James Campbell Reddie
Encyclopedia
James Campbell Reddie was an 19th-century collector and author of pornography who worked for the publisher William Dugdale
, also writing as "James Campbell". According to Henry Spencer Ashbee
he was self-taught and viewed his works from a philosophical point of view.
James Campbell Reddie was born November 26, 1807 in Glasgow, Scotland
; the third of eight children born to James Reddie (1775–1853) and Charlotte Marion Campbell (1782–1841).
James, Sr. was the son of John Reddie (1727–1805), a merchant in Dysart, Fife, Scotland, and May Burd (1744–1815). John and May married Oct. 26, 1766 in Tannadice, Scotland
. James became the first town clerk of Glasgow about 1820, and later the town magistrate and advocate in Edinburgh
. He married Charlotte Campbell on August 12, 1805 in Glasgow. Charlotte was the daughter of James Campbell (c. 1735–1800) and Marion Muirhead (1739–1815). James and Marion married Aug. 30, 1763 in Govan, Scotland
.
It appears James Reddie, Sr. and his son were estranged from the time James Campbell was a young adult until the death of his father on May 5, 1853; a father who didn't even know if his son was alive or not. He left the bulk of his estate to his daughter, Charlotte, who took care of her father during the last years of his life. Although, he did leave his son "the splendid Works of Voltaire
in 72 volumes". The following is an excerpt from James, Sr.'s will in regards to his son:
James himself never married or had any children that we know of. Some erotica scholars have speculated through the years that he may have been homosexual or bi-sexual, but so far no proof has been found to support this information.
in 1849; where he took the name James Campbell...dropping his father's surname in favor of his mother's.
; employed as a compositor (typesetter). The 1861 census shows him again as a lodger at 24 Manor-terrace in Newington, London
; employed as a writer and translator. In 1871 he's living with the Adamo Pedroletti family at 44 Brecknock Rd. in Islington, London, England
; and later at 26 Brecknock Crescent in 1875.
James, however, is best known as an author and translator of erotica. Many of the original texts and translations of erotic literature published by William Lazenby
and William Dugdale
were the work of James Campbell. One of the earliest publications utilizing Campbell (still in Scotland at the time) was Dugdale's risqué newspaper The Exquisite. Published from 1842 to 1844, The Exquisite contained "...a great number of tales from the French, with a few from the Italian, translated for the most part, if not entirely, by James Campbell..."
According to Henry Spencer Ashbee
, James was a serious, exacting collector and bibliographer of erotica. When he acquired a new book he would immediately collate it, confront every available authority on it, and compare the book page by page, word by word with any other issue of the same work. If he was unable to acquire a scarce book, he frequently made copies by hand. He never refused to lend a book from his vast collection, even though often the borrower would forget to return it. He was always liberal with his knowledge of erotica, imparting information gave him great satisfaction, and he spared neither time and labor in his research.
On July 4, 1878, in Crieff
, Perth
, Scotland, James Campbell Reddie died from a "general or wasting palsy" (a progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, eventually leading to death), diagnosed 1 year and 3 months earlier.
(1881), The Sins of the Cities of the Plain
(1881, with Simeon Solomon
) and The Mysteries of Verbena House
(1882, with George Augustus Sala).
William Dugdale (publisher)
William Dugdale was a publisher, printer, and bookseller of politically subversive publications and pornographic literature in England during the 19th century. By the 1850s he had become "the principal source of such publications in the country"...
, also writing as "James Campbell". According to Henry Spencer Ashbee
Henry Spencer Ashbee
Henry Spencer Ashbee was a book collector, writer, and bibliographer, notorious for his massive, clandestine three volume bibliography of erotic literature written under the pseudonym of Pisanus Fraxi.-Life:...
he was self-taught and viewed his works from a philosophical point of view.
Ancestry and family
The information in this section is gleaned from original birth, marriage and death records and last will and testamentsJames Campbell Reddie was born November 26, 1807 in Glasgow, Scotland
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
; the third of eight children born to James Reddie (1775–1853) and Charlotte Marion Campbell (1782–1841).
James, Sr. was the son of John Reddie (1727–1805), a merchant in Dysart, Fife, Scotland, and May Burd (1744–1815). John and May married Oct. 26, 1766 in Tannadice, Scotland
Tannadice, Angus
Tannadice is a village in Angus, Scotland that lies on the River South Esk and is 4 miles north of Forfar.-Sources:* in the Gazetteer for Scotland....
. James became the first town clerk of Glasgow about 1820, and later the town magistrate and advocate in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. He married Charlotte Campbell on August 12, 1805 in Glasgow. Charlotte was the daughter of James Campbell (c. 1735–1800) and Marion Muirhead (1739–1815). James and Marion married Aug. 30, 1763 in Govan, Scotland
Govan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
.
