Commerce

4740 — 7 October 1905. Two leaves vellum folio one page blank folded good condition. Details he bankruptcy of Grant Richards are given mentioning the addresses of his premises and continues: "The said Alexander Moring publisher de la More Press has recently agreed with the said . . . Moncrieff for the purchase of the stock in trade copyrights publishing rights and goodwill of the business of the said Grant Richards . . . 17 April 1905 for the sum of Nine Thousand pounds and upon payment of Three Thousand five hundred pounds . . . Moncrieff has delivered possession to the sadi Alexander Moring of the stock in trade and all other the moveable property of the said Grant Richards . . . and in consideration of One hundred pounds . . .Moncrieff hereby assigns unto the said Alexander Moring All that the goodwill of the business of a Publisher lately carried out by the said Grant Richards together with the trade name . . . and also the copyrights publishing and other rights . . . of and in the series of books known respectively as "The Worlds Classics" The Boys Classics and "The Parsons Handbook Series" vested in the said . . . Moncrieff . . .". The final page contains information which indicates that this was an exhibit in an action brought by Grant Richards against the distinguished bookseller Bertram Dobell and this document is accompanied by a manuscript 2pp. fol. folded prob. secretarial hand "draft Affidavit of Defendant Dobell". The case is Grant Richards plaintiff and Bertram Dobell and Alexander Moring defendants. Dobell initially gives details of his business two premises "Publisher Bookseller and Dealer in Autographs" length of career etc. He says he bought some letters in good faith from his co-defendent Alexander Moring who himself had bought the letters along with the rest of Grant Richards' business. He did not think that the letters had content which would provoke legal action and he has sent 3000 catalogues out in GB and the USA attracting "considerable expense" and perhaps the expense and trouble of getting sold letters back from customers if the Court so decided. His reputation is also an issue. Note: Grant Richards originated the World Classics series but it appears that Moring bought the copyright before Frowde of the OUP. The letters discussed above are apparently now in Princeton University Library. 7 October 1905. hardcover