1480 - Robert Augustus Johnson to George William Johnson
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Dear Brother
By yesterdays waggon (which will be
at Stamford the day you receive this) I sent you the following
books from Payne’s sale, Johnston’s Dictionary, it is the first
edition which is reckon’d to be the best printed tho’ the
other by being new sells for more. Humes History. There is
another edition of it printed about two years ago on a larger
paper that sells for seven guineas, but as the one I have
sent you is really a handsome book and coston not quite
half the money I thought you would prefer it: Robertson’s
Charles the fifth: And Urry’s Chaucer, which is the only
modern edition so I sent it you tho’ a folio, You should at
the same time have had Chambers’s supplement, but the price
nine guineas startled me so much I thought it better to ask
you if youstill wish to have at that rate. The new
edition of Chambers wont be out of some years which has
raisd the price of the supplement so enormously. Benvenuto
Cilini was sold before I went to Paynes.th You will see
in his catalogue some other old Italien books, the prices of
which are not put down. If you wish to have any of them
I would be shall be oblig’d to you to say how much you
would chuse to give for them as I understand from their
scarcity they are all very dear no. 1832 I have mark’d with
my pencil a guinea. It is a very old looking small quarto in a
[f.46v]
black binding – Elmsleys books are not all come over, but
the following were sent by yesterdats waggon. Orlando di Romi
Gerandi il corteze, Rollins’s belles lettres. Smollets continuation, Farquars
works in due, and Baskerville Congreve as it is the only octavo
edition. there is not one of Farqhar – La Dictionaire de l’Accademie
in Quarto Elmsley fears is not to be got, but the folio edition is
among his book which he expects every day. He has a quarto
edition of Racine, but Mr Wodhull told me the octavo one like
your Corncille was much the best, so I thought it better to wait.
There will likewise be an edition of Moliere come out in may
on the same plan, do you chuse to wait for it or have the
Quarto? – Voltaire has just publish’d a complete edition oh his works
in 10 Vol: quarto (price about 10 or 11 guineas) which I am told is likely
to be the standard edition, as he has made considerable altera-
-tions and additions to his Histoire Universelle. I would not send
it you till I had asked if you would not rather chuse this
edition of all his works. Mezerais’ is reckon’d the best History
of France but comes no longer than to the death of Henry the
fourth. The first edition in 3v folio is greatly prefer’d as it
is wrote with a spirit of freedom, the French court thought it
necessary to soften in the subsequence editions. There is a
handsome copy in Paynes sale at six guineas. Elmsley has one
he said he could let you have for five, but the leaves are very
much stain’d. Daniel’s History comes farther down, but is not
so generally liked – La Dictionaire de l’accademie in folio
Fontenelle, La Fontaine, Boileai, Francs Sacchetti, Pecorone, de
prodezze d’Ailolpho, Elmsley says he shall be able to send you
very soon. But for the Conto nouvelle Antiche, Storia herboncze
di Kinaldo and Savolo Thotonfa, they are only to be pick’d up
[f.47]
by accident at books auctions and are so enormously dear three
or four guineas a volume that he will not get them without
your farther orders. Autori deciliani and Concillo di Butti are
likewise very scarce. – I have sent you the catalogue of Mr
Smiths books (Werts’ catalogue is not yet out) and I should think
the best way would be for you to mark against the articles
you want the prices you would chuse to give for them, for
otherwise you may be drawn into a much greater expence
than you intended. If I am in Town I will attend the auction
for you with great pleasure. But if not Elmsley of course
will have somebody there. Il Convivio di Danti is a very
indifferent thing in imitation of Plato, Il Ditton [damaged] mundo
Fazio Elmsley never heard any thing of – I look’d over Mr
Wodhull’s bibliographie instructive it is with the catalogue
la Libraire de Graignian which is a kind of appendix to it, seven
large octavo volumes, and is of very little use but to mark out
the best editions of rare and scarce books. – I think I have
now my dear Brother given you all the information I can about
the books you want, as soon as I get your farther instructions
I will execute them immediately. I have not yet got a house
so shall probably not be able to leave London till near Christ-
mas. Luckily mr Wodhull’s lending me his house enables me
to live at very little expence. Adieu my dear Brother behave
R.A. Johnson
Thursday
My love to the Doctor
[f.47v]
George Wm Johnson Esqr
Witham Hill near Stamford
Lincolnshire
Directions Mar. Lat. trust at
there
By yesterdays waggon (which will be
at Stamford the day you receive this) I sent you the following
books from Payne’s sale, Johnston’s Dictionary, it is the first
edition which is reckon’d to be the best printed tho’ the
other by being new sells for more. Humes History. There is
another edition of it printed about two years ago on a larger
paper that sells for seven guineas, but as the one I have
sent you is really a handsome book and cost
half the money I thought you would prefer it: Robertson’s
Charles the fifth: And Urry’s Chaucer, which is the only
modern edition so I sent it you tho’ a folio, You should at
the same time have had Chambers’s supplement, but the price
nine guineas startled me so much I thought it better to ask
you if you
edition of Chambers wont be out of some years which has
raisd the price of the supplement so enormously. Benvenuto
Cilini was sold before I went to Paynes.