It appears James Reddie, Sr. and his son were estranged from the time James Campbell was a young adult until the death of his father on May 5, 1853; a father who didn't even know if his son was alive or not. He left the bulk of his estate to his daughter, Charlotte, who took care of her father during the last years of his life. Although, he did leave his son "the splendid Works of Voltaire
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
in 72 volumes". The following is an excerpt from James, Sr.'s will in regards to his son:
My second son James after his Professional Education Apprentice fee he received but little from me. Several of my plans for promoting and extending his business failed and as requested I had to give him a large Cash Credit with the Royal Bank - But being Cautioner for him to the Royal Bank to the extent of Two thousand Pounds and Interest. I have since he left us in the summer of 1845 had to pay to that bank for him in interim payments Four hundred pounds and upward of Two hundred and fifty pounds so as to reduce the Balance due to One Thousand six hundred Pounds for which I have assigned in security and payment of One thousand six hundred Pounds my life Policy with the Provident Office London worth at my death upwards of One thousand six hundred and forty Pounds - James therefore if alive has nothing to receive at my death.
James himself never married or had any children that we know of. Some erotica scholars have speculated through the years that he may have been homosexual or bi-sexual, but so far no proof has been found to support this information.
Writer to the Signet
James was known by his full legal name in Edinburgh, Scotland where he worked as a Writer to the Signet; beginning his apprenticeship under David Cleghorn on December 10, 1829. He continued in this profession until he relocated to EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1849; where he took the name James Campbell...dropping his father's surname in favor of his mother's.
Writer and translator
The first appearance of a James Campbell in England is in the 1851 England Census record, where he is shown living at 32 White Hart Street in WestminsterWestminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
; employed as a compositor (typesetter). The 1861 census shows him again as a lodger at 24 Manor-terrace in Newington, London
Newington, London
Newington is a district of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It was an ancient parish and the site of the early administration of the county of Surrey...
; employed as a writer and translator. In 1871 he's living with the Adamo Pedroletti family at 44 Brecknock Rd. in Islington, London, England
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
; and later at 26 Brecknock Crescent in 1875.
James, however, is best known as an author and translator of erotica. Many of the original texts and translations of erotic literature published by William Lazenby
William Lazenby
William Lazenby was an English publisher of pornography active in the 1870s and 1880s. He used the aliases Duncan Cameron and Thomas Judd...
and William Dugdale
William Dugdale (publisher)
William Dugdale was a publisher, printer, and bookseller of politically subversive publications and pornographic literature in England during the 19th century. By the 1850s he had become "the principal source of such publications in the country"...
were the work of James Campbell. One of the earliest publications utilizing Campbell (still in Scotland at the time) was Dugdale's risqué newspaper The Exquisite. Published from 1842 to 1844, The Exquisite contained "...a great number of tales from the French, with a few from the Italian, translated for the most part, if not entirely, by James Campbell..."
According to Henry Spencer Ashbee
Henry Spencer Ashbee
Henry Spencer Ashbee was a book collector, writer, and bibliographer, notorious for his massive, clandestine three volume bibliography of erotic literature written under the pseudonym of Pisanus Fraxi.-Life:...
, James was a serious, exacting collector and bibliographer of erotica. When he acquired a new book he would immediately collate it, confront every available authority on it, and compare the book page by page, word by word with any other issue of the same work. If he was unable to acquire a scarce book, he frequently made copies by hand. He never refused to lend a book from his vast collection, even though often the borrower would forget to return it. He was always liberal with his knowledge of erotica, imparting information gave him great satisfaction, and he spared neither time and labor in his research.
Death
In April 1877, Campbell decided to leave England and return to Scotland due to ill health. On July 25, 1877, shortly before his departure, Campbell sold his collection of erotica to Henry Spencer Ashbee for £300 ($32,478.38 US). He also bestowed to Ashbee his three volume manuscript Bibliographical Notes on Books, which was an invaluable resource for Ashbee in preparing the second and third volumes of his Bibliography of Prohibited Books (vol.1: 1877, vol.2: 1879, vol.3: 1885).On July 4, 1878, in Crieff
Crieff
Crieff is a market town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It lies on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich and also lies on the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins onto the A823 which leads to Dunfermline....
, Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, Scotland, James Campbell Reddie died from a "general or wasting palsy" (a progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, eventually leading to death), diagnosed 1 year and 3 months earlier.
Books
His books include The Amatory Experiences of a SurgeonThe Amatory Experiences of a Surgeon
The Amatory Experiences of a Surgeon is a pornographic novel by James Campbell Reddie under the pseudonym of "James Campbell" published in London in 1881...
(1881), The Sins of the Cities of the Plain
The Sins of the Cities of the Plain
The Sins of the Cities of the Plain; or, The Recollections of a Mary-Ann, with Short Essays on Sodomy and Tribadism is a pornographic book written anonymously under the pseudonym "Jack Saul", one of the first exclusively homosexual pieces of pornographic literature ever written in English...
(1881, with Simeon Solomon
Simeon Solomon
Simeon Solomon was an English Pre-Raphaelite painter-Biography:...
) and The Mysteries of Verbena House
The Mysteries of Verbena House
The Mysteries of Verbena House, or, Miss Bellasis Birched for Thieving is a pornographic novel, set in a girls' school, written under the pseudonym Etonensis by George Augustus Sala and completed by James Campbell Reddie...
(1882, with George Augustus Sala).