New Series No. 9. May
to September, 1934
42
Wanted. Newnes
(3d) Dick Turpin Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 19, & 20, Newnes (2d) Black Bess Library (small
series) No. 16, Aldine Robin Hood (2d) Nos. 37, and 38 6d each offered. All old Aldine Libraries, Boys Friend
Library, (A.P.C.) Robin Hood Library, Henderson’s Rob Roy, Marvel, Pluck, Penny
Poplar, etc. Parks, Printer, Saltburn-by-Sea,
IF YOU COLLECT
American first editions, newspapers, magazines,
Wanted: Boys Leisure Hour, Boys Standard, Boys of England, vol. 37, Young Ching-Ching, Cheeky Charlie, That Rascal Jack. Robert Dodds, 3 Garngad Hill, Glasgow.
44
DEAR EDITOR,
Mr. Barry Ono, brimful of energy as usual, has issued a friendly challenge to collectors of “old bloods” to publish a list of the rarest books in their collection. At the same time he sends up lists from his own collection. On perusing his lists I frankly confess that he has me beaten to a “frazzle.”
In self defence, however, I must say that I have not felt drawn so much to the “old bloods” as I have been to the journals of George Emmett. Below I give the numbers I have of these and should be very pleased to learn what other collectors possess.
Nos. Dups. Nett.
Young Englishman’s Journal 104 — 104
Young Gentlemen of Britain 53 — 53
The Young Briton 350 25 325
Sons of Britannia 211 1 210
Young Englishman 220 24 196
Yours faithfully,
LONDON. F. W. STICKLAND
DEAR SIR,
I have consulted my volume of The Young Briton for the year 1874 and note that the story, “The Sentinel of Pompeii,” mentioned by your contributor Mr. Steele in the last issue of the Miscellany, was written by Captain John Leslie Blake.
Sincerely yours,
FOLKESTONE. G. MEREDITH
47
THE PLAYS OF HODGSON, 1822-1834
BEFORE I start these random notes I must correct a slip in my previous article, when I stated, somehow or other, that Hodgson commenced publishing in 1811. This was an inexcusable error for which I have been severely taken to task by one of my friends. My sincere apologies for this slip of the pen.
Hodgson started publishing then in 1822, and during the 12 years, (including Hodgson & Co., and Orlando Hodgson) put out about 62 plays and a very large number of theatrical portraits. I venture to rank Hodgson’s productions second only to West’s, but I know at least one authority who does not agree with this estimate.
I base my opinion on the quantity and the high quality both of Hodgson’s plays and portraits, the latter of which are particularly fine. Of the plays, I have “Aladdin” complete, only after much search and trouble, indeed, I found the last sheet I wanted to complete the set only a few days ago. In addition I have “Chevy Chase” practically complete and beautifully done, also most of “Maid and the Magpie,” and one or two others. I have collected more than 100 odd sheets belonging to various other plays, and altogether they are a fine lot which I am glad to possess.
Hodgson’s “Edward the Black Prince” are beautifully drawn. I have a complete set of characters, but, alas, no scenes. This publisher put out several of Shakespeare’s plays, and I have sheets of the “Tempest,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Othello” and “Richard III.” But Hodgson also published some good old “blood and thunder” plays such as “The Temple of Death” and “Raymond and Agnes” or “The Bleeding Nun.”
48
Hodgson published the largest size scenes of any produced in England in addition to the smaller sizes. His large sheets measure 11¾” x 14½” (engraved surface) and his scenes for “Richard III” and “Montrose” are wonderfully done. I have a number of these large scenes which I greatly prize. They were originally issued at 3d. each, and considering they are about 100 years old, are in a wonderful state of preservation.
Hodgson’s sheets are just as difficult to come by as West’s. I only know of one place where they can be found (apart from an occasional lot at the auction sales) and I have secured most of what was available and shall probably go back for more. But even at 1/- or 2/- a sheet one can spend quite a sum of money in collecting juvenile drama and theatrical portraits.
Hodgon’s and West’s sheets however, are comparatively common compared with Burtenshaw’s (of whose plates I have only two) and I have never found even a single sheet of Mrs. Hibberd. Both these were very early publishers and are extremely rare. Can anyone tell me where I can find even a single example of this excellent publisher’s work? The explanation is of course that these two publishers only produced a small number of sheets. How many plays they published I do not know. Can anyone tell me?
But to return to Hodgson. Skelt acquired some of his plates, including the large scenes of “The Mountaineers” and some of the smaller size plays were republished by other people who took over the plates. But as far as I am aware, most of the larger scenes have never been reprinted since Hodgson went out of business.
Hodgson’s theatrical portraits are certainly as good as any that I know of, and an immense number were produced, how many probably no one knows. This proves how very popular these sheets once were with our forefathers. No publisher could have gone on year after year putting out fresh sheets unless there was a large and regular demand. Thousands must have been published by Hodgson and his competitors, and yet how few, comparatively speaking, are still in existence.
M. W. STONE
49
FROM AMATEUR TO
PROFESSIONAL.
