Archives, Letters & Manuscripts


The Library's manuscript and archival collections cover a period of over four hundred years, and contain a great deal of unique and valuable research material supporting the Club's focus on printing, bookselling, and book collecting. The Library's autograph collections include letters documenting the bookish activities of Jean Grolier, Thomas Wotton (the "English Grolier"), Jacques de Thou, Cardinal Mazarin, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Frognall Dibdin, and Guglielmo Libri. The cornerstone of the Club's archival holdings on book collecting is the Phillipps Collection, some three thousand books, manuscripts, and letters pertaining to Sir Thomas Phillipps, the great nineteenth-century English bibliomaniac. The Library also holds a number of important dealer archives, including those of Édouard Rahir, Arthur Swann, E. P. Goldschmidt, and the Scribner rare book department, to name just a few. A recent and very interesting addition in this category is a collection of some three hundred letters of Sir Sydney Cockerell (1867-1962) to Grolier Club member Harold Peirce (d. 1932), dating from 1897-1931, and illustrating Cockerell's hitherto largely undocumented activities as a book agent and rare book dealer. A high-spot in the Club's collections of printing history is a group of three manuscript ledgers documenting the London printing firm of William Bowyer & Son (a page from the ledgers is illustrated above) from 1710 to 1773, a unique and singularly complete record of 18th-century printing practice. And finally, book designers, illustrators, and typographers are represented in archival collections of Frederic Warde, Bruce Rogers, Rudolph Ruzicka, Sidney L. Smith, Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, and others. All these collections are supported and complemented by the papers of bookish organizations, such as the Bibliographical Society of America (BSA) and the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA).

Below is a complete list of archival collections held by the Grolier Club Library, with links to detailed finding aids.

 
Archives, Letters & Manuscripts
 
ADLER, ELMER. Letters to Jean Adler Cohen, 1898-1958   
ADLER, ELMER (ESTATE). Papers, 1934-1964  
ANDREWS, WILLIAM LORING. Papers re the book arts, 1866-1920  
ANDREWS, WILLIAM LORING. Bibliopegy [manuscript], 1902  
ANTIQUARIAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA. Records, 1949-  
AUSLANDER, JOSEPH. Papers, ca. 1925-1969  
AUSTIN, GABRIEL. Library of Jean Grolier [typescript], 1965-1995  
AUSTIN, GABRIEL. Papers re French book auction catalogs, ca. 1973-1996  
BECHTEL, EDWIN DE TURCK. Freedom of the Press [typescript], 1951  
BENNETT, PAUL. Papers re Frederic Warde, 1921-1966  
[BODONI, GIAMBATTISTA]. Life of Giambattista Bodoni [typescript], ca. 1898-1903  
BORSODI, VICTOR H. Bruce Rogers collection, 1924-1975  
BOWYER-NICHOLS (FIRM : LONDON, ENGLAND). Ledgers, 1710-1805.  
BRADLEY, JOHN WILLIAM. Reproductions of illuminated manuscripts, ca. 1873-1910  
BRYDGES, SIR EGERTON. Letters to George Perfect Harding, 1815  
CARTERET BOOK CLUB (NEWARK, N.J.). Records, 1902-1958  
CARY, MELBERT B. Collection of Goudyana [Frederic W. Goudy]  
CHEW, BEVERLY. Papers, 1883-1926  
CLUB OF ODD VOLUMES (BOSTON, MASS.). Printed ephemera, 1934-  
