J.

It is Sir Basil Blackwell, in his DNB entry on Wilson, who described him as 'the most famous English [sic] bookseller of his time'. The freshness and enthusiasm conveyed by this small volume supports Blackwell's view that Wilson viewed 'bookselling not so much as a matter of retail trade as a service in which bookseller and customer met and shared the experience of contact with the precious manifestations of the spirit of man', as well as casting light on the methods and practices which made Wilson so successful.

For more about Joseph Wilson, ARIBA, FRIAS, see his entry in the Dictionary of Scottish Architects. From the familiar tone of his letters (Items Seven, Ten and Eleven below), there is every indication that he was closely related to his client, J. G. Wilson, proprietor of the prestigious firm of J. & E. Bumpus Ltd, and a man described by Sir Basil Blackwell (in his DNB entry on Wilson) as 'the most famous English [sic] bookseller of his time'. Eleven items, in good condition, lightly aged and worn.

77pp., 8vo. Tastefully printed. In red cloth binding with title in gilt on cover. In fair condition, with light signs of age and wear. Inscription at head of title-page: 'Augusta Maclagan | from the Author | Enfield | Nov. 18. 1882.' Uncommon.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. 72 lines of text. For more about Palmer, see his entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography. The start of the letter indicates its tone: 'Dear old man, | I was exceedingly glad to get your interesting newsy letter last week - more glad than I can say. The "New Age" did not turn up, for which I was sorry as I was looking forward to seeing the good old paper again, but this writing of Bernard Shaw for the "Pall Mall Gazette" delighted me. What a splendid dialectician he is!

ONE: Manuscript results slip, on the firm's letterhead, headed 'BRANCH AUCTION ROOMS - 16 DRURY STREET'. 1p., 12mo. On aged paper, with chipping to extremities and part torn away at foot (not affecting text). Recording that £22 13s 1d has been realised 'By Tokens as per priced Catalogue' and 'To Commission, Selling &c'. Against this are seven itemised 'Outlays' (including 'Advertising in Herald' and 'Likely buyers'), leaving a sum due of £18 4s 5d. TWO: Typed Letter Signed ('J. & R. Edmiston'). 1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper.

40pp., 12mo. Stitched and unbound. In good condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight damage to the fore-edge of the findal leaf. The title continues: 'and | An Attempt to develope [sic] the connexion (if any) between the changes observed and the variations occuring during the same period in the prices of the most necessary articles of food.'

[44]pp., 8vo, paginated 487-530. Rebound in modern red cloth binding, with red leather label on cover, with title 'ADDRESS TO HRH PRINCESS CHARLOTTE' in gilt. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn.

Both items 1p., foolscap 8vo. Both in fair condition, on aged paper. ONE: Addressed to: 'John G. Cookman, Esqre. | Tintern, | Arthurstown | Via Waterford.' Acknowledging the receipt of Cookman's letters, with enclosures, 'offering yourself as a Candidate for the Post of [Resident Magistrate]'. TWO: Addressed to 'J. G. Cookman Esq | 112 Pembroke Road | Dublin'.

All five items are scarce, with no copies of any of them located on either COPAC or OCLC WorldCat. ONE: 'Ordre de Sa Très Excellente Majeste en Conseil En date du 14 Juillet 1899, confirment certain Acte des Etats En date du 29 Mai 1899, intitule: Loi sur les Ecoles Elementaires, etc. Enregistre le 19 Aout 1899.' [19]pp. (text paginated 565-583), 12mo. No wraps. In fair condition, aged, and with punch hole at head. With shelfmarks (of the Board of Education Reference Library, London).

14pp., foolscap 8vo. Carbon copy of typescript, consisting of a covering page and the report itself, paginated 1-13. With a few minor manuscript emendations. In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. In brown paper 1937 OHMS envelope ('S.E.6.'), stamped 'SECRET' twice, with red wax seals of the '20 (A.C.) SQUADRON | R.A.F.', and typed address: '513996. Corporal Murray, J.P. | Royal Air Force Signals Detachment (No. 20 (AC) Squadron). | BANNU, N.W.F.P.' The covering page of the report is stamped 'RESTRICTED', and reads: 'SECRET. | TRIBAL RECONNAISSANCE.

