The Wellcome Library has acquired copies of the 1787 and 1788 editions of Harris's List of Covent Garden Ladies. Which is great, and certainly to be celebrated. It is also, apparently, big news, since quite a few people have read Hallie Rubenhold's sensational, well-promoted and insubstantial books on the subject (which, for reasons that will become clear, I will neither name nor link to).
According to The Guardian (here) and The Independent (here) the Wellcome Library bought "the book" or "a copy" (NB singular) from a London dealer for "a low five-figure sum"—which I take to mean about twenty to thirty thousand pounds for the two editions.
Another thing that The Guardian and The Independent agree on is that the 1787 edition is unique, claiming: it is "the only surviving 1787 guide" and is "a unique surviving … copy"—a claim that is repeated in every newspaper to reprint the story, such as The Sunshine Coast Daily (here), The Mackay Daily Mercury (here) and The Toowoomba Chronicle (here).
Dr Richard Aspin, Head of Research and Scholarship at the Wellcome Library, is more cautious than The Guardian and The Independent: stating in his blog entry about the purchase (here) that the 1787 edition "appears to be the only one in existence."
Unfortunately for Aspin (and the reporters at The Guardian and The Independent), the Wellcome copy of Harris's 1787 List is not unique. A simple Google search for "Harris's List of Covent-Garden Ladies" and "1787" locates the Bavarian State Library copy immediately. It has been available online since 14 December 2011 and has appeared in my list of Eighteenth-Century Erotic Texts Online since 14 July 2013.
Although the Bavarian State Library has had their copy since the eighteenth century, have published it online, and it has appeared in major bibliographies of erotica since 1889, it is not surprising that it was overlooked. Rubenhold appears only to known of eight editions/years of Harris's List of Covent Garden Ladies: 1761, 1764, 1773, 1774, 1779, 1788, 1789 and 1793. She gives the impression that these are the only survivors. Obviously, she is wrong.
During my research into eighteenth century erotica, I located seventeen editions/years of Harris's List. Some were easier to locate than others, appearing in major bibliographies and collections, and some are easier to locate now, than they were a decade ago. However, the fact that Rubenhold located only seven of at least seventeen copies, while preparing a series of books on the subject, suggests that her research was pretty shallow. Woeful, in fact.
I can't help wondering if the Wellcome Library paid a premium for the 1787 edition on the basis that it was "unknown to Rubenhold". (Since the claim that the 1787 edition is "unique," crops up in every article I can only assume that this claim is important to the Library because the did pay a premium.) If so, they probably won't be pleased to discover that they are wrong.
Monday, 23 February 2015
Saturday, 14 February 2015
The Book-Lover's Library Series, 1886–1902
"The Book-Lover’s Library" (BLL) was published in London by Elliot Stock. The series was edited by Henry Benjamin Wheatley (1838–1917), Vice-President and President of the Bibliographical Society, 1908–10, 1911–13. There appear to have been 26 volumes in the series, published between 1886 and 1902, all of them aimed at "the Bibliographer and all Book-Loving Readers." Since I am a Bibliographer and Book-Loving Reader, I have a hand-full of them (above), and I have read them all.
Volumes in the BLL series were issued (as advertised in 1902, below [NB "was first published"]) in three printing and binding styles: (A) on antique paper, with rough edges, in cloth, bevelled [178x110mm] (B) on hand-made paper, Roxburgh half morocco, with gilt top [185x110mm; 250 copies "for sale in England" thus] (C) on large, hand-made paper (by Van Gelder), bound in Roxburgh half morocco [220x178mm; 50 copies "for sale in England"]. In 1902 the prices in the UK were A: 4s 6d; B: 7s 6d; C: £1 1s; the prices in the US (ca. 1892) were A: $1.25; B: $2.50. As you can see in my first picture, at left, binding B dosen't age well.
My Checklist of the 26 volumes in the BLL series is below, numbered in the order that they I think they were released. I haven't been able to find a full list online, and the few claims I have seen about the number of volumes in the series both disagree about the total number of volumes and don't list the individual volumes. So, for instance, the British Library has a catalogue entry for the series, which claims that there were 28 volumes, but notes that their set "includes more than one edition of certain Works"—which are not named.
In 2010, a lot of 32 volumes was sold at auction (lot 347, here) as a "complete set," but only "some" of titles are mentioned in the catalogue entry for the lot, so it is not clear which volumes I exclude that the auctioneer believed had belonged to the series. However, the photograph that accompanies this lot (above) suggests why there might be some confusion about the number of volumes in this series (i.e., why the auctioneer might have been wrong that there were 32 volumes in the series). As you can see, partly visible, at the left of the photo, is W. Davenport Adams, Byways in Book-Land (1888).
If you look here you can see that Byways in Book-Land is not a part of the BLL series, although the paper, binding and price matches those in the BLL (i.e., it "is another of Mr. Stock's dainty little volumes, ever tempting in their cool green covers … [with] clear type and wide margins" as a reviewer states in The Reliquary 3 (1889): 59). Elliot Stock was famous for this type of book, it was his house style, rather than the distinguishing feature of volumes in the BLL series alone. Stock issued many dainty little bookish volumes, which cannot be differentiated from titles in the BLL by their appearance alone. Below, for instance, is J. Rogers Rees' Diversions of a Bookworm (1886) and The Pleasures of a Book-Worm (1886).
Volumes in the BLL series can only be established as belonging to the series if they appear in one of the publisher's lists of volumes in the BLL or if the text "The Book-Lover's Library" appears on the page facing their title-page. I have compiled the list below from four publisher's lists, two printed at the back of volumes from the series, and two leaflets from the publisher that I have otherwise acquired. The four lists (illustrated after the checklist) are:
1892a = A list of 14 titles printed in the back of Books Condemned to be Burnt (1892).
1892b = A list of 16 titles on a ca. 1892 leaflet advertising in the BLL series.
1902 = A list of 25 titles printed in the back of How to Make an Index (1902)
1910 = A list three reprints from the BLL on a ca. 1910 leaflet for "The 'How To' Series."
(The 'How To' series was comprised of J. D. Stewart, How to Use a Library (1910) and reprints of BLL nos.1, 11, 26). I have provided a code to show the order in which titles appear in the three main lists: 1892a and 1892b have the newest volumes, first; 1902 has the oldest volumes first.