COCKERELL, SYDNEY C. Correspondence with Harold Peirce, 1897-1931  
CRAWFORD, JOHN MCALLISTER. Papers, 1964-1976  
DAVIS, WATERS S. Lists of French book sales catalogs, ca. 1927-1938  
DE VINNE, THEODORE LOW. Memorabilia collection, 1850-1914  
DE VINNE, THEODORE LOW. Photograph and memorabilia collection, 1897-1924  
DIBDIN, THOMAS FROGNALL. Letters to William Pickering, 1826-1830  
DICKINSON, DONALD C. Collection of source material for Dictionary of American book collectors, ca. 1894-1984  
DIEHL, EDITH. Bookbinding: Its Background and Technique [manuscript], 1946  
DISNEY, JOHN. Correspondence and associated items, 1773-1845  
DODD, JAMES WILLIAM. List of Mr. J. W. Dodd's Old Plays [manuscript], 1796  
[DONNE, JOHN]. Portrait prints of John Donne [typescript], ca. 1960’s  
DOUBLE CROWN CLUB (LONDON). Ephemera  
DUFF, EDWARD GORDON. Papers, 1893-1924  
ECCLES, MARY HYDE. Papers, 1903-2002  
ELKIND, ARNOLD AND MIMI WIEDER. Papers re their library  
ELLIS, FREDERICK STARTRIDGE. Papers re estate, ca. 1884  
FEARING, DANIEL B. Collection of Chinese and Japanese imprints, ca. 1800-1900  
FISKE, WILLIAM E. Records of collection of English color plate books, 1935-1973  
FLEMING, JOHN (FIRM : NEW YORK, N.Y.). Records, 1952-1987  
FRIDENBERG, ROBERT. Letters and documents re American and English booksellers and printers, 1732-1884   
GILLISS, WALTER. Papers, ca. 1906-1925  
GOLDSCHMIDT, E. P. (FIRM : LONDON, ENGLAND). Financial records, 1919-1981  
GOLDSCHMIDT, LUCIEN (FIRM : NEW YORK, N.Y.). Records, 1930-1991  
GOLDSMITH, ALFRED F. Letters to Edward Naumburg, Jr. and associated items, 1930-1945  
GOODHUE, BERTRAM GROSVENOR. Book designs, ca. 1892-1900  
GOODSPEEDS (FIRM : BOSTON, MASS.). Price lists for prints, ca. 1980-1989  
GOSSE, EDMUND. Letters to Charles Edmund Merrill, 1910-24  
GOUDY, FREDERIC W. [See Melbert B. Cary: Collection of Goudyana]  
GOWANS, WILLIAM. Notes for bio-bibliographies of 19th century American literature, 1863-1868  
GRAFF, ROBERT. Book collection records  
GRAUER, BEN. Papers re the book arts, 1951-1977  
GRAUER, BEN. Interview with Harrison D. Horblit [Monitor radio program], 1958  
GRIMOD DE LA REYNIÈRE, ALEXANDRE-BALTHAZAR-LAURENT. Letters, 1781-1829  
GROLIER CLUB. Beatrice Warde collection  
GROLIER CLUB. Records, 1884-1984  
GROLIER CLUB. Publication files, 1884-1985  
GROLIER CLUB. Bookplate collection, ca. 1896-  
HADDAWAY, ARTHUR. Book collection records, ca. 1959-1980  
HALLECK, FITZ-GREENE. Letters to William Loring Andrews, 1865-1866  
HOLDEN, EDWIN BABCOCK. Scrapbook of initial letters, ca. 1900  
HOWELL, ALFRED COREY. Papers re Frederic Warde, 1924-1954  
HROSWITHA CLUB (NEW YORK, N.Y.). Records and publications, 1944-1999  
HUGO, E. HAROLD. Travel diaries, 1959-1976  
IRELAND, WILLIAM HENRY. Ireland's Shakespearian [sic] library [manuscript], ca. 1805  
KARST, JOHN. Album of wood engravings  
KEBABIAN, JOHN S. Appraisal records, 1937-1960  
LERNER, ABE. Papers, 1929-2002  
LIBRAIRIE DAMASCENE MORGAND (EDOUARD RAHIR ET CIE, SUCCESSEUR). Records, 1866-1922  
LOCKER-LAMPSON, FREDERICK. Album of drawings illustrating London Lyrics, ca. 1865-1891  
LOCKER-LAMPSON, FREDERICK. London Lyrics: album of reviews, 1868-1878  
LOCKER-LAMPSON, FREDERICK. London Lyrics: album of illustrations re extra-illustrated copy, 1883   
