Apologies for any cross-posting
While sorting through the books of a late colleague
and friend, I recently came across a copy of Richard Pittioni, Oesterreichs
Urzeit im Bilde (Leipzig and Wien: Franz Deuticke, 1938) which had
circulated among the members of the 'E' Book Club, Cambridge between 12 February
and 20 November 1938. The volume is covered in plain brown paper with a
printed book club circulation list on the outside front cover. Fifteen
names are printed on the circulation list, and two more added by
hand.
The list also includes the following:
"Extracts from the Rules:
"8. That 14 days be allowed for the perusal
of each work, the member who orders a work being allowed 14 days. In the
case of of books in more than one volume, seven days shall be allowed for each
volume, the whole not to exceed 28 days.
"9. That the Bookseller send each volume to
the person who orders it, with the date of delivery marked on the printed
list. That from him it pass in order to the Members in Cambridge and that
the Member last receiving it send it to the Bookseller.
"10. That each Member mark on the printed
list the day on which he forwards a volume under a penalty of One
shilling."
Is this club known to the chroniclers of book
clubs? Was it organised / managed by 'the Bookseller'? Were the
books in fact circulated on approval?
I should be happy to send a scan of the circulation
list as a jpeg attachment on request.
Peter B Freshwater MA MCLIP FSAScot
43
Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 5QQ, Scotland
Telephone 0044 (0)131 337
7049
Email [log in to unmask]