* * * * *
01 Henry B. Wheatley, How to Form a Library (1886 on IA here; 2nd ed. 1886 on IA here; 3rd ed. 1887 on IA here; "Popular Edition" 1902 on IA here; 1886, New York 2nd edition on HT here; 1887, New York 3rd edition on HT here) [1892a.14; 1892b.16; 1902.01]
02 W. C. Hazlitt, Old Cookery Books and Ancient Cuisine (1886 on IA here; rpr. "Popular Edition" 1902 on IA here) [1892a.13; 1892b.15; 1902.02]
03 G. L. Gomme, Literature of Local Institutions (1886 on IA here) [1892a.12; 1892b.14; 1902.03]
04 H. Trueman Wood, Modern Methods of Illustrating Books (1886 on IA here; 1887 edition [=2nd ed.; author's name omitted] on IA here; 3rd ed. 1890 [author's name omitted] on IA here; 1887 New York edition on IA here) [1892a.11; 1892b.13; 1902.05]
05 Henry B. Wheatley, The Dedications of Books to Patron and Friend (1887 on IA here; 1887 New York edition on IA here) [1892a.10; 1892b.12; 1902.06]
06 W. C. Hazlitt, Gleanings in Old Garden Literature (1887 on IA here) [1892a.09; 1892b.11; 1902.07]
07 Frederick Saunders, The Story of Some Famous Books (1887 on IA here; 2nd. ed. 1888 on IA here; 1887 New York edition on IA here) [1892a.08; 1892b.10; 1902.08]
08 William Blades, The Enemies of Books (1888 on IA here; Popular Edition, 1902 on HT here) [1892a.07; 1892b.09; 1902.09]
09 W.A. Clouston, The Book of Noodles (1888 on IA here; Popular Edition, 1903 on IA here; 1888 New York edition on IA here) [1892a.06; 1892b.08; 1902.10]
10 Edward Smith, Foreign Visitors in England (1889 on IA here; 1889 New York edition on HT here) [1892a.05; 1892b.07; 1902.04]
11 Henry B. Wheatley, How to Catalogue a Library (1889 on IA here; 2nd ed., 1889 on IA here; 1889 New York edition on HT here) [1892a.04; 1892b.06; 1902.11]
12 John Pendleton, Newspaper Reporting in the Olden Time and To-day (1890 on IA here; 1890 New York edition on HT here) [1892a.03; 1892b.05; 1902.12]
13 W. C. Hazlitt, Studies in Jocular Literature (1890 on IA here; Popular Edition, 1904 on IA here) [1892a.02; 1892b.04; 1902.13]
14 L. A. Wheatley, The Story of the "Imitatio Christi" (1891 on IA here) [1892a.01; 1892b.03; 1902.14]
15 J. A. Farrer, Books Condemned to be Burnt (1892 on IA here; Popular Edition, 1904 on IA here) [1892b.02; 1902.15]
16 William Blades, Books in Chains (1892 on IA here; 1892 New York edition on HT here) [1892b.01; 1902.16]
17 Henry B. Wheatley, Literary Blunders (1893 on IA here) [1902.17]
18 Gleeson White, Book-Song. An anthology of poems of books and bookmen from modern authors (1893 on IA [ex GB] here) [1902.18]
19 R. B. Marston, Walton and Some Earlier Writers on Fish and Fishing (1894 on IA here; Popular Edition, 1903 on IA here) [1902.19]
20 P. H. Ditchfield, Books Fatal to their Authors (1895 on IA here; 1895 New York edition on IA here) [1902.20]
21 William Roberts, ed., Book-Verse. An anthology of poems of books and bookmen from the earliest times to recent years (1896 on IA here; undated New York edition on HT here) [1902.21]
22 James E. Matthew, The Literature of Music (1896 on IA here) [1902.22]
23 Frederick G. Kitton, The Novels of Charles Dickens (1897 on IA here) [1902.23]
24 John Lawler, Book Auctions in England in the Seventeenth Century (1898 on IA here) [1902.25]
25 Frederick G. Kitton, The Minor Writings of Charles Dickens (1900 on IA here) [1902.24]
26 Henry B. Wheatley, How to Make an Index (1902 on IA here; 1902 New York edition on HT here)
* * * * *
[UPDATE 2022.03.05 I am indebted to Jerry Morris: his blog post "About Elliot Stock, Henry B. Wheatley, and The Book Lover's Library Series" (29 March 2017; here) does exactly what you'd expect it to do with such a title. In his post Jerry mentions an excellent article on the BLL series: Claude A. Prance, "The Book Lover's Library," The Private Library, Series 3, vol. 4, no.3 (Autumn 1983): 132–39. Prance lists 34 editions of the 26 titles in the BLL (including four reprints and four Popular editions). Prompted by some very welcome feedback, I have now added links to as many editions of the BLL titles that I can locate on the Internet Archive (IA) and Hathi Trust (HT); where more than one copy was available, I favoured the one which best shows the original binding and endpapers. I now list 52 editions above (including seven London reprints and seven Popular Editions—three more of each than Prance lists—plus twelve New York editions—which Prance only mentions in passing [p.133: "Apparently the green cloth issue could be bought in the U.S.A. for $1.25"). It is likely that there were more New York editions than I have located online, but I trust that the listing of London editions is complete. However, if a reader finds an edition online that I have not listed above, please let me know, and I will add it.
Monday, 26 January 2015
Bookplates of Booksellers and Circulating Libraries
Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks (1826–97), "arguably the most important collector in the history of the British Museum, and one of the greatest collectors of his age," amassed an enormous collection of bookplates. When he died, this collection (along with his many, many other important collections, went to the British Museum, where they were catalogued).
The catalogue of bookplates and trade cards, Franks Bequest: Catalogue of British and American Book Plates Bequested to the Trustees of the British Museum by Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks (1903), has been an important reference for collectors for more than a century. The Catalogue was digitised by the University of Toronto in January 2009. (For the three volumes, see here, here and here.) In the third volume of the Catalogue are the bookplates of institutions such as Public Libraries (293), Societies and institutions (297), Clubs (301) and business such as Booksellers and Circulating Libraries (310).
Since the University of Toronto OCR is not without it faults, and it is useful to have even a one-hundred-year-old list of bookplates of eighteenth-and nineteenth-century Booksellers and Circulating Libraries, I have edited the text and reproduced it here. BTW: I only have two of the 164 bookplates mentioned below (Franks Cat. nos. 34401 and 34405; though I am about to buy a third). I am not sure how many are eighteenth-century or of businesses based in London, the focus of my interest, but I am a very long way from being a collector of all of the bookplates listed below, or of bookplates in general.
34254 Abbott, Printer, Bookseller, Stationer, [and] Binder, Diss.
34255 Adams's, D., Library.
34256 Adams, J., Bookseller and Stationer, Stamford. (C. [and] N. Hull.)
34257 Adolphe, Art Photographer and Miniature Painter, 75 Grafton St., Dublin. (A Trade card?).
34258 Andrews's, John, Circulating Library. Calcutta. 1774. (Shepperd sc.)
34259 Apollo Circulating Library and Music Warehouse, South Street, Worthing.
34260 (Auld.) This Book belongs to Auld's Circulating Library (No. 18) Wardour-Street, Soho.
34261 Bagster, Sam., No. 81 Strand, near Cecil Street.
34262 Balcomb's, T., Circulating Library at Burwash.
34263 (Baldrey.) This Book belongs to Baldrey's Circulating Library No. 279 Holborn, nearly opposite the end of Red Lion Street.
34264 Barber. This Book belongs to the Circulating Library of Joseph, Bookseller in Amen Corner, near St. Nicholas Church, Newcastle. 1756.
34265 Barber, Joseph, and Son, Bookseller and Stationers, in Amen-Comer, Newcastle. (T. Bewick.)
34266 Barfield, Library, Broadstairs. (Biddle sc. Birm.)
34267 Barratt's Library, Bond Street.
34268 (Bates.) This Book belongs to Bates's Circulating Library, Holyhead.
