Ashley Library Thomas Wise Prequel: Signed (2 results)

No Binding. Condition: Very Good. In London, Charles Dickens has just undertaken a hugely popular series of reading tours giving six readings from 14 March to 18 April 1861 before announcing in a letter to Macready on 11th June that his new novel Great Expectations had been completed. The story of The Ashley Library had all the same hallmarks of a Dickensian drama. But nobody yet knew this tale of greed, deceit and power. These were crimes that would change the course of literary history. Its victims, American and British high society, hard-nosed antiquarian book dealers, world renowned museums, universities and politicians, all members of the esteemed bibliophile fraternity, and all equally duped. They would all later describe it as the crime of the century. In 1875 Thomas James Wise was sixteen years old when he joined H. Rubeck & Co. Born in the austere surroundings of Gravesend, London, by the time Wise joined the firm he had already acquired bad habits, mainly with money. But such pastimes did not sit well with Rubeck who sacked the boy within six months. However, on representations from Wise father Rubeck agreed to give young Tommy another chance. Little could Hermann have known the criminal sequel to his clemency. By the onset of war in 1914 Wise was a trusted partner in the firm H. Rubeck and Co. and was using the company office, letterheads (illustrated) and business network to propagate his crimes which helped him acquire superb holdings of Shelley, Byron, Browning, a prophetic foundation of the great Ashley Library, his personal collection which came to be "supreme among libraries of the world". In 1906 his long association with Rubeck led to another fateful encounter. Wise entered into partnership with Hermann s eldest son, Otto P. Rubeck. Trading as W. A. Smith & Co. Wise criminal mind could now focus entirely on forgery and theft. He created detailed forgeries, printing pamphlets dressed up as hitherto undiscovered master works. The scheme became so profitable that Wise had to dupe other Rubeck employees into helping him pass on his pirated pamphlets. Hermann Rubeck himself was duped allowing excited buyers to collect the highly prized fakes from his premises. Mr. E. Schlengemann, a worker at H. Rubeck counted the British Museum as a customer. Herbert E. Gorfin had joined Rubeck as a boy but by 1914 left the firm having given £400 to Wise for 558 items, many of them forgeries, to set up as an independent bookseller and Wise personal agent. By the time of his death in 1937 Wise had worked for H. Rubeck & Co. for over thirty years. Although his crimes caught up with him the law never did. His Ashley Library was subsequently purchased by the British Museum. LOT Typed letters from H. Rubeck and son Otto P. Rubeck are held in institutions including Harry Ransom Institute. We believe this letter amongst the earliest known hand written, signed correspondence in existence. A remarkable 164-year-old two page letter authored in the most elegant cursive script by then thirty-year-old Hermann Rubeck on 10th June 1861 and franked 11th June, by coincidence the same day Dickens penned his letter to Macready to announce the completion of his Great Expectations novel. Signed by Rubeck on the inner and outer wrapper and addressed to his business associate in Montpellier, France. The full translation is available to interested parties, please enquire. The letter was wax sealed at what is believed to be Rubeck s first business premises (possibly his home) on Little Tower Street, London. This particular street no longer exists (see period map). CONDITION Near fine script, highly original flourished cursive nineteenth century letter with original franked Rose Carmine stamp, all with superb integrity and color. Outer wrapper very good with wax seal (request extra photos). Original London to Montpellier franking and postmarks (see photos). If you have WhatsApp you can request a video file. Please feel free to request more photographs. Signed by Author(s).…

No Binding. Condition: Very Good. In a matter of weeks Abraham Lincoln will be elected as the 16th president of the United States. In London the story of The Ashley Library has the hallmarks of a Dickensian drama. But nobody yet knows this tale of greed, deceit and power. Crimes that will change the course of literary history. Its victims, American and British high society, hard-nosed antiquarian book dealers, world renowned museums and universities, all members of the esteemed bibliophile fraternity and all equally duped. They would later describe it as the crime of the century. And like most organised crime at the heart of the plot was money and power. That money and power belonged to London commodity broker Hermann Rubeck. In 1875 Thomas James Wise was sixteen when he joined H. Rubeck & Co. and already had bad habits, mainly with money. His demeanour did not sit well with Rubeck either who sacked the boy within six months. However, on representations from his father Rubeck agreed to give Tommy another chance. A folly. But little could he have known the criminal sequel to his clemency. Wise was later appointed company cashier gaining access to Rubeck's money and more importantly his wealthy business network. Financial crimes probably predated his later literary frauds but soon, on a salary of £4 per week, Wise gave £45 for a beautiful first edition of Shelley s Adonais, which says much for his taste as well as his talents. By the onset of war in 1914 Wise was a trusted partner in the firm H. Rubeck and Co. and was using the office and Rubeck s letterheads (illustrated) to propagate his crimes, helping him acquire superb holdings of Shelley, Byron, Browning, a prophetic foundation of the great Ashley Library, his personal collection which came to be "supreme among libraries of the world . Wise routed all competitors in the auction room with record bids for books of value and rarity. He created detailed forgeries, printing pamphlets dressed up as hitherto undiscovered master works and shill bid at auction to inflate their value. The scheme became so profitable that Wise had to dupe other Rubeck employees into helping him pass on his pirated pamphlets. Rubeck himself was duped allowing excited buyers to collect the highly prized fakes from his premises. By the time of his death in 1937 Wise had worked with H. Rubeck & Co. for over thirty years. Although his crimes caught up with him the law never did. Her was awarded a degree from Oxford University and presidency of the Bibliographical Society. The Ashley Library was subsequently purchased by the British Museum. LOT & CONDITION Typed letters from H. Rubeck and eldest son Otto P. Rubeck are held in institutions around the world, including Harry Ransom Institute. We believe this letter is the earliest known hand written signed correspondence in existence predating the Ashley Library fraud. A 165-year-old letter authored in the most beautiful cursive script by then 29 year old Hermann Rubeck on Tuesday 17th July 1860. Written in French. Signed on inner and outer wrapper. Full translation available, please enquire. Composed at what we believe is Rubeck s first premises (possibly also his home) on Little Tower Street, London. This street no longer exists (see period map). The letter includes Rubeck seeking clarity on an outstanding order of Hellebore root and mentioning business at that time in London was troublesome. Near fine script, highly original, French cursive with original stamp, all with superb integrity and colour. Outer wrapper very good snipped to open (see photo) but does not impact on written portion. London to Montpellier postmarks franking (see photos). If you have WhatsApp you can request a video file. Please feel free to request more photographs or information. Signed by Author(s).…