Truslove and Hanson
Encyclopedia
Truslove & Hanson was a minor independent publishing firm that ran a number of fashionable bookshops in the West End of London
. They also printed personalized stationery
and bookplate
s, offered a bookbinding
service, and acted as London agents for the State Library of New South Wales
. There was a New York
branch, Truslove, Hanson & Comba, from 1899 to 1903.
, London, went into partnership with Frank Hanson, who had been the London representative of Simpkin Marshall.
In 1899 Truslove and Hanson entered into partnership with T. Ernest Comba and Joseph Shaylor to open a New York office, operating as Truslove, Hanson & Comba from 67 Fifth Avenue. In 1903 this became the New York branch of John Lane
. Comba (1851–1921) specialized in selling French, Italian and Spanish books.
, at 6b Sloane Street
(now a Shanghai Tang
outlet). This became a fashionable "quality" bookshop, with such customers as Archibald Wavell (Viceroy of India 1943-1947). There was a further bookshop in Mayfair
, at 14a Clifford Street (now the London outlet of Kiton
).
The bookshops became a subsidiary of W H Smith
in 1923, but remained a distinct, up-market brand
, tied to Bowes & Bowes
after that was acquired by WHS in 1953. The Clifford Street shop was closed in 1958, and the Oxford Street shop in 1963. The Sloane Street premises were moved in 1972.
In 1969, Truslove & Hanson acquired the Times Library.
in 1910.
They published several editions of Frederick Litchfield's Illustrated History of Furniture (7 editions, 1892–1922) and the same author's Pottery and Porcelain (1900, 1912); Fred Miller's Art Crafts for Amateurs (1901); W. G. Paulson Townsend's Embroidery or the Craft of the Needle (1899, 1907), and Plant and Floral Studies for Artists and Craftspeople (1901); and, as Truslove, Hanson and Comba, the American edition of William Millar's classic Plastering Plain and Decorative (1897). From 1899 to 1901 Truslove, Hanson and Comba also published the American edition of The Artist
, a monthly review of art and design.
Other notable publications include Henry Ling Roth
's, The Natives of Sarawak and British North Borneo (1896) and Oriental Silverwork (1910