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper. Written in a difficult hand. The letter begins: 'My dear Campbell. | You will find all I know about Axiologus, and Miss Maria Williams, in a prefatory note Vol I of my Edition of W[illiam]. W[ordsworth].s Poems (not Life).' He confirms that the poem is by Wordsworth, and expresses regret at 'letting it be known: for it led Tutin [John Ramsden Tutin (1855-1913)] of Hull to go & print the sonnet for private circulation some years ago.

Both 1p., 4to, and both in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE (11 September): He is writing regarding Wilson's 'kind suggestion that I should call in and see you one day shortly before the publication of my THACKERAY book'. Having been told by 'Mr. Hartley' that Bumpus is on holiday, he will call on 14 September. TWO (13 September 1932): Presumably with his tongue in his cheek, he writes: 'Dear Sirs, | Thank you for your letter of yesterday, reference II,456JGW, and for saving me the risk of a fruitless visit. I will call to see Mr.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'E. Draper Esq'. He asks him to send 'the page of Freeman's [altered from 'Freemason's'] Journal mentioned in your Note to the Editor', and undertakes to return it safely, 'after inspection of the contents'.

1p., 12mo. Bifolium, addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'T Hankey Senr'. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. He thanks him for 'the many kind favors I have received & as the Turtle season has commenced & having retired from business & resigned it to my late Cook Mr. Geo Painter of this Tavern I should be obliged by your future favors to him who will be answerable for the Turtle.' He concludes: 'I stand Debtor to you'. The Tavern was situated at 129 Leadenhall Street. Painter would also become a purveyor of earthenware pottery from the same address.

On 29 November 1856 The Times had reported that 'The 26th company of the Royal Engineers, under the command of Captain G. E. L. Walker, R.E., will leave the head-quarters of that establishment at Brompton Barracks, Chatham, this morning for Gravesend, where they will embark on board the Appoline, [sic] for Bermuda.' Both items in good condition, on lighty aged and worn paper. Both docketed by the recipients. ONE: Tomlins to Hankeys, 13 December 1856. 3pp., 4to. Bifolium.

The three items are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. One is slightly creased, and the other two carry minor traces of rust from a paperclip. All three are accompanied by their envelopes, each bearing a circular royal stamp in purple, and a 'LONDON SW1 OFFICIAL PAID' postmark in red. ONE: 28 May 1954. 1p., 12mo. 'I am commanded by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother to thank you for your letter, and for the leaflet announcing a reproduction of the "Album of Redouté".

1p., 8vo. Priestley's agents have forwarded an invitation from Crozier 'to write a piece on Alan Herbert for a special issue you are planning'. Although Priestley has 'a high regard' for Herbert, he is 'particularly anxious just now not to accept commissions of this kind, and so must reluctantly refuse'.

24pp., 8vo. Stapled and unbound. On aged and worn paper, with rusting staples. Two indexes in small print on title-page: 'Titles' and 'Places of printing other than London'. 101 items, ranging from the 1645 Mercurius Academicus to the Fleuron, 1923-1930, the last entry ending 'We take this opportunity of expressing our appreciation of the generous review of our TYPE SPECIMEN CATALOGUE [copies of which are still available at 3/6] which occurs on pp. 211-2 of vol. VII.' Those interested in the forger Thomas J.

Spencer was a sharp operator (see Mandelbrote ed., 'Out of Print and into Profit', pp.285-287) and the present items give an hint of his methods. (The two letters are addressed from the premises at which his staff were said to practice their 'sophistications'.) His two letters (both signed 'W. T. Spencer') are in good condition, on lightly-aged and worn paper, with the second dated by Bois to 1931. Bois's letter (signed 'Winifred Bois') is in fair condition, with a short closed tear along one edge. Letter One: Spencer to Bois, 23 February [1931].

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, and with the margins cut down. The letter reads: 'Dear Lady Elphinstone, | I am very sorry that an engagement here will prevent my having the pleasure of coming to you this afternoon. But I hope to be able to go out to Richmond next Friday & if so shall do myself the honour of renewing so agreeable an acquaintance.'