in his catalogue some other old Italien books, the prices of
which are not put down. If you wish to have any of them
would chuse to give for them as I understand from their
scarcity they are all very dear no. 1832 I have mark’d with
my pencil a guinea. It is a very old looking small quarto in a
[f.46v]
black binding – Elmsleys books are not all come over, but
the following were sent by yesterdats waggon. Orlando di Romi
Gerandi il corteze, Rollins’s belles lettres. Smollets continuation, Farquars
works in due, and Baskerville Congreve as it is the only octavo
edition. there is not one of Farqhar – La Dictionaire de l’Accademie
in Quarto Elmsley fears is not to be got, but the folio edition is
among his book which he expects every day. He has a quarto
edition of Racine, but Mr Wodhull told me the octavo one like
your Corncille was much the best, so I thought it better to wait.
There will likewise be an edition of Moliere come out in may
on the same plan, do you chuse to wait for it or have the
Quarto? – Voltaire has just publish’d a complete edition oh his works
in 10 Vol: quarto (price about 10 or 11 guineas) which I am told is likely
to be the standard edition, as he has made considerable altera-
-tions and additions to his Histoire Universelle. I would not send
it you till I had asked if you would not rather chuse this
edition of all his works. Mezerais’ is reckon’d the best History
of France but comes no longer than to the death of Henry the
fourth. The first edition in 3v folio is greatly prefer’d as it
is wrote with a spirit of freedom, the French court thought it
necessary to soften in the subsequence editions. There is a
handsome copy in Paynes sale at six guineas. Elmsley has one
he said he could let you have for five, but the leaves are very
much stain’d. Daniel’s History comes farther down, but is not
so generally liked – La Dictionaire de l’accademie in folio
Fontenelle, La Fontaine, Boileai, Francs Sacchetti, Pecorone, de
prodezze d’Ailolpho, Elmsley says he shall be able to send you
very soon. But for the Conto nouvelle Antiche, Storia herboncze
di Kinaldo and Savolo Thotonfa, they are only to be pick’d up
[f.47]
by accident at books auctions and are so enormously dear three
or four guineas a volume that he will not get them without
your farther orders. Autori deciliani and Concillo di Butti are
likewise very scarce. – I have sent you the catalogue of Mr
Smiths books (Werts’ catalogue is not yet out) and I should think
the best way would be for you to mark against the articles
you want the prices you would chuse to give for them, for
otherwise you may be drawn into a much greater expence
than you intended. If I am in Town I will attend the auction
for you with great pleasure. But if not Elmsley of course
will have somebody there. Il Convivio di Danti is a very
indifferent thing in imitation of Plato, Il Ditton [damaged] mundo
Fazio Elmsley never heard any thing of – I look’d over Mr
Wodhull’s bibliographie instructive it is with the catalogue
la Libraire de Graignian which is a kind of appendix to it, seven
large octavo volumes, and is of very little use but to mark out
the best editions of rare and scarce books. – I think I have
now my dear Brother given you all the information I can about
the books you want, as soon as I get your farther instructions
I will execute them immediately. I have not yet got a house
so shall probably not be able to leave London till near Christ-
mas. Luckily mr Wodhull’s lending me his house enables me
to live at very little expence. Adieu my dear Brother behave
R.A. Johnson
Thursday
My love to the Doctor
[f.47v]
George Wm Johnson Esqr
Witham Hill near Stamford
Lincolnshire
Directions Mar. Lat. trust at
there
Dear Brother
By yesterdays waggon (which will be
at Stamford the day you receive this) I sent you the following
books from Payne’s sale, Johnston’s Dictionary, it is the first
edition which is reckoned to be the best printed though the
other by being new sells for more. Humes History. There is
another edition of it printed about two years ago on a larger
paper that sells for seven guineas, but as the one I have
sent you is really a handsome book and coston not quite
half the money I thought you would prefer it: Robertson’s
Charles the fifth: And Urry’s Chaucer, which is the only
modern edition so I sent it you though a folio, You should at
the same time have had Chambers’s supplement, but the price
nine guineas startled me so much I thought it better to ask
you if youstill wish to have at that rate. The new
edition of Chambers wont be out of some years which has
raised the price of the supplement so enormously. Benvenuto
Cilini was sold before I went to Paynes.th You will see
