Item 1 - Letter from Bernard Quaritch to W. Aldis Wright

Transcript

London, 15 Piccadilly, W. 1 February 1899 {1}

Dear Sir,

My experience does not extend to the contents of public libraries; but only to the books which have passed through public sales during the last forty years. I may therefore congratulate you on the possession of the finest copy I have ever seen of the first edition of the Genevan Bible.

I well remember the feeling of incredulity with which I listened some ten or twelve years ago to Mr Makellar’s {2} description of his copy as being a really fine one. When I saw it at his sale I was taken by surprise, and determined to have it at any price.

I thank you for the cheque—a receipt for which is enclosed;—and I am, dear Sir,

Faithfully yours
Bernard Quaritch

Professor W Aldis Wright

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{1} The first three figures of the year are printed.

{2} William Makellar, a minister of the Free Church of Scotland, who died in 1896. His library was sold by Sotheby’s on 7 November 1898. See List of Catalogues of English Book Sales now in the British Museum (1915), p. 434.