34269 (Bates.) This Book belongs to Bates's Circulating Library, Holyhead. A different plate.)
34270 Baxter, Printer, Bookseller, Binder and Stationer, Lewes. (Jones Sc.)
34271 Beart's Circulating Library. Opposite the Bridge, Yarmouth. (Beart, Printer.)
34272 Beart's Circulating Library. On the Quay, Yarmouth.
34273 Bettison late Henley's. Cheltenham Library.
34274 Blagden's Circulating Library.
34275 Bliss, R., Bookseller, Stationer, and Circulating Librarian, Oxford.
34276 Bliss, R., Bookseller, Stationer, and Circulating Librarian, Oxford. [A different plate.]
34277 Bristow's Kentish Library, Parade, St. Andrew's, Canterbury.
34278 Bristow [and] Cowtan. Kentish Library, Parade, Canterbury.
34279 Brooke, Bought of Richd., Stationer at ye Ship near ye new Church in the Strand.
34280 Brotherton, John, At the Bible in Threadneedle Street over against Mercht. Taylors Hall bindeth all Sorts of Books.
34281 Burn, Bound by Thomas, 37 Kirby Street, Hatton Garden.
34282 Burnett, John, Bookseller and Stationer, at Shakespeare's Head, End of the Broad Street, Aberdeen.
34283 (Cabe.) This Book belongs to Edward Cabe's Circulating Library in Avemary Lane Ludgate Street.
34284 (Cass.) This Book belongs to Cass's Circulating Library. The Comer of Lamb's Conduit Street, Theobald's Koad.
34285 Chamley [and] Compy's. Circulating Library.
34286 Churchill, John, Medical Bookseller, Princes Street, Leicester Square.
34287 … Circulating Library, mutilated. London.
34288 Clarke, Abraham, Bookseller, Stationer, and Bookbinder, at the Bible and Crown, Near the Market Cross, and the Bull's Head Inn, Manchester.
34289 Clarke, John, Bookseller and Stationer, ye Corner of Essex Street, in ye Strand. (C. Mosley sculp.)
34290 Coke's, Leith., Circulating Library.
34291 Colburn [and] Co.'s British and Foreign Public Library, Conduit Street Hanover Square. [1842]
34292 Colegate's, R., Kentish Library, Parade Canterbury.
34293 Commins, Bookseller, Stationer, Musicseller, [and]c. Tavistock. (The Arms of the Company of Stationers.) (Colley Plymo.)
34294 Coppinger, Tho., Hairdresser and Stationer's Circulating Library Hawkhurst.
34295 Cork. The Minerva Rooms, Circulating Library and Beading Room.
34296 Cowtan [and] Colegate's Kentish Library, Parade, Canterbury.
34297 Cowtan [and] Colegate's Kentish Library, Parade, Canterbury. (A different plate.)
34298 Crokatt, Bought of I., at the Golden Key near ye Inner-Temple-Gate Fleet-street.
34299 Crompton, Josh., Stationer; At the Circulating Library in Colmer Row. Birmingham.
34300 Davenport, Music Seller, Oxford.
34301 (Davis.) This Book belongs to Wm. Davis, Bookseller and Stationer, at the Bedford Historical [and] Miscellaneous Circulating Library, No. 15, Southampton Row, Russell Square.
34302 (Dedman.) This Book belongs to Dedman, Bookseller, Stationer [and] Bookbinder, at his Circulating Library, No. 12 New Store-Street, Bedford-Square, London.
34303 Dessy's, Henry, at the Golden Bible, over against Catherine Street, in the Strand. This Book and all sorts are to be had at. (I. Pine Sculp.)
34304 Dunoyer, Sold by Peter, Book, Map, [and] Print-Seller at ye sign of Erasmus's Head, near the Fountain Tavern in the Strand.
34305 Earle's Original French [and] English Circulating Library, 47 Albemarle Street, Three Doors from Piccadilly.
34806 Egerton, Thos., Bookseller, Successor to Mr. Millan. 32 Opposite the Admiralty Charing Cross. (Smith sculpt. Bow Lane.)
34307 Fergusson, Army, Navy [and] Mercantile Printer, etc. 108 Patrick -Street, Cork.
34308 (Fitzpatrick.) Bought at Fitzpatrick's Music [and] Musical Instrument Ware-House No. 10 South Mall Cork.
34309 Fitzpatrick, H., Printer and Bookseller to the Royal College of St. Patrick No. 4 Capel Street near Essex Bridge, Dublin.
34310 Flack, M., Music Binder, No. 40 Maiden Lane Covt. Gardn.
34311 Flindall, I. M. No. 51, Lower-Marsh, Lambeth.
34312 (Fox.) This Book belongs to Fox's Circulating Library, Dartmouth Street, Westminster.
34313 Frazer, Army Printer, Stationer and Bookbinder, 37 Arran Quay, Dublin.
34314 (Garner.) This Book belongs to Garner's Circulating Library Margate.
34315 Graham, A. M., Bookseller 16 (Burke sculpt. D'Olier sc.)
34316 Grant [and] Bolton, Booksellers. (No. 4) Dame Street, Dublin.
34317 Grant, Bolton [and] Co. 4 Dame Street, Dublin. (Sandys sculpt.)
34318 Gray's, Mrs., Circulating Library (Ezekiel sculp. Exeter.)
34319 Green, George, All sorts of Books bound [and] sold by, in Whiterose Court Coleman Street. (T. Cole sculp.)
34320 Gregory's Extensive and Increasing Circulating Library on the Steyne Brighthelmstone.
34321 Grisdale, W., [and] Co. Booksellers, Whitehaven.
34322 Groenewegan, I., [and] A. Van der Hoeck in the Strand. This Book is to be sold by.
34323 Grosvenor Gallery Library. 1880. (Harry Soane ft.)
34324 Grosvenor Gallery Library Limited. (Harry Soane sc. London.)
34325 Guy, H., Bookseller [and] Stationer, High Street Chelmsford.
34326 Haly, James, Navy, Army, and Mercantile Bookseller [and] Stationer, King's-Arms, Exchange, Cork.
34327 Harding, Bound by W., Gosport.
34328 Harrison, Matthew, Stationer, 82 Cornhill, London.
34329 Harward's, S., Circulating Library, Colonnade-Buildings, Cheltenham.
34330 Harward, S., Bookseller [and] Stationer, Tewkesbury. (F. Jukes sc.)
34331 Henderson, Bookseller at His Circulating Library, 14 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden.
34332 Hime's, Sold at, Musical Circulating Library, No. 34 College Green, Dublin.
34833 Hodgson's, E., Circulating Library, at the Princess Amelia's Arms, the Corner of Wimpole and Great Marylebone Streets.