Galley Proofs of additional Shelleyana intended for and included in A Shelley Library (1924), 9pp., 51 x 21cm, good condition. It was published in the same year as Ashley Library, vol.5. Collins, Two Forgers, p.225, states that A Shelley Library and 1925’s A Swinburne Library ‘were simply reprinted sections from Ashley, pasted up in a different form with a few corrections’, which appears, in the light of these proofs and galleys to be understatement. The present galleys consist of entries for items present in other volumes of the Ashley Library, not vol.

ONE (Elliott's letter): 3pp., 12mo. 34 lines. Bifolium. In good condition, on aged paper, loosely attached to the title-leaf of the book by a small piece of gummed paper. The letter begins: 'My dear Driberg | I ought to have acknowledged your letter sooner, but I only received it on my return from abroad, and since then I have been busy struggling with the arears which always accrue during absence.' He thanks him for sending his 'son's little volume', which he has read 'with much interest & congratulate him on the neat & modest appearance he has made in print'.

[9] + 142 pp., 8vo. In original green cloth, gilt. A good copy, on aged paper, in lightly-worn binding. Inscribed on the front free endpaper: 'E. Mozley | from her father J. R. Mozley | Feb 19. 1898'.

[7] + 243pp., 8vo. On aged paper, with slight damage at top edge of first few leaves; in heavily-worn binding with blind-stamped decoration; corner torn away from front free endpaper, and glue spots to front pastedown. Described in an advertisement by the publisher in The Times, 16 July 1897, as 'A SOCIAL SATIRE.' Six copies on COPAC, but now a scarce item. Note: "In Pantalas Mr. Jenkins is at his best.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and creased paper. He announces the publication of 'a book of outstanding literary importance, namely Meyerstein's "Life of Chatterton". Meyerstein is undoubtedly the greatest living authority on this subject, and his book, the result of nine years original research, contains much unpublished material. I believe it will be recognised as the standard work on Chatterton for many years to come.' He states that he has 'put a great deal of money and time into this book', and asks Wilson to help him 'make it a success'.

362 + [1]pp., 8vo. Advertisement on final page for Meyerstein's 'Terence Duke'. A fair copy, on lightly-aged paper, in worn original orange cloth binding, and lacking the dustwrapper.

62pp., 8vo. In good condition, on aged paper, in dulled black cloth binding with chipped printed label. Presentation inscription by Meyerstein on front free endpaper: 'J. A Petheridge | with the writer's kind regards. | Aug. 13. 1928'. Pencil note (probably also by Meyerstein) on front pastedown: 'One of thirteen copies printed by mistake on large paper, and uncut.'

2pp., 4to. 59 neatly and closely written lines. In good condition, on lightly aged paper. Addressed to Blair at the head. From the start the tone of the letter must have rung alarm bells: 'Encouraged by one of my Dublin Correspondents, who has just very lately won a rather considerable prize in my office as General Agent to the Board of Management for the Frankfort Ready Money Lottery, I beg hereby to take the liberty of tendering you my services in the purchase or sale of public securities, recovery of Debts, &c &c.

192pp., 8vo., on 188 letterheads of the Village of Scarsdale, Westchester County, New York. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Irregularly paginated to 179d. Six pages (6, 8, 9, 10, 13, 17) are lacking, but the missing text is supplied in an accompanying typescript, with two carbon copies, of the first 31pp. of the manuscript, each of the three copies being 11pp., 8vo. The author of this memoir, Arthur Gilbert Bedell (b.c.1851), was printer and proprietor, with his brothers Edwin Bedell and George Canfield Bedell, of the Westchester Times.

The six illustrations and seven pages of text totalling 13pp., 4to (22.5 x 18cm), on seven leaves of laid paper removed from an album. On aged brittle paper, with chipping and slight loss to the edges. The illustrations are simple sketches, indicating the layout of the page, with titles and occasional words of text by Sullivan. Five of the six designs are for the Pall Mall Budget: 'The Thumbmark by H. G. Wells' (28 June 1894), thumbmarks around title and a newspaper seller with headline reading 'Anarchist Outrage'; 'The Stolen Bacillus by H. G.