Thomas James Wise Correspondence,, 1886-1933, bulk 1928-1933

The Thomas James Wise Correspondence section of the Symington Collection consists of letters received by British book collector and bibliographer Thomas James Wise, who focused on poetry and plays by English authors. The correspondence, which is occasionally actually addressed to his wife or to a nurse/secretary, provides insight into Wise's activities and interests, especially during the years immediately prior to the decline of his reputation. Approximately 575 correspondents, primarily from English-speaking countries, are represented. They include an auction house, antiquarian book dealers, book collectors, bibliographers, biographers, editors of scholarly editions, students, publishers, librarians, museum curators, literary figures and relatives or associates of literary figures, in addition to Wise's engraver, printer and binder. Algernon Charles Swinburne, Theodore Watts-Dunton, Edmund Gosse and John Alexander Symington are among the numerous persons mentioned in the letters. Among the topics covered are pirated and forged books; literary books and manuscripts for sale; items purchased by Wise; retail valuations of books; book auctions; inscriptions in books; Wise's Ashley Library; scholarly inquiries; Wise's lending of materials for exhibits and scholarly examination; the reproducing via facsimile of unpublished materials; Wise's granting of publication permissions; visits with Wise; the writings and activities of various literary figures, scholars and bibliophiles; several bibliographical clubs, literary societies and library friends groups; selected new publications; requests for, and the distribution of, Wise's privately printed publications; and Wise's health.