34334 Hookham's Circulating Library, New Bond Street, The Corner of Bruton Street.
34335 Hoon, W., Bookseller [and] Stationer, Ashborne.
34336 Hoppers Circulating Library, No. 12 Market St. Lane, Manchester.
34337 Howgate, Samuel, Bookseller at the Dial in Kirkgate, Leeds.
34338 Hull, Library, Bowl Alley Lane.
34339 Humble's Circulating Library, Pope's Head, Side, Newcastle. (T. Bewick.)
34340 Humphry's, This Book belongs to. Circulating Library, Chichester. 1785.
34341 Huntington, Stationer [and] Bookseller, No. 21, High Street, Bloomsbury.
34342 (Ipswich.) Bibliothèque Française D'Ipswich.
34343 Ireland's Library, Lewes, Sussex.
34344 Jacotin's Circulating Library, Patrick Street.
34345 Knightsbridge House Subscription Library. Established 1st January, 1834.
34346 Lambert, Sold by James, in the Cliff, Lewes.
34347 Lane's Circulating Library, Minerva, Leadenhall Street, London.
34348 Minerva Library, Leadenhall Street, London.
34349 (Loveday.) Made [and] sold by John Loveday, Stationer at the White Hart on Fish Street Hill near ye Monument.
34350 (Lucas.) Belonging to T. Lucas's Circulating Library. Bookseller, Auctioneer and Appraiser, No. 10 High Street, Birmingham. (Tolley sct.)
34351 McKenzie, Printer, Bookseller [and] Stationer, To the University of Dublin. (Esdall sculp.)
34352 McLachlan [and] Chalmers Circulating Library, Dumfries.
34353 March, Sold by John, Bookseller near the Conduit in Exon.
34354 March, Sold by John, Bookseller, at ye sign of the Bible a Little Below St. Martins Lane in Exon.
34355 Matthews, Bookseller, No. 38 North Main Street, comer of Broad Lane, Cork.
34356 Maurice, Stationer and Bookseller, at his Circulating Library, No. 52 Fore Street Dock. (Dawson sculpt. Dock.)
34357 Meehan, J. F., Ye Olde Booke Shoppe, Bath. (The Arms of the City of Bath.)
34358 Milliken, Bookseller to his Majesty, the Lord Lieutenant and the University, 104 Grafton Street, Dublin.
34359 Milliken's, E., 104 Grafton Street.
34360 Milliken, Bookseller to the University, 104 Grafton Street, Dublin.
34361 Moetjens, This Book is to be sold by James, in the Strand.
34362 Moore, Peter, Bookseller and Stationer, No. 100 Grafton Street, Dublin. (Gonne sculpt.)
34363 Mortier, Sold by David, Book-seller at ye sign of Erasmus's, head near Bedford house. (Sturt sculp.)
34364 Moule, T., Bookseller [and] Stationer, No. 34 Duke Street, Grosvenor Square.
34365 Murch, Sold by Fidelio, Booksr. [and] Bookbinder, In the Highstreet, Barnstaple. (J. Woodman Sc. Exon.)
34366 Muskett, Charles, Printer, Bookseller, Binder, and Stationer, 5 Gentleman's Walk, Old Haymarket, Norwich.
34367 Nelson, This Book is the Property of E., Circulating Library, 127 Snow Hill, Birmingm.
34368 Newsell's Library. (This is said not to be a circulating Library.)
34369 Nicholson's, John, Circulating Library, Post-Office, Alford.
34370 (Noble.) This Book belongs to Saml. Noble's Circulating Library at Popes head in Camaby Street near Carnaby Market.
34371 O'Hara [and] Co., Account-Book Manufacturers, Booksellers and Stationers, Patrick Street, Cork.
34372 Olds's Circulating Library, Upper Temple Street.
34373 Owen's, E., Circulating Library, Wine Street, Swansea. 1792.
34374 Packer, G., late Lintern, Music Seller, Bath, No. 13 in the Grove.
34375 (Page.) This Book belongs to Page's Circulating Library.
34376 Parker, T. H., Dealer in Paintings, Drawings, and Prints. No. 7 Spur Street, Leicester Square, W.C.
34377 Parsons and Galignam's British Library in Prose. (I. P. Simon del. sculp.)
34378 Payne, Tho., Bookseller in Wrexham.
34379 Pope, John, Bookseller in Southgate Street Exon. (Coffin Xon.)
34380 Power [and] Co. Sold by William, at their-Music [and] Musical Instrument Warehouse No. 4 Westmorland Street College Green, Dublin. (S. Close sc.)
34381 (Quaritch.) From the Sunderland Library, Blenheim Palace, Purchased, March, 1883, By Bernard Quaritch, 15 Piccadilly, London.
34382 (Quaritch.) From the Sunderland Library, Blenheim Palace, Purchased, March, 1883, By Bernard Quaritch, 15 Piccadilly, London. (The last plate printed on grey paper.)
34383 (Randell.) Printed at London, and are to be sold by Richard Randell, and Peter Maplisden, Booksellers in Newcastle, upon the Sand-hill near the Bridge.
34384 Richardson's, Welld. M., Circulating Library, Annan. (P. Clark, sculpt. Annan.)
34385 Rives, Joseph, Maker at the Black Cap, In Fenwick Street Liverpool.
34386 Rogers. Printer Bookseller and Stationer. Newmarket.
34387 Rose's Circulating Library, Newport-Pagnel.
34388 Shandon, St. Ann's, Eeligious Circulating Library.
34389 Sala D., London. (A bookplate.) (Butcher Sculp. May's Buildings Covt. Gard.)
34390 Sharp, G., High Street, Bedford.
34391 (Sheate.) This Book belongs to Sheate's Circulating Library.
34392 Stacy, J., Bookseller Norwich.
34393 Swinborne [and] Walter, Colchester. Sold by.
84394 Tennant's Circulating Library, Top of Milsom-Street, Bath.
34395 Terry. Sold by G., 54 Pater Noster Eow St. Pauls.
34396 Thomas, Bookbinder, Bookseller [and] Stationer, 14 Boscawen Street, Truro.
34397 Thorn, Sold by Nathaniel, Bookseller in St. Peter's Church Yard Exon.
34398 Town's, John, Circulating Library South Shields. (T. Bewick.)
34399 Trickett, Willm., Vellum Binder and Stationer, opposite Cock Lane Snow Hill London.
34400 Upham, Edward, Bookseller, Stationer, [and] Printer, Broad Gate, Exeter.
34401 Vaillant's, This book is to be had at Paul [and] Isaac, at the Ship in the Strand London.
34402 Vandenhoeck, This Book is to be sold at the shop of Abraham, and George Richmond, the sign of Virgill's Head, Opposite Exeter Exchange in the Strand.
34403 Varenne, This and, All Sorts of Foreign Books are to be had, at Math, de. Bookseller at the Senecas Head in the Strand London.
34404 Varenne's, This Book and all sorts are to be had at Math., at the Senecas head near Sommerset house in ye Strand. (H. Hulsbergh sc.)
34405 Ward, Caesar, [and] Richard Chandler. At the Ship Between the Temple Gates in Fleet-Street, And at their Shop at Scarborough.
34406 Ward, Caesar, and Richd. Chandler, Booksellers, At the Ship, without Temple-Barr, London. (T. Haynes Sculpt. York.)
