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William Tinsley Publishing Correspondence
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
The Tinsley brothers, Edward (1833-1866) and William (1831-1902), set up in the book trade business around 1854. They focused mainly on publishing fiction for the popular lending libraries, and specialized in luxuriously bound three-volume novels. In 1866, at the sudden death of Edward, William took over the management of the firm, which went bankrupt in 1878, although he continued to publish books under the supervision of trustees. William also founded Tinsley's Magazine, which ran in various formats from 1867 to 1892.
The collection consists of 90 letters, 1866-1889, received by the Tinsley Brothers publishing firm of London, England. Included in this collection are letters by such writers, journalists, and novelists as Charles Dickens, Jr., Percy Fitzgerald, B. L. Farjeon, G. A. Henty, Florence Marryat, Mrs. Oliphant, Mrs. J. H. Riddell, James Rice, George Augustus Sala, Annie Thomas (Mrs. Pender Cudlip), W. H. Wills, and Edmund Yates.
Arranged alphabetically.
Purchased from David Holmes in 1996. 19 Letters from Thomas to Tinsley Publishing purchased in 1996. Letter from Pollock to Tinsley, other letters were purchased from David Holmes in 1997-2010. Purchase, David Holmes 2013 (AM 2013-37).
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This collection was processed in 2001. Finding aid written in 2001.
No appraisal action was taken in 2013.
Organization
Subject
- Authors, English -- 19th century -- Correspondence
- Authors and publishers -- England -- 19th century
- English literature -- 19th century
- Journalists -- England -- 19th century -- Correspondence
- Novelists, English -- 19th century -- Correspondence
- Publishers and publishing -- England -- 19th century
- Women authors, English -- 19th century -- Correspondence
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Date
- 2001
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
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Collection Inventory
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Autograph note signed ("D.H. Boulger 'Theo. Gift'" across a one penny stamp), 144 Kensington Park Road, W., 11 August 1881. To the publisher, W[illiam]. Tinsley, acknowledging receipt ". . . of your cheque for twenty pounds . . . on account for my story 'Visited On the Children'."
Physical Description1 folderSome light browning and soiling; docketed on the verso of the blank integral leaf in an unidentified contemporary hand; else good.8vo
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Autograph note signed, 6 November n.y. Written on thickly bordered mourning stationery, to "Dear Sir" (with the previous owner's description indicating that the letter came from the papers of William Tinsley), replying: "I was out when your brother called, but I now beg to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the books with which I was very much pleased, as their binding is very handome & attractive looking -- & well adapted for presentation."
Physical Description1 foldern.p. Mailing folds; edges lightly nicked; with a central spike hole. Mildly soiled/toned; else good.8vo
Autograph letter signed, 31 Gloucester Crescent, Regents Park, 29 May 1876. To the publisher William Tinsley, informing him: "I am willing to undertake the writing of a book of Memoirs of famous Irishwomen upon the following terms -- the book to be in 2 vols -- uniform with 'English Female Artists' -: that you pay me £75 . . . and that the copyright becomes my property at the end of three years. . . ."
Physical Description1 folderDocketed in an unidentified contemporary hand; folds; lightly soiled; else good.8vo
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Autograph letter signed, 60 Westbourne Park Villas, "Friday" n.d. From the Victorian novelist [to her publisher William Tinsley (though not so indicated on the letter; the letter is from a group of his papers)] concerning the publication of her novel Loyal: "I have been promised reviews in prominent places in the following papers. . . . If you will be so good as to forward copies of Loyal to each they will be put in at once. I have already given away two of my own copies to reviewers. . . . All my friends tell me they have searched in vain for any advertisement of my novel in the daily papers. I hear it from all sides. I think it would pay to advertise it more. I think it may have been neglected through your absence from business. . . . I shall not write another novel, till I see whether this answers. I have written a short story. If you think that at any future time you will have a place for it, I will send it to you, that your reader may look at it to see whether it would suit you?"