IN April 1876 Samuel Clarke established at Oldbury a curious quarto sheet entitled the Oldbury Lyrist, and to which various amateurs contributed. This was developed a few months later into the Story Teller, also an amateur production, and to which the Editor himself contributed a grand serial tale, “Dick Darling, the Boy Mesmerist.” The hero, by a single glance of his eagle eye, could tame wild bulls and any other truculent and infuriated monsters, casually discovered at convenient opportunities in the native village of the gifted laddie. There was not much originality in this conception, as “Mat Mesmer,” a story in some respects similar, had already graced the exhilarating pages of the professional periodical, the Sons of Britannia. Nevertheless, it appears to have introduced the author to the notice of George Emmett, and “Dick Darling,” revised and extended appeared, with a sequel, in the pages of the Young Englishman.
Having thus made his debut as a professional writer—that glorious and golden goal of the aspiring literary amateur—Clarke would appear to have repaired to London, and eventually established himself as the Editor of Best Bits. When this publication suddenly suspended issue, he transferred his services to the Bonny Boys of Britain, gloriously enriched with innumerable grotesque illustrations, which originated a new and inane departure in the evolution of the laws of perspective. The Boys’ Champion Paper rose, glowing with prize offers, over the ashes of the former print, only to be again changed to the Boys’ Jubilee Journal.
Clarke’s ventures into professional journalism do not appear to have been successful. His reign was short. What eventually became of him is unknown.
51
SCARCE “DREADFULS”
IN THE BARRY ONO COLLECTION.
6th. LIST.
(Continued from No. 8.)
“Dick Turpin,” 41 nos. (1st. edit.) Thos. White, 1840.
“Dick Turpin,” 49 nos. (4th edit.) Wm. Clark, 1856.
“The Buccaneers, or; the Hidden Treasure,” 12 nos. J. Dicks, 1860.
“Adelaide,” 20 nos. J. Dicks, 1861.
“Kate Chudleigh; or, the Duchess of Kingston,” (M. J. Errym), 15 nos. J. Dicks, 1864.
“Joan of Arc, or; the Maid of Orleans,” 11 nos. W. Winn, 1842.
“The Calendar of Horrors,” 91 nos. G. Drake, 1836.
“The Lady of Title,” 12 nos. Newsagents’ Pub. Co., 1863.
“Buffalo Bill,” (the only continuous 1d. no. version ever issued), 74 nos. G. Purkess, 1887.
“Confessions of a Ticket of Leave Man,” (“The Boy Pirate” is sequel to this), 18 nos. Newsagents’ Pub. Co., 1864.
“The Haunted Woman,” 19 nos. H. Lea, 1860.
“Mysteries of the Divorce Court,” 27 nos. United Kingdom Press, 1861.
“Catalina, or; the Spaniard’s Revenue,” 12 nos. J. Dicks, 1848.
“Schamyl, or; the Wild Woman of Circassia,” 53 nos. H. Lea, 1856.
“The Soldier’s Victim, or; the Sister of Mercy,” 36 nos. H. Lea, 1858.
“The Sepoy’s Daughter,” 109 nos. H. Lea, 1860.
“Dombey and Daughter,” (rare piracy) 12 nos. Thos. Farris, about 1850.
“William Tell, the Hero of Switzerland,” 28 nos. Geo. Pierce, 1840.
“Annals of Crime; or, the Highwaymen of Old,” 59 nos. Wm. Clarke, 1837.
“Eliza Grimwood, or; the Waterloo Road Murder,” 40 nos. D. Cousins, 1844.
“The Loves of Paris,” 21 nos. G. Vickers, 1846.
“Burke and Hare, the Body Snatchers,” 28 nos. Fred Farrah, 1866.
“The Gipsy Chief, or; the, Haunted Oak,” 31 nos. H. Lea, 1850.
“Tyburn Dick, or; Take Me Who Dare,” 62 nos. Hogarth House,
51
about 1876, but originally pub. about 1864.
“Tom Wildrake’s Schooldays,” 64 nos. Hogarth House, about 1876, but originally pub. in Emmett’s Sons of Britannia, 1870.
(To be continued)
None of the above are for sale, only inserted to interest readers of “The Collector’s Miscellany.”
KEEN interest compelled me to read three times the interview with Barry Ono. Wistfully I envy the man’s seemingly inexhaustible energy and enthusiasm. He must be a human dynamo, strong as Longfellow’s Village Blacksmith—“something attempted, something done” every day of his life.
I put into one of my boy’s books a collector equally as zealous. He was a wheelwright, however, not a music-hall star, and this was how he talked to the Boys of Castle Cliffe School:
“Show you some. Here’s one. ‘Headless Horseman,’ by M. Reid. Original edition. As first illustrated. Gem! ‘Nother one. ‘Jack Sheppard.’ Harrison Ainsworth. Ever read it? You should. Fine stuff! ‘Jack Harkaway’s Schooldays.’ Written by a famous barrister. ‘Jack Harkaway at Oxford;’ ‘Amongst the Brigands;’ ‘Amongst Indians.’ All in penny numbers. Boys used to go wild over ‘em. Not classical, but healthy. Lot more like ‘em. Pictures by ‘Phiz.’ Famous artist. Illustrated Dickens’s works. Also Thackeray’s. Wholesome reading. Queer hobby for me. Father of a family. What?”