34407 Webb's Circulating Library, Bedford.
34408 Westley, R. H., Bookseller [and] Stationer, No. 159, Opposite the New Church, Strand.
34409 White's Circulating Library, No. 13 St. Augustine's Back, Bristol.
34410 White, Thomas, at the Exchange of Cork. Bookseller [and] Stationer.
34411 Wigan Subscription Library
34412 Wildy [and] Davis, 12 Brownlow St. Holborn, and Lincoln's Inn Gateway, Carey St.
34413 Wilson, Wm., Bookseller [and] Stationer, at Homer's head No. 6 Dame Street, the Comer of Palace Street, Dublin.
34414 Withers, Ewd., Bookseller at the Seven Stars over Chancery Lane Fleet Street.
34415 (Woodbridge.) This Book is the Property of Woodbridge's Circulating Library, Brentford Bridge.
34416 (Yearsley.) This Book belongs to Ann Yearsley's Public Library In the Crescent, Hotwells.
34417 Young, John. Musical Instrument Seller, at the Dolphin and Crown at the West End of St Pauls Church.
The catalogue of bookplates and trade cards, Franks Bequest: Catalogue of British and American Book Plates Bequested to the Trustees of the British Museum by Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks (1903), has been an important reference for collectors for more than a century. The Catalogue was digitised by the University of Toronto in January 2009. (For the three volumes, see here, here and here.) In the third volume of the Catalogue are the bookplates of institutions such as Public Libraries (293), Societies and institutions (297), Clubs (301) and business such as Booksellers and Circulating Libraries (310).
Since the University of Toronto OCR is not without it faults, and it is useful to have even a one-hundred-year-old list of bookplates of eighteenth-and nineteenth-century Booksellers and Circulating Libraries, I have edited the text and reproduced it here. BTW: I only have two of the 164 bookplates mentioned below (Franks Cat. nos. 34401 and 34405; though I am about to buy a third). I am not sure how many are eighteenth-century or of businesses based in London, the focus of my interest, but I am a very long way from being a collector of all of the bookplates listed below, or of bookplates in general.
* * * * *
* * * * *
34254 Abbott, Printer, Bookseller, Stationer, [and] Binder, Diss.
34255 Adams's, D., Library.
34256 Adams, J., Bookseller and Stationer, Stamford. (C. [and] N. Hull.)
34257 Adolphe, Art Photographer and Miniature Painter, 75 Grafton St., Dublin. (A Trade card?).
34258 Andrews's, John, Circulating Library. Calcutta. 1774. (Shepperd sc.)
34259 Apollo Circulating Library and Music Warehouse, South Street, Worthing.
34260 (Auld.) This Book belongs to Auld's Circulating Library (No. 18) Wardour-Street, Soho.
34261 Bagster, Sam., No. 81 Strand, near Cecil Street.
34262 Balcomb's, T., Circulating Library at Burwash.
34263 (Baldrey.) This Book belongs to Baldrey's Circulating Library No. 279 Holborn, nearly opposite the end of Red Lion Street.
34264 Barber. This Book belongs to the Circulating Library of Joseph, Bookseller in Amen Corner, near St. Nicholas Church, Newcastle. 1756.
34265 Barber, Joseph, and Son, Bookseller and Stationers, in Amen-Comer, Newcastle. (T. Bewick.)
34266 Barfield, Library, Broadstairs. (Biddle sc. Birm.)
34267 Barratt's Library, Bond Street.
34268 (Bates.) This Book belongs to Bates's Circulating Library, Holyhead.
34269 (Bates.) This Book belongs to Bates's Circulating Library, Holyhead. A different plate.)
34270 Baxter, Printer, Bookseller, Binder and Stationer, Lewes. (Jones Sc.)
34271 Beart's Circulating Library. Opposite the Bridge, Yarmouth. (Beart, Printer.)
34272 Beart's Circulating Library. On the Quay, Yarmouth.
34273 Bettison late Henley's. Cheltenham Library.
34274 Blagden's Circulating Library.
34275 Bliss, R., Bookseller, Stationer, and Circulating Librarian, Oxford.
34276 Bliss, R., Bookseller, Stationer, and Circulating Librarian, Oxford. [A different plate.]
34277 Bristow's Kentish Library, Parade, St. Andrew's, Canterbury.
34278 Bristow [and] Cowtan. Kentish Library, Parade, Canterbury.
34279 Brooke, Bought of Richd., Stationer at ye Ship near ye new Church in the Strand.
34280 Brotherton, John, At the Bible in Threadneedle Street over against Mercht. Taylors Hall bindeth all Sorts of Books.
34281 Burn, Bound by Thomas, 37 Kirby Street, Hatton Garden.
34282 Burnett, John, Bookseller and Stationer, at Shakespeare's Head, End of the Broad Street, Aberdeen.
34283 (Cabe.) This Book belongs to Edward Cabe's Circulating Library in Avemary Lane Ludgate Street.
34284 (Cass.) This Book belongs to Cass's Circulating Library. The Comer of Lamb's Conduit Street, Theobald's Koad.
34285 Chamley [and] Compy's. Circulating Library.
34286 Churchill, John, Medical Bookseller, Princes Street, Leicester Square.
34287 … Circulating Library, mutilated. London.
34288 Clarke, Abraham, Bookseller, Stationer, and Bookbinder, at the Bible and Crown, Near the Market Cross, and the Bull's Head Inn, Manchester.
34289 Clarke, John, Bookseller and Stationer, ye Corner of Essex Street, in ye Strand. (C. Mosley sculp.)
34290 Coke's, Leith., Circulating Library.
34291 Colburn [and] Co.'s British and Foreign Public Library, Conduit Street Hanover Square. [1842]
34292 Colegate's, R., Kentish Library, Parade Canterbury.
34293 Commins, Bookseller, Stationer, Musicseller, [and]c. Tavistock. (The Arms of the Company of Stationers.) (Colley Plymo.)
34294 Coppinger, Tho., Hairdresser and Stationer's Circulating Library Hawkhurst.
34295 Cork. The Minerva Rooms, Circulating Library and Beading Room.
34296 Cowtan [and] Colegate's Kentish Library, Parade, Canterbury.
34297 Cowtan [and] Colegate's Kentish Library, Parade, Canterbury. (A different plate.)
34298 Crokatt, Bought of I., at the Golden Key near ye Inner-Temple-Gate Fleet-street.
34299 Crompton, Josh., Stationer; At the Circulating Library in Colmer Row. Birmingham.
34300 Davenport, Music Seller, Oxford.
34301 (Davis.) This Book belongs to Wm. Davis, Bookseller and Stationer, at the Bedford Historical [and] Miscellaneous Circulating Library, No. 15, Southampton Row, Russell Square.
34302 (Dedman.) This Book belongs to Dedman, Bookseller, Stationer [and] Bookbinder, at his Circulating Library, No. 12 New Store-Street, Bedford-Square, London.
34303 Dessy's, Henry, at the Golden Bible, over against Catherine Street, in the Strand. This Book and all sorts are to be had at. (I. Pine Sculp.)