in his catalogue some other old Italian books, the prices of
which are not put down. If you wish to have any of them
I would be shall be obliged to you to say how much you
would choose to give for them as I understand from their
scarcity they are all very dear no. 1832 I have marked with
my pencil a guinea. It is a very old looking small quarto in a
[f.46v]
black binding – Elmsleys books are not all come over, but
the following were sent by yesterdays waggon. Orlando di Romi
Gerandi il corteze, Rollins’s belles lettres. Smollets continuation, Farquars
works in due, and Baskerville Congreve as it is the only octavo
edition. there is not one of Farqhar – La Dictionaire de l’Accademie
in Quarto Elmsley fears is not to be got, but the folio edition is
among his book which he expects every day. He has a quarto
edition of Racine, but Mr Wodhull told me the octavo one like
your Corncille was much the best, so I thought it better to wait.
There will likewise be an edition of Moliere come out in may
on the same plan, do you choose to wait for it or have the
Quarto? – Voltaire has just published a complete edition oh his works
in 10 Vol: quarto (price about 10 or 11 guineas) which I am told is likely
to be the standard edition, as he has made considerable altera-
-tions and additions to his Histoire Universelle. I would not send
it you till I had asked if you would not rather choose this
edition of all his works. Mezerais’ is reckoned the best History
of France but comes no longer than to the death of Henry the
fourth. The first edition in 3v folio is greatly preferred as it
is wrote with a spirit of freedom, the French court thought it
necessary to soften in the subsequence editions. There is a
handsome copy in Paynes sale at six guineas. Elmsley has one
he said he could let you have for five, but the leaves are very
much stained. Daniel’s History comes farther down, but is not
so generally liked – La Dictionaire de l’accademie in folio
Fontenelle, La Fontaine, Boileai, Francs Sacchetti, Pecorone, de
prodezze d’Ailolpho, Elmsley says he shall be able to send you
very soon. But for the Conto nouvelle Antiche, Storia herboncze
di Kinaldo and Savolo Thotonfa, they are only to be picked up
[f.47]
by accident at books auctions and are so enormously dear three
or four guineas a volume that he will not get them without
your farther orders. Autori deciliani and Concillo di Butti are
likewise very scarce. – I have sent you the catalogue of Mr
Smiths books (Werts’ catalogue is not yet out) and I should think
the best way would be for you to mark against the articles
you want the prices you would choose to give for them, for
otherwise you may be drawn into a much greater expense
than you intended. If I am in Town I will attend the auction
for you with great pleasure. But if not Elmsley of course
will have somebody there. Il Convivio di Danti is a very
indifferent thing in imitation of Plato, Il Ditton [damaged] mundo
Fazio Elmsley never heard any thing of – I looked over Mr
Wodhull’s bibliographie instructive it is with the catalogue
la Libraire de Graignian which is a kind of appendix to it, seven
large octavo volumes, and is of very little use but to mark out
the best editions of rare and scarce books. – I think I have
now my dear Brother given you all the information I can about
the books you want, as soon as I get your farther instructions
I will execute them immediately. I have not yet got a house
so shall probably not be able to leave London till near Christ-
mas. Luckily mr Wodhull’s lending me his house enables me
to live at very little expense. Adieu my dear Brother behave
R.A. Johnson
Thursday
My love to the Doctor
[f.47v]
George Wm Johnson Esqr
Witham Hill near Stamford
Lincolnshire
Directions Mar. Lat. trust at
there
By yesterdays waggon (which will be
at Stamford the day you receive this) I sent you the following
books from Payne’s sale, Johnston’s Dictionary, it is the first
edition which is reckoned to be the best printed though the
other by being new sells for more. Humes History. There is
another edition of it printed about two years ago on a larger
paper that sells for seven guineas, but as the one I have
sent you is really a handsome book and cost
half the money I thought you would prefer it: Robertson’s
Charles the fifth: And Urry’s Chaucer, which is the only
modern edition so I sent it you though a folio, You should at
the same time have had Chambers’s supplement, but the price
nine guineas startled me so much I thought it better to ask
you if you
edition of Chambers wont be out of some years which has
raised the price of the supplement so enormously. Benvenuto
Cilini was sold before I went to Paynes.