A scrutiny of Barry Ono’s lists shows me once again how I lost a little fortune in old “bloods.” Starting with “Mat Marchmont’s Schooldays,” I lovingly preserved some fascinating sets, right down to “The Lambs of Littlecote” and “The Island School.” With these to colour my mind, I wrote and sold many schoolboy stories before I came of age—indeed, I was a contributor to Henderson’s publications at 18, and soon after I wrote complete long stories for Pluck, Marvel, and The Union Jack. All immature stuff of course—I never troubled to save them. One called “The Diamond Thief” was a particularly lurid and gruesome yarn, at which I have laughed many times since.
Well, every spring cleaning time it was a battle with my sister for the retention of my precious bloods. She considered them so much lumber and wanted the cupboard space they occupied. Year after year, backed up by my mother, I won the fight for them. Then we
52
moved into a better house and my sister got me to part with my books. They were sacrificed on a huge bonfire on the garden—my priceless “Ching-Ching’s” and “Spring- Heeled Jack’s” too—near where the rhubarb grew, and to this day I look upon rhubarb with distaste, associated as it is in my mind with the destruction of those lovely runs of Boys of England, Boy’s Comic Journal, Boy’s Popular Weekly, Ching-Chings’ Own and Best for Boys, together with dozens of the things printed in Ono’s lists and advertised for by him and other fervid collectors.
One serial I much loved and now dearly remember was “Poor Ben ‘o the Barge.” I wish some well-informed collector would tell us what paper that yarn appeared in. Another favourite serial of mine was “By Dirk and Claymore”—did that appear in The Boy’s Leisure Hour or the Boy’s Standard? Some alert reader of this bright little magazine (I’d like more stuff in about old boy’s books and less about cigarette cards—cheek, eh?) will know, I’m sure.
Having written boy’s books solely hitherto, this autumn I shall have published (by Lincoln Williams Ltd.) my very first adult novel, a football romance called “The Old Golds,” which I have tried to make as thrilling to others as my beloved old-time “bloods” were to me.
R. A. H. GOODYEAR
BARRY ONO
A NAME to conjure with, his demise has only very gradually percolated, and the “Old Boys Book Brigade” lost one of the greatest, if not the greatest authorities on the subject, with the passing of this stalwart old timer.
Poor Frank Jay, he could brook no other Richard in the field, and my efforts to get on really solid terms of friendship with him, were never too successful. Maybe it was the sheer love of controversy that prompted his invariable argumentative strain, and the pedantic love of being able to demonstrate his point. Nevertheless, his researches into the “lore” of our “cult,” were vast and far reaching, and many an embryo owes his memory a lot for the guidance given.
First Jimmy Wilson, now Frank Jay.
Verily, should we survivors of “the good old times” get together in amity and concord, and beware the hasty word, or the unkind opinion. We are few, very few, and each one gone is one less.
I take off my hat most reverently to the memory of Frank Jay and I know all readers of C.M. will do the same.
57
 |
FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD |
Our antipodean correspondent, Mr. J. P. Quaine, in a recent letter informs us that his eldest son Mr. F. P. Quaine had won the Mollison French Scholarship at the Melbourne University. This entitles him to a course of study at the Sorbourne, Paris. The scholarship also carries with it £280. Mr. Quaine will arrive in London, en route for France in the “Narkunda,” on Sept. 7. He hopes to meet one or two of his father’s “blood brothers” of whom he has heard so much.
58
Wanted Newnes Dick Turpin Library (3d.) Nos 10, 12-48, 50, 108; Newnes Black Bess Library (second series) Nos 14, 15, 18, 21, 35, 37, 38; The Bullseye Nos5—13, and 17 to 50; The Thriller, Nos 177 to 195. Also old Aldine 1d (one penny) bloods wanted. Send list of what you have with prices for same. Ralph F. Cummings, Pleasant Street, Grafton, Mass., U.S.A.
For Exchange Vols 48, 56, 58, 59 Boys of England, Tom Wildrake’s Schooldays, Frank Fearless, 24 Surprises, what offers. Wanted, cash or exchange, Boys of England, Vol 55; Morgan the Buccaneer, Black Hawk, Ching-Ching Mystery, Captain Jack. J. Wise, 53, King Edward Bldgs, Islington, London, N.7.
59
Wanted British Bloods and Penny Dreadfuls, in volumes
or runs, also old songsters, sheet music, broadsides, playbills, etc. James Madison, 465, So.
60
Wanted: by
Barry Ono, complete collections of “bloods” and fierce old boys journals. Report also single items. Top price for right stuff or good exchanges
offered. Want vol. 1 Tyburn Dick, vol. 9
Boys Comic. Offer 20/- for first 18 nos
Spring Heeled Jack. Collectors always
welcome to inspect my collection. Correspondence
invited.