34304 Dunoyer, Sold by Peter, Book, Map, [and] Print-Seller at ye sign of Erasmus's Head, near the Fountain Tavern in the Strand.
34305 Earle's Original French [and] English Circulating Library, 47 Albemarle Street, Three Doors from Piccadilly.
34806 Egerton, Thos., Bookseller, Successor to Mr. Millan. 32 Opposite the Admiralty Charing Cross. (Smith sculpt. Bow Lane.)
34307 Fergusson, Army, Navy [and] Mercantile Printer, etc. 108 Patrick -Street, Cork.
34308 (Fitzpatrick.) Bought at Fitzpatrick's Music [and] Musical Instrument Ware-House No. 10 South Mall Cork.
34309 Fitzpatrick, H., Printer and Bookseller to the Royal College of St. Patrick No. 4 Capel Street near Essex Bridge, Dublin.
34310 Flack, M., Music Binder, No. 40 Maiden Lane Covt. Gardn.
34311 Flindall, I. M. No. 51, Lower-Marsh, Lambeth.
34312 (Fox.) This Book belongs to Fox's Circulating Library, Dartmouth Street, Westminster.
34313 Frazer, Army Printer, Stationer and Bookbinder, 37 Arran Quay, Dublin.
34314 (Garner.) This Book belongs to Garner's Circulating Library Margate.
34315 Graham, A. M., Bookseller 16 (Burke sculpt. D'Olier sc.)
34316 Grant [and] Bolton, Booksellers. (No. 4) Dame Street, Dublin.
34317 Grant, Bolton [and] Co. 4 Dame Street, Dublin. (Sandys sculpt.)
34318 Gray's, Mrs., Circulating Library (Ezekiel sculp. Exeter.)
34319 Green, George, All sorts of Books bound [and] sold by, in Whiterose Court Coleman Street. (T. Cole sculp.)
34320 Gregory's Extensive and Increasing Circulating Library on the Steyne Brighthelmstone.
34321 Grisdale, W., [and] Co. Booksellers, Whitehaven.
34322 Groenewegan, I., [and] A. Van der Hoeck in the Strand. This Book is to be sold by.
34323 Grosvenor Gallery Library. 1880. (Harry Soane ft.)
34324 Grosvenor Gallery Library Limited. (Harry Soane sc. London.)
34325 Guy, H., Bookseller [and] Stationer, High Street Chelmsford.
34326 Haly, James, Navy, Army, and Mercantile Bookseller [and] Stationer, King's-Arms, Exchange, Cork.
34327 Harding, Bound by W., Gosport.
34328 Harrison, Matthew, Stationer, 82 Cornhill, London.
34329 Harward's, S., Circulating Library, Colonnade-Buildings, Cheltenham.
34330 Harward, S., Bookseller [and] Stationer, Tewkesbury. (F. Jukes sc.)
34331 Henderson, Bookseller at His Circulating Library, 14 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden.
34332 Hime's, Sold at, Musical Circulating Library, No. 34 College Green, Dublin.
34833 Hodgson's, E., Circulating Library, at the Princess Amelia's Arms, the Corner of Wimpole and Great Marylebone Streets.
34334 Hookham's Circulating Library, New Bond Street, The Corner of Bruton Street.
34335 Hoon, W., Bookseller [and] Stationer, Ashborne.
34336 Hoppers Circulating Library, No. 12 Market St. Lane, Manchester.
34337 Howgate, Samuel, Bookseller at the Dial in Kirkgate, Leeds.
34338 Hull, Library, Bowl Alley Lane.
34339 Humble's Circulating Library, Pope's Head, Side, Newcastle. (T. Bewick.)
34340 Humphry's, This Book belongs to. Circulating Library, Chichester. 1785.
34341 Huntington, Stationer [and] Bookseller, No. 21, High Street, Bloomsbury.
34342 (Ipswich.) Bibliothèque Française D'Ipswich.
34343 Ireland's Library, Lewes, Sussex.
34344 Jacotin's Circulating Library, Patrick Street.
34345 Knightsbridge House Subscription Library. Established 1st January, 1834.
34346 Lambert, Sold by James, in the Cliff, Lewes.
34347 Lane's Circulating Library, Minerva, Leadenhall Street, London.
34348 Minerva Library, Leadenhall Street, London.
34349 (Loveday.) Made [and] sold by John Loveday, Stationer at the White Hart on Fish Street Hill near ye Monument.
34350 (Lucas.) Belonging to T. Lucas's Circulating Library. Bookseller, Auctioneer and Appraiser, No. 10 High Street, Birmingham. (Tolley sct.)
34351 McKenzie, Printer, Bookseller [and] Stationer, To the University of Dublin. (Esdall sculp.)
34352 McLachlan [and] Chalmers Circulating Library, Dumfries.
34353 March, Sold by John, Bookseller near the Conduit in Exon.
34354 March, Sold by John, Bookseller, at ye sign of the Bible a Little Below St. Martins Lane in Exon.
34355 Matthews, Bookseller, No. 38 North Main Street, comer of Broad Lane, Cork.
34356 Maurice, Stationer and Bookseller, at his Circulating Library, No. 52 Fore Street Dock. (Dawson sculpt. Dock.)
34357 Meehan, J. F., Ye Olde Booke Shoppe, Bath. (The Arms of the City of Bath.)
34358 Milliken, Bookseller to his Majesty, the Lord Lieutenant and the University, 104 Grafton Street, Dublin.
34359 Milliken's, E., 104 Grafton Street.
34360 Milliken, Bookseller to the University, 104 Grafton Street, Dublin.
34361 Moetjens, This Book is to be sold by James, in the Strand.
34362 Moore, Peter, Bookseller and Stationer, No. 100 Grafton Street, Dublin. (Gonne sculpt.)
34363 Mortier, Sold by David, Book-seller at ye sign of Erasmus's, head near Bedford house. (Sturt sculp.)
34364 Moule, T., Bookseller [and] Stationer, No. 34 Duke Street, Grosvenor Square.
34365 Murch, Sold by Fidelio, Booksr. [and] Bookbinder, In the Highstreet, Barnstaple. (J. Woodman Sc. Exon.)
34366 Muskett, Charles, Printer, Bookseller, Binder, and Stationer, 5 Gentleman's Walk, Old Haymarket, Norwich.
34367 Nelson, This Book is the Property of E., Circulating Library, 127 Snow Hill, Birmingm.
34368 Newsell's Library. (This is said not to be a circulating Library.)
34369 Nicholson's, John, Circulating Library, Post-Office, Alford.
34370 (Noble.) This Book belongs to Saml. Noble's Circulating Library at Popes head in Camaby Street near Carnaby Market.
34371 O'Hara [and] Co., Account-Book Manufacturers, Booksellers and Stationers, Patrick Street, Cork.
34372 Olds's Circulating Library, Upper Temple Street.
34373 Owen's, E., Circulating Library, Wine Street, Swansea. 1792.
34374 Packer, G., late Lintern, Music Seller, Bath, No. 13 in the Grove.
34375 (Page.) This Book belongs to Page's Circulating Library.