Physical Description1 folderMailing folds; lightly soiled; else good.8vo
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Autograph letter signed, Elford Park nr Tamworth, Staffordshire, 16 May 1874. Although not so indicated, addressed to the publisher William Tinsley, concerning her book A Young Man's Love, sending thanks for his report of its accounts and replying in part: ". . . I am very sorry for the bad report of the sale of my book. That you should lose by it is very annoying to me. These things are uncertain. I am well aware; except in cases where the name of the author is popularly known -- or where when unknown it is raised into some notoriety by reviews (favourable or unfavourable) in such papers at the 'Times'. . . . Mr Hooper and I do not belong to the class of journalistic & literary people who have no scruples in asking their acquaintances to give 'an early' . . . notice of a book in which they take a personal interest. This tale of mine is just of a kind that might be civilly treated by a Saturday Reviewer -- and might be absurdly praised in the 'Times' if circumstances brought it to their notice. I have seen poorer things of the kind so treated. . . . If my name were Hope or Dasent all the copies of 'A Young Man's Love' would have sold in a month. . . . Dr Dasent's twaddling & foolish . . . novel . . . was reviewed in the Times . . . as if it had been a novel by George Eliot or Thackeray or somebody worthy to live for more that a year. . . . Messrs Henry S. King & Co. have bought a cheap edition of my first novel. . . . I wonder whether the republication will do any good to this failure -- 'A Young Man's Love.' I wish it may -- quite as much for your sake as for mine."
Physical Description1 folderBrowned and soiled; chipped, with a number of small tears.8vo
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Autograph letter signed, 3 Walpole Terrace, Castle Avenue, Dublin, 21 August n.y. [docketed at the upper left in an unidentified contemporary hand "M.S. sent & letter ansd 24/8/86"]. From the Irish novelist to the publisher William Tinsley, writing concerning her unpublished manuscript, apparently being considered for illustration by Harry Furniss (who had illustrated her Bryan and Katie in 1881): 63.99"I hear from Mr. Furniss that he came up . . . to see about my MS -- and found that you had not yet sent it to the 'Garrick' as I has asked. . . I hope you will have it at the 'Garrick' for him -- 3 vols -- 'Another Such Victory'. . . ."
Physical Description1 folderSome offsetting of ink; lightly foxed; else good.8vo
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Autograph letter signed, "Star" Office, 19 December 1867. To the publisher, William Tinsley, requesting: "Can you spare me a copy of 'The Savage Club Papers?' I have received an office copy, but I have given it out for review: and I should like one to keep."
Physical Description1 folderLeft edge rough; soiled; with a hole (repaired on the verso with a paper patch); else good.8vo
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Autograph letter signed ("Compton Reade"), Magdalen College, Oxford, 15 October [presumably 1871]. To the publisher William Tinsley, proposing his publication of a work previously undertaken by Richard Bentley (who died on 10 September 1871): "The late Mr Bentley was in treaty with me for the Copyright of my story now running through 'The Dark Blue' and entitled 'Take care whom you trust'. His death has I suppose ended the negotiation. . . . Would it suit you to purchase it? The first No. appeared in March last. . . . The story is in 31 Chapters with a conclusion, & if you like it, a preface. It has met with some favour from Reviewers, and with some indignation, as the villain of the story is a Clergyman. . . ."
Physical Description1 folderSome foxing and soiling; clean tear in margin of first page (no text missing); center spike through both leaves; else good.8vo
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Autograph letter signed, on printed letterhead of 8 Queen Square, Bloomsbury, W.C., 25 April 1874. To the publisher Tinsley, informing him: "Read the enclosed. I have often thought of adding of course the full cast of every celebrated play. We might once more adopt the subscription plan for this . . . which would commend itself to playgoers. . . ."
Physical Description1 folderRather soiled; else good.8vo
Autograph letter signed ("George Rose"), 96 Glos'ter Place, Portman Square, 19 July 1878. To William Tinsley ("Respected Governor"), on literary business: "I must have the £25. offered by Routledge for the shilling edition. . . . I'll draw on you for £50 as you propose, & let £25 stand over against the next book. . . . Dickens & Evans have sent proofs, but the first chapter they have made a mull of to which I have called their attention. . . . Please understand that 'the Match in the dark' aint a circumstance to 'A Marriage of Conscience.'"
Physical Description1 folderSome soiling and staining; folds; else good.8vo
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