in his catalogue some other old Italian books, the prices of
which are not put down. If you wish to have any of them
would choose to give for them as I understand from their
scarcity they are all very dear no. 1832 I have marked with
my pencil a guinea. It is a very old looking small quarto in a
[f.46v]
black binding – Elmsleys books are not all come over, but
the following were sent by yesterdays waggon. Orlando di Romi
Gerandi il corteze, Rollins’s belles lettres. Smollets continuation, Farquars
works in due, and Baskerville Congreve as it is the only octavo
edition. there is not one of Farqhar – La Dictionaire de l’Accademie
in Quarto Elmsley fears is not to be got, but the folio edition is
among his book which he expects every day. He has a quarto
edition of Racine, but Mr Wodhull told me the octavo one like
your Corncille was much the best, so I thought it better to wait.
There will likewise be an edition of Moliere come out in may
on the same plan, do you choose to wait for it or have the
Quarto? – Voltaire has just published a complete edition oh his works
in 10 Vol: quarto (price about 10 or 11 guineas) which I am told is likely
to be the standard edition, as he has made considerable altera-
-tions and additions to his Histoire Universelle. I would not send
it you till I had asked if you would not rather choose this
edition of all his works. Mezerais’ is reckoned the best History
of France but comes no longer than to the death of Henry the
fourth. The first edition in 3v folio is greatly preferred as it
is wrote with a spirit of freedom, the French court thought it
necessary to soften in the subsequence editions. There is a
handsome copy in Paynes sale at six guineas. Elmsley has one
he said he could let you have for five, but the leaves are very
much stained. Daniel’s History comes farther down, but is not
so generally liked – La Dictionaire de l’accademie in folio
Fontenelle, La Fontaine, Boileai, Francs Sacchetti, Pecorone, de
prodezze d’Ailolpho, Elmsley says he shall be able to send you
very soon. But for the Conto nouvelle Antiche, Storia herboncze
di Kinaldo and Savolo Thotonfa, they are only to be picked up
[f.47]
by accident at books auctions and are so enormously dear three
or four guineas a volume that he will not get them without
your farther orders. Autori deciliani and Concillo di Butti are
likewise very scarce. – I have sent you the catalogue of Mr
Smiths books (Werts’ catalogue is not yet out) and I should think
the best way would be for you to mark against the articles
you want the prices you would choose to give for them, for
otherwise you may be drawn into a much greater expense
than you intended. If I am in Town I will attend the auction
for you with great pleasure. But if not Elmsley of course
will have somebody there. Il Convivio di Danti is a very
indifferent thing in imitation of Plato, Il Ditton [damaged] mundo
Fazio Elmsley never heard any thing of – I looked over Mr
Wodhull’s bibliographie instructive it is with the catalogue
la Libraire de Graignian which is a kind of appendix to it, seven
large octavo volumes, and is of very little use but to mark out
the best editions of rare and scarce books. – I think I have
now my dear Brother given you all the information I can about
the books you want, as soon as I get your farther instructions
I will execute them immediately. I have not yet got a house
so shall probably not be able to leave London till near Christ-
mas. Luckily mr Wodhull’s lending me his house enables me
to live at very little expense. Adieu my dear Brother behave
R.A. Johnson
Thursday
My love to the Doctor
[f.47v]
George Wm Johnson Esqr
Witham Hill near Stamford
Lincolnshire
Directions Mar. Lat. trust at
there
Details
Robert Augustus Johnson to George William Johnson
Robert is still in London and describes his attempts at purchasing books for his brother, listing the titles he has purchased, their size, appearance, and price, and his visits to auctions. He has sent some of the books in the post and will send more soon. He has not yet secured a house and does not think he will leave London til Christmas.
Johnson Family
MS. Don. c. 193 46
Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
177
London [England]
Witham Hill, Stamford, Lincolnshire [England]
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Person: Robert Augustus Johnson
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Person: George William Johnson
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