34376 Parker, T. H., Dealer in Paintings, Drawings, and Prints. No. 7 Spur Street, Leicester Square, W.C.
34377 Parsons and Galignam's British Library in Prose. (I. P. Simon del. sculp.)
34378 Payne, Tho., Bookseller in Wrexham.
34379 Pope, John, Bookseller in Southgate Street Exon. (Coffin Xon.)
34380 Power [and] Co. Sold by William, at their-Music [and] Musical Instrument Warehouse No. 4 Westmorland Street College Green, Dublin. (S. Close sc.)
34381 (Quaritch.) From the Sunderland Library, Blenheim Palace, Purchased, March, 1883, By Bernard Quaritch, 15 Piccadilly, London.
34382 (Quaritch.) From the Sunderland Library, Blenheim Palace, Purchased, March, 1883, By Bernard Quaritch, 15 Piccadilly, London. (The last plate printed on grey paper.)
34383 (Randell.) Printed at London, and are to be sold by Richard Randell, and Peter Maplisden, Booksellers in Newcastle, upon the Sand-hill near the Bridge.
34384 Richardson's, Welld. M., Circulating Library, Annan. (P. Clark, sculpt. Annan.)
34385 Rives, Joseph, Maker at the Black Cap, In Fenwick Street Liverpool.
34386 Rogers. Printer Bookseller and Stationer. Newmarket.
34387 Rose's Circulating Library, Newport-Pagnel.
34388 Shandon, St. Ann's, Eeligious Circulating Library.
34389 Sala D., London. (A bookplate.) (Butcher Sculp. May's Buildings Covt. Gard.)
34390 Sharp, G., High Street, Bedford.
34391 (Sheate.) This Book belongs to Sheate's Circulating Library.
34392 Stacy, J., Bookseller Norwich.
34393 Swinborne [and] Walter, Colchester. Sold by.
84394 Tennant's Circulating Library, Top of Milsom-Street, Bath.
34395 Terry. Sold by G., 54 Pater Noster Eow St. Pauls.
34396 Thomas, Bookbinder, Bookseller [and] Stationer, 14 Boscawen Street, Truro.
34397 Thorn, Sold by Nathaniel, Bookseller in St. Peter's Church Yard Exon.
34398 Town's, John, Circulating Library South Shields. (T. Bewick.)
34399 Trickett, Willm., Vellum Binder and Stationer, opposite Cock Lane Snow Hill London.
34400 Upham, Edward, Bookseller, Stationer, [and] Printer, Broad Gate, Exeter.
34401 Vaillant's, This book is to be had at Paul [and] Isaac, at the Ship in the Strand London.
34402 Vandenhoeck, This Book is to be sold at the shop of Abraham, and George Richmond, the sign of Virgill's Head, Opposite Exeter Exchange in the Strand.
34403 Varenne, This and, All Sorts of Foreign Books are to be had, at Math, de. Bookseller at the Senecas Head in the Strand London.
34404 Varenne's, This Book and all sorts are to be had at Math., at the Senecas head near Sommerset house in ye Strand. (H. Hulsbergh sc.)
34405 Ward, Caesar, [and] Richard Chandler. At the Ship Between the Temple Gates in Fleet-Street, And at their Shop at Scarborough.
34406 Ward, Caesar, and Richd. Chandler, Booksellers, At the Ship, without Temple-Barr, London. (T. Haynes Sculpt. York.)
34407 Webb's Circulating Library, Bedford.
34408 Westley, R. H., Bookseller [and] Stationer, No. 159, Opposite the New Church, Strand.
34409 White's Circulating Library, No. 13 St. Augustine's Back, Bristol.
34410 White, Thomas, at the Exchange of Cork. Bookseller [and] Stationer.
34411 Wigan Subscription Library
34412 Wildy [and] Davis, 12 Brownlow St. Holborn, and Lincoln's Inn Gateway, Carey St.
34413 Wilson, Wm., Bookseller [and] Stationer, at Homer's head No. 6 Dame Street, the Comer of Palace Street, Dublin.
34414 Withers, Ewd., Bookseller at the Seven Stars over Chancery Lane Fleet Street.
34415 (Woodbridge.) This Book is the Property of Woodbridge's Circulating Library, Brentford Bridge.
34416 (Yearsley.) This Book belongs to Ann Yearsley's Public Library In the Crescent, Hotwells.
34417 Young, John. Musical Instrument Seller, at the Dolphin and Crown at the West End of St Pauls Church.
Saturday, 24 January 2015
A Typical Research Day
Although, for me, only one day each week is flagged as a research day—a day on which I am not expected to either teach or attend meetings—I do research at all times of the day and all days of the week. I expect my colleagues do the same. The advantage of a research day is that it does give me the opportunity to do things that require extended focus, or extended meandering. If I were a very disciplined and well-organised person, I would make use of this time to write article after article. And sometime I do get to do this, but more often than not I use my time to follow up on the interesting leads captured in files and folders that litter my computer desktop.
Thursday was typical of that second kind of day. Last week I happened upon a blog post (here) that alerted me to the fact that the University of Virginia Library has acquired a copy of the French translation of Ab.9.2 The Rash Resolve; Or, or the Untimely Discovery (1724): Emanuella, ou la découverte premature. Par Madame Élise Haywood (Paris, an IX [1800/1801]). I located only two copies of this book in 2004 (both in Europe), so it was a pleasure to add a third.
While updating the holdings listed in my Bibliography, I took the opportunity to look for more copies, which led me to a series of discoveries: the Bavarian State Library have scanned their copy of Emanuella and it is now on Google Books (here), so I added it to my list of Haywood texts online here and revised my entry in my Bibliography; I found two new listings for the translation in French literary journals, and was able to correct the date on the one I listed in 2004 (adding this and this, and correcting the details of this); and—via the latter—I found a (very short) review of the translation here), so I have posted the review and translation here and added it to my list of Haywood reviews here and in my revised Bibliography.
After all this updating I still haven't got around to mentioning what first struck me about the University of Virginia copy of Emanuella: it contains the bookplates of Paul Lacroix (1806–84) the French author and journalist (famous enough to have his own Wikipedia page here) and André Breton (1896-1966), the founder of Surrealism (also on Wikipedia here). As David Whitesell points out in his blog entry, it is fitting that Salvador Dalí designed Breton’s "arresting" bookplate.
The University of Virginia copy was (owned and) donated by the renowned "angliciste," Professor Maurice Lévy (1929-2012; also on Wikipedia here), author of, among other things, Le Roman “Gothique” Anglais, 1764–1824 (PhD. thesis, 1968), Roman et société en Angleterre au XVIIIe siècle (1978) and some important articles on Mathhew Lewis. A pencil notation is visible on the photo of the endpaper posted by Whitesell, which suggests Levy paid one thousand francs (ca. A$220) for it—though when he did so is not clear.
The Levy collection is relatively small, but choice. As the collector himself explains (here), a "distinctive feature" of the French editions of (British) gothic novels—a feature "not shared by corresponding English volumes"—is that they are "individually illustrated with frontispieces by (most of them) reputed engravers." Nicole Bouché explains that "almost all" of Levy's late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century volumes are "in their original, often quite striking French bindings." That is, these French gothic novels are gorgeous: beautifully illustrated, printed and bound.
