement avec moi mardi prochaine." Heconcludes with politenesses at length.

Bookplate.

Author: 
Sir Richard Burton of Sacketts Hill House, Isle of Thanet, Kent
Publication details: 
Date and place not stated [c.1820].
£10.00

On piece of paper roughly three and a half inches by three wide. Good, lightly aged with a little creasing to one corner. Pleasant armorial design within floral arrangement. Motto 'VIGILANS' on scroll above 'Sir Richard Burton' in copperplate at foot. Indentation of plate around edge.

[Wedgwood] Three different bookplates.

Author: 
Josiah Clement Wedgwood (1872-1943), 1st Baron Wedgwood, British Liberal and Labour politician
Wedgwood
Publication details: 
[1890s to 1930s.]
£80.00
Wedgwood

Arranging the three in what appears to be chronological order, the first (good, roughly four inches by two and three-quarters wide) has 'Josiah C. Wedgwood' in copperplate beneath a straightforward Victorian armorial design, with shield, coronet and motto 'OBSTANTIA DISCINDO'. The second (three and a half inches by three wide) dates from after Wedgwood's election as a Member of Parliament in 1906, having 'EX-LIBRIS JOSIAH C. WEDGWOOD, M.P.' on a scroll beneath a more modern armorial design, with helmet and leaves. It has slight damage to the bottom right-hand corner.

John Lydgate's "Pylgremage of the Sowle" [...] Printed by William Caxton at Westminster, June 6th, 1483. A hitherto unknown copy. In the possession of William H. Robinson, Ltd. 16 and 17 Pall Mall, London, S.W.1.

Author: 
W. Loftus Hare [William Caxton; William H. Robinson Ltd, booksellers]
Publication details: 
Reprinted from 'Apollo', October 1931.' Printed by Eyre and Spottiswoode Limited, His Majesty's Printers, East Harding Street, London, E.C.4.
£45.00

Quarto, twelve pages. Unbound. In original grey printed wraps, with facsimile portrait of Caxton laid down on front cover as part of design. Stitched. Lightly aged and worn, and a little loose. A handsome production, with five full-page facsimiles of pages from the book, and three other illustrations (including duplicate of that on front wrap). Large plate of charcoal drawing, captioned 'A view of the facade of 16 & 17 Pall Mall as seen from the Athenaeum', laid down inside back wrap.

Typed Letter Signed to Sir Henry Truman Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts, together with a cancelled printed application form for membership of the Society.

Author: 
Edward Unwin Junior [Unwin Brothers Ltd; The Gresham Press]
Publication details: 
23 January 1917; on ornate letterhead of Unwin Brothers Ltd, 27 Pilgrim St, Ludgate Hill.
£35.00

Chairman of Unwin Brothers (born 1870). One page, quarto. Good, but discoloured and lightly creased, and with staple stain at head. Docketed and bearing the Society's stamp. He is sorry not to have answered sooner, but 'some very important business has engaged my attention during the last few days with the result that I put your letter into my private drawer without acknowledging it.

Autograph Letter Signed to "Monsieur Anselin, Rue Dauphine No.9, Paris", also bookseller. In French.

Author: 
L. Michelsen, Bookseller
Publication details: 
Leipzig, le 6 Octobre 1832.
£650.00

One page, 4to, chipped with small loss of text, paper fragile. Text as follows: Monsieur Anselin, Paris, Je vous prie de m'expedier aussitot [underlined] par l'entremise de Mr Ren[loss of text] les livres suivants, je vous recommande surtout les petits brochures vieux dont je suis tres presse." There follows a list of 22 titles, all military (e.g "Dictionnaire d'artillerie", "Manoeuvres de chevres & de forces 1821", etc.). Usually one copy required, but he requires 3 of one book (the Dictionnaire) and 2 of its supplement.

Autograph note signed to T.C. Croker.

Author: 
John Bowyer Nichols.
Publication details: 
Admiralty, 15 April (no year).
£75.00

Printer and antiquary (1779-1863), editor and owner of Notes and Queries, also published ‘Anecdotes of William Hogarth,’ 1833, with forty-eight plates, a compilation from his father's ‘Biographical Anecdotes of Mr. Hogarth’ (see Notes and Queries, 4th ser. i. 97). Autograph note signed, 2pp., 8vo, trimmed without loss of text, to T.C. Croker, folklorist and antiquary, at the Admiralty, 15 April (no year). He has received "the Vols of Hogarth" safely, and asks to borrow "the Volume of W.

Autograph Letter Signed "A.S. Valpy", to an unnamed correspondent.

Author: 
Abraham John Valpy, Printer, editor, classicist, and publisher,
Publication details: 
Re Lion Court ("RLC"), 3 April 1833.
£85.00

Printer, editor, classicist, and publisher. Three pages, 8vo, minor damage but text clear and complete. "The Virgil [pubd. 1819 re.BLC] was I assure you sent thro Baldwins at the time it was published but the first 10 Nos are not mine & therefore I have no choice in giving away a copy - I forward you a copy of early Poems [?Sanderson, "Poems chiefly sacred original and translated"] - they are mine, & not my Fathers. I know nothing of the prose trans[latio]n of Faust.

Apocalypse block-book; Caxton's Golden Legend.

Author: 
J. & J. Leighton, booksellers.
Publication details: 
1910; J. & J. Leighton, 40 Brewer St., Regent St., London W.
£125.00

Proof with manuscript changes in pencil and printed additions pasted onto p.viii. 14 pages, folio. Five plates and five illustrations in text. In original green printed wraps. In good condition: paper discoloured and with some creasing at head; wraps grubby, creased and worn, with small closed tear along top end of spine. An attractive production, 'reprinted from J. & J. Leighton's illustrated catalogue of early-printed books, manuscripts, &c. part xiv.' Describes the edition of the Golden Legend published by Caxton in 1483, and a block-book published in Germany around 1470.

Autograph Note, third person, to "Monsieur le President de l'Assemblee Nationale"

Author: 
E.A.J. Anisson Duperon (Anisson-Duperon).
Publication details: 
Paris, 27 August 1790.
£280.00

Director of the Imprimerie Royale, Paris, and later met his end on an "echafaud revolutionnaire" (1794). One page, 8vo, good condiiton "M. Anisson Duperon, Directeur de l'Imprimerie Royale, a l'honneur de presenter son respect a Monsieur le President de l'Assemblee Nationale"; il a celui de les prevenir qu'en vertu du Decret de l'Assemblee il a fait remettre au M. Baudouin son [to the Assemblee] Imprimeur Douze cents Soixante Exemplaires de cinq nouvelles Lois, dont il [joint..?] Deux Exempls de chacune pour la disposition particulaiere de Monsieur le President."

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