Automobile

Thomas Rodd the younger London bookseller to William Upcott of the London Institution. Autograph Letter Signed 'Thos. Rodd' arranging an evening to view Upcott's 'Literary treasures' with 'Mr Field' James Thomas Fields.

22891 — 3 May 1836; 2 Great Newport Street London. 2pp 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition lightly aged. Corner of second leaf cut away on opening of letter and still adhering to wafer. Folded twice. Addressed to 'W. Upcott Esq.' Upcott has been 'so kind as to invite Mr Fields and me to spend an evening with you in going over some of your Literary treasures' and Rodd has 'an indistinct idea of some particular evening being named' by Upcott. In the hope that the present evening was not intended he asks Upcott to send word of which evening will suit his convenience. In a long postscript Rodd expresses the hope that - should the present evening have been intended for the meeting - Upcott will excuse Rodd's forgetfulness 'and impute it to the right cause the having of one's thoughts in a Sale-room added to which I had been travelling all the previous night'. Rodd was highly regarded for his knowledge and fair dealing. He issued several catalogues of Americana. 'Mr Field sic' was presumably James Thomas Fields 1817-1881 of the celebrated Boston firm Ticknor and Fields who started in the trade at the age of fourteen and whose name was 'Field' until later in life. 3 May 1836; 2 Great Newport Street [London]. unknown