Anyone, like me, who has gone looking for a fetching illustration to use in a lecture on a gothic novel—such as Vathek, The Castle of Otranto, The Monk or Zofloya—will recognise the truth of Levy's observation: if you can't find a French edition, you may as well give up! My lectures on the gothic novel in my units "The Dark Hero" and "The Shadow of Reason" and "Reading the Past" are a hymn in praise of French engravers.
Until I read the posts by Whitesell and Bouché about the Levy collection, I had never heard of Levy's Images du roman noir (Paris: Éric Losfeld, 1973)—but as soon as I did, I knew I needed a copy, so I ordered one. (There appears to be only one copy in any library in Australia!) Nor was I aware of CERLI (the "Centre d'Études et de Recherches sur les Littératures de l'Imaginaire" [Centre for Studies and Research on the Literature of the Imagination (here)] until I read the Wikipedia entry (it is not mentioned in the Whitesell and Bouché posts), but I quickly found CERLI online, went straight to the bibliography page and was greeted by some very welcome headings: Fantastique; Littérature gothique; Vampires; Merveilleux; Fantasy; Science-fiction …
This site will going straight into my reader for the Dark Hero. Actually, I will have to do it next week now. Until then, I will just leave a screen-cap of the site on my desktop to remind me ...
Thursday was typical of that second kind of day. Last week I happened upon a blog post (here) that alerted me to the fact that the University of Virginia Library has acquired a copy of the French translation of Ab.9.2 The Rash Resolve; Or, or the Untimely Discovery (1724): Emanuella, ou la découverte premature. Par Madame Élise Haywood (Paris, an IX [1800/1801]). I located only two copies of this book in 2004 (both in Europe), so it was a pleasure to add a third.
While updating the holdings listed in my Bibliography, I took the opportunity to look for more copies, which led me to a series of discoveries: the Bavarian State Library have scanned their copy of Emanuella and it is now on Google Books (here), so I added it to my list of Haywood texts online here and revised my entry in my Bibliography; I found two new listings for the translation in French literary journals, and was able to correct the date on the one I listed in 2004 (adding this and this, and correcting the details of this); and—via the latter—I found a (very short) review of the translation here), so I have posted the review and translation here and added it to my list of Haywood reviews here and in my revised Bibliography.
After all this updating I still haven't got around to mentioning what first struck me about the University of Virginia copy of Emanuella: it contains the bookplates of Paul Lacroix (1806–84) the French author and journalist (famous enough to have his own Wikipedia page here) and André Breton (1896-1966), the founder of Surrealism (also on Wikipedia here). As David Whitesell points out in his blog entry, it is fitting that Salvador Dalí designed Breton’s "arresting" bookplate.
The University of Virginia copy was (owned and) donated by the renowned "angliciste," Professor Maurice Lévy (1929-2012; also on Wikipedia here), author of, among other things, Le Roman “Gothique” Anglais, 1764–1824 (PhD. thesis, 1968), Roman et société en Angleterre au XVIIIe siècle (1978) and some important articles on Mathhew Lewis. A pencil notation is visible on the photo of the endpaper posted by Whitesell, which suggests Levy paid one thousand francs (ca. A$220) for it—though when he did so is not clear.
The Levy collection is relatively small, but choice. As the collector himself explains (here), a "distinctive feature" of the French editions of (British) gothic novels—a feature "not shared by corresponding English volumes"—is that they are "individually illustrated with frontispieces by (most of them) reputed engravers." Nicole Bouché explains that "almost all" of Levy's late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century volumes are "in their original, often quite striking French bindings." That is, these French gothic novels are gorgeous: beautifully illustrated, printed and bound.
Anyone, like me, who has gone looking for a fetching illustration to use in a lecture on a gothic novel—such as Vathek, The Castle of Otranto, The Monk or Zofloya—will recognise the truth of Levy's observation: if you can't find a French edition, you may as well give up! My lectures on the gothic novel in my units "The Dark Hero" and "The Shadow of Reason" and "Reading the Past" are a hymn in praise of French engravers.
Until I read the posts by Whitesell and Bouché about the Levy collection, I had never heard of Levy's Images du roman noir (Paris: Éric Losfeld, 1973)—but as soon as I did, I knew I needed a copy, so I ordered one. (There appears to be only one copy in any library in Australia!) Nor was I aware of CERLI (the "Centre d'Études et de Recherches sur les Littératures de l'Imaginaire" [Centre for Studies and Research on the Literature of the Imagination (here)] until I read the Wikipedia entry (it is not mentioned in the Whitesell and Bouché posts), but I quickly found CERLI online, went straight to the bibliography page and was greeted by some very welcome headings: Fantastique; Littérature gothique; Vampires; Merveilleux; Fantasy; Science-fiction …
This site will going straight into my reader for the Dark Hero. Actually, I will have to do it next week now. Until then, I will just leave a screen-cap of the site on my desktop to remind me ...
Thursday, 22 January 2015
A French Review of Haywood's The Rash Resolve (1724)
The following very short review is of Emanuella, a French translation of Haywood’s The Rash Resolve, which appears in the Bibliothèque Française 9 (Nivôse An 9 [December 1800–January 1801]): 190–91 (here). It seems that the review is by the blind "homme de lettres" [man of letters] Marie Charles Joseph de Pougens (1755–1833)—he has a (French) Wikipedia page here—since it appears in a section titled "Notices par Charles Pougens" (ibid., 171). This review is not mentioned in my Bibliography of Eliza Haywood (under Ab.9.2).
Emanuella, ou la découverte prématurée. par mad. Elise Haywood. Trad. de l’Anglais. I v. in-12 de 264 p., fig. Ouvrier, rue St.-André-des-Arcs, no. 41.
Des aventures simples, un style naturel, tels sont les principaux caractères de ce roman, dont la lecture plaira à tous ceux qui aiment à n’être que doucement intéressés.
[Emanuella, or The Premature Discovery. By Madam Elise Haywood. Translated from the English. 1 vol., 12mo. …
Simple adventures and natural style, these are the principle characteristics of the novel, the reading of which will appeal to those who like to be only mildly engaged.]
For for a complete list of reviews of Eliza Haywood's works—including works in translation, such as this—see here.
[UPDATED 7 June 2026]
* * * * *
Emanuella, ou la découverte prématurée. par mad. Elise Haywood. Trad. de l’Anglais. I v. in-12 de 264 p., fig. Ouvrier, rue St.-André-des-Arcs, no. 41.
Des aventures simples, un style naturel, tels sont les principaux caractères de ce roman, dont la lecture plaira à tous ceux qui aiment à n’être que doucement intéressés.
[Emanuella, or The Premature Discovery. By Madam Elise Haywood. Translated from the English. 1 vol., 12mo. …
Simple adventures and natural style, these are the principle characteristics of the novel, the reading of which will appeal to those who like to be only mildly engaged.]
For for a complete list of reviews of Eliza Haywood's works—including works in translation, such as this—see here.
[UPDATED 7 June 2026]
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