LOCKER-LAMPSON, FREDERICK. (CORRESPONDENT). Letters from Valentin A. Blacque and others, 1887-1890  
[MADDEN, SIR FREDERIC]. Offprints presented to Sir Frederic Madden, 1777-1859  
MALKIN, SOL AND MARY ANN O’BRIAN MALKIN. Antiquarian Bookman/Malkin family papers, 1938-1996  
MARTIN, ROBERT W. Davenport Library catalog and records, ca. 1914-1961  
MCKAY, GEORGE LESLIE. Collection on the Typophiles, 1945-1976  
MCVICKAR, HARRY WHITNEY. Book and magazine illustration, ca. 1880-1900  
MERGANTHALER LINOTYPE COMPANY. Type specimen books and associated material, ca. 1920-1938  
MOORE, MARIANNE. Humility, concentration and gusto [typescript] and related material, 1949  
MORAN, LANSING. Correspondence and related materials on 20th century bookbinders, 1905-1980  
MOSHER, THOMAS BIRD. Books issued by Mosher of Portland, Maine, 1892-1931  
NICHOLS AND SON VS. HENRY FAWCETT. Arbitration papers, 1813  
NICHOLS, JOHN BOWYER. Scrapbook of book values for English topographical works, ca. 1845  
NICHOLS, SPENCER VAN B. Bookplate collection, ca. 1700-1947  
NICOL, GEORGE (BOOKSELLER OF LONDON) (CORRESPONDENT). Letters from customers, 1789-1840  
NORMAN, HASKELL F. Records re 100 Books Famous in Medicine  
NOWELL-SMITH, SIMON. Papers, 1900-2001  
OFFENBACHER, EMIL (FIRM : NEW YORK, N.Y.). Records, 1945-1990  
OLD BOOK TABLE (ORGANIZATION : NEW YORK, N.Y.). Records, 1931-  
PHILLIPPS, THOMAS, SIR. Papers relating to the Bibliotheca Phillippica and the Middle Hill Press, 1300-1886 (bulk 1820-1872)  
• Aelfric, Abbot of Eynsham: Fragments of Aelfric's Grammar, translated by Phillipps, 1837  
• Almanacs and diaries, 1803-1866  
• Alphabetical list of English pedigrees, ca. 1848  
• Architectural and topographical drawings, ca. 1800-1868  
• Autograph account book, 1819-1870  
• Curzon, Robert. Libraries of the Levant [manuscript], 1837  
• Drawings and descriptions of parishes, churches and castles in Gloucestershire, England, ca. 1820  
• Dugdale's Baronage, with additions by Phillipps, 1829  
• Erpenius, Thomas. The Arabic Alphabet, translated by Phillipps, 1822-1823  
• Family portraits, ca. 1850-1868  
• Fragments of English manuscripts, ca. 1300-1800  
• Hunter, Joseph. Remarks on the conduct of James Orchard Halliwell [autograph draft by Sir Thomas Phillipps], ca. after 1847  
• Improved Numeration Table, ca. 1829  
• Letter concerning some forgeries by Constantine Simonides, ca. 1859  
• Letters and bills, ca. 1820-1870  
• Maps, plans and bills relating to the Phillipps estates, 1795-1858  
• Middle Hill House and other buildings at Broadway, Worcestershire [photographic views], ca. 1857-1860  
• Manuscripts and documents relating the Phillipps' family, 1749-1870  
• Manuscripts and documents relating to the Bibliotheca Phillippica, 1794-1886  
• Miscellaneous portraits, documents and maps, 1681-1862  
• Munby, A. N. L. Sir Thomas Phillipps: A Biographical Portrait [radio script], 1952  
• Number of copies of Sir T. P.'s printed works, ca. 1860s  
• Pedigrees of John Mellersh, Edward Heydon and the Comyn family, ca. 1870  
• St. George, Henry. Visitatio Heraldica Comitatus Wiltoniae, A.D. 1623: Transcription by Phillipps, ca. 1827  
• Will [autograph manuscript], March 18, 1863  
PIRIE, ROBERT. Correspondence re book and antiques collecting, 1956-2005  
POLAIN, M.-LOUIS. Catalogue des livres imprimés au quinzième siècle des bibliothèques de Belgique [manuscript and photographic negatives], 1920-1933  
PRESCOTT, MARJORIE W. Book collection records, 1929-1965  
RAY, GORDON N. The art deco book in France: the Lyall lectures [typescript], 1985  
ROGERS, BRUCE. [See BORSODI, VICTOR H. Bruce Rogers collection]  
ROULAND, ORLANDO. Papers, 1905-1939  
ROWFANT CLUB (CLEVELAND, OHIO). Printed ephemera and associated items, 1901-1997  
SAKS, JOHN A. Papers re book and manuscript collection, 1936-1983  
SAMUELS LASNER, MARK. Book collection records  
ST. JOHNS, ADELA ROGERS. Papers re novel Tell No Man, 1966  
SAUVAGE, SYLVAIN. Illustrations and wood engravings for La Rôtisserie de la Reine Pédauque, 1935  
SCRIBNER'S RARE BOOK DEPARTMENT. Records, 1935-1972  
SILVER, ROLLO G. Files on American printers and publishers for The Book in America, ca. 1950  
SIMONIDES, CONSTANTINE. Papers re Codex Sinaiticus, ca. 1865-1863  
SMITH, SIDNEY LAWTON. Letters and engravings re work commissioned by William Loring Andrews, 1901-1917  
SOCIETY OF ICONOPHILES. Records, ca. 1895-1930  
SPIRAL PRESS. [See Ida Webster collection]  
STEELE, GEOFFREY (FIRM : LUMBERVILLE, PENN.). Records, ca. 1940-1989  
STEPHENSON, WALTER T. Papers re Demetrius Canevarius, ca. 1890-1898  
STOWAWAYS (ORGANIZATION : NEW YORK, N.Y.). Records, 1907-1936  
SWANN, ARTHUR. Book auction catalogs, 1898-1933  
SWANN, ARTHUR. Papers and correspondence, 1900-1956  
SYKES, MARK MASTERMAN. Papers, ca. 1813-1825  
TARLAU, JILL ORIANE. Video archive on bookbinding  
TRIPHOOK, ROBERT (CORRESPONDENT). Letters, 1813-1816  
TURNBULL, EDWARD. Bibliography of German incunabula from unidentified collection [typescript], 1900-1924  
TWYSDEN, SIR ROGER (COLLECTOR). Catalogue of his library at Royden Hall in the 17th century, ca. 1816  
VANDER POEL, HALSTED B. PAPERS, 1937-1986  
VANISHING PRESS. Publications, 1940-1983  
VOLLBEHR, OTTO H. F. Purchase of his collection of incunabula by Library of Congress, 1930  
VOYNICH, WILFRED M. (FIRM : NEW YORK, N.Y.) AND ETHEL LILLIAN VOYNICH. Papers, 1916-1948  
WARDE, BEATRICE. [See Grolier Club, Beatrice Warde collection]  
WARDE, FREDERIC. Papers, 1915-1938 [See also Paul Bennett and Alfred C. Howell collections]  
WEBSTER, IDA. Collection of Spiral Press imprints and holiday greetings, ca. 1926-1971  
WHITE, WILLIAM AUGUSTUS. Card catalog of his library, 1926  
WILSON, JOHN. Collection of curious papers, ca. 1835  
WINDLE, JOHN. Papers re Thomas Frognall Dibdin, 1776-1847: a Bibliography, 1988-1999  
WINDLE, JOHN. Papers re 2nd ed. of Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, 1759-1797: a Bibliography, 1988-1999  
WINSOR, JUSTIN. Drafts of various bibliographical works, ca. 1850-1870  
WINTERICH, JOHN TRACY. Letters to Abian A. Wallgren, 1925-1945  
WORMSER, RICHARD S. COLLECTION OF PRINTED EPHEMERA, CA. 1915-1973  
MISCELLANEOUS SINGLE LETTERS, DOCUMENTS, ETC.  
• BOUGHTON, GEORGE HENRY. LETTERS TO ALLEN MARQUAND, 1883-1896  
• BOUGHTON, GEORGE HENRY. LETTER TO MINNIE E. NOYES, 1884  
• BOUGHTON, GEORGE HENRY. LETTERS TO ROBERT HOE, 1889-1890  
• BOUGHTON, GEORGE HENRY. LETTER TO CHARLES HENRY HART, 1896  
• BRASSINGTON, WILLIAM SALT. LETTER TO WILLIAM LORING ANDREWS, 1890  
• BULMER, WILLIAM. INVOICE FOR PRINTING DIBDIN'S BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DECAMERON, 1815-1817  
• BURROUGHS, JOHN. LETTER, CA. 18--?  
• CHAUMONT, JEAN DE. RECEIPT, 1621  
• COLLIER, JOHN PAYNE. LETTER TO H. BROWN, 1869  
• CULLEN, COUNTEE. LETTER TO FREDERICK B. COYKENDALL, 1925  
• DE THOU, JACQUES AUGUSTE. LETTER TO ANTOINE LOISEL, 1583  
• DIBDIN, THOMAS FROGNALL. LETTER TO GEORGE HENRY ROBINS, 1842  
• DUNTON, JOHN A. RECEIPT FOR LOAN FROM THOMAS JONES, 1684  
• DWIGGINS, W. A. LETTER TO HENRY WATSON KENT, 1910  
• EDWARDS, FRANCIS (FIRM). SHEETS FROM LEDGER BOOK, 1869  
• ESDAILE, JAMES. LETTER TO JOHN MARTIN, 1848  
• FRY, EDMUND. LETTER TO WILLIAM MORRIS, PRINTER OF DUNSTABLE, ENGLAND, 1809  
• HAMILTON, WALTER. LETTER TO GROLIER CLUB, 1889  
• HARTMANN, CHRISTIAN. INVOICE FOR BINDING BOOKS, 1699  
• HAWTHORNE, JULIAN. LETTER TO GROLIER CLUB, 1893  
• HELLMAN, GEOFFREY. NOTES ON H.W. ROSS, 1975  
• HERBERT, WILLIAM. LETTER TO W. WHITE, 1787  
• HILDEBRANDT, JOACHIM. INVOICE FOR BINDING BOOKS, 1719  
• HOTTEN, JOHN CAMDEN. LEASE OF PREMISES FOR BOOKSHOP, 1855  
• JEFFERSON, THOMAS. LETTER TO M. FROULLE, 1795  
• LACKINGTON, JAMES. LETTER TO GEORGE LACKINGTON, 1800  
• LIBRI, GUILLAUME (CORRESPONDENT). LETTER FROM DR. BROVAL, CA. 1826  
• MARSAND, ANTONIO. LETTER TO ANTOINE AUGUSTIN RENOUARD, 1810  
• MAZARIN, CARDINAL JULES. SIGNED MARRIAGE CONTRACT, 1661  
• MORISON, STANLEY. LETTER TO EDMUND G. GRESS, 1923  
• MORRIS, WILLIAM. LETTER TO WILLIAM REEVES, 1890  
• MORRIS, WILLIAM. LETTER [TO WALTER JAMES LEIGHTON?], 1891  
• NUTTER, VALENTINE. ACCOUNT AGAINST HUGH GAINE, 1775-1776   
• PANIZZI, ANTHONY. LETTER TO NICHOLAS CARLISLE, 1839  
• PATER, WALTER. LETTER TO GEORGE ALLISON ARMOUR, 1889  
• PATERSON, SAMUEL (AUCTIONEER OF LONDON). LETTER, 1781  
• RODD, HORATIO. LETTER TO SIR THOMAS PHILLIPPS, 1852  
• ROOSEVELT. THEODORE. LETTER TO AUGUST F. JACCACI, 1913  
• SAPIN, LEON. LETTER TO CLIENT, 1895  
• SOTHEBY, SAMUEL LEIGH. LETTER TO LORD NORTHWICK, 1844  
• SPENCER, GEORGE JOHN SPENCER, EARL. LETTER TO A BOOKSELLER, 1815  
• STANDARD, PAUL. LETTER TO GEORGE L. MCKAY, 1947  
• STARKEY, JOHN. INVOICE FOR BOOKS SOLD TO GEORGE JEFFREYS, 1677  
• THOMAS, ISAIAH. LETTER TO MR. BRESS, 1795  
• TRUAIN, JACQUE. INVOICE FOR BOOKS AND BINDINGS SOLD TO ELISABETH-CHARLOTTE, DUCHESSE D'ORLEANS, 1735-1736   
• UPCOTT, WILLIAM. LETTER TO THOMAS THOMPSON, 1833  
• UPCOTT, WILLIAM. LETTER TO MRS. NASMYTH, 1834  
• UPCOTT, WILLIAM. LETTER TO MR. PERCEVAL, 1842  
• WARNE, ROGER. INVOICE FOR BOOKS SUPPLIED TO SIR JAMES AND LADY LONG, 1694  
• WOTTON, THOMAS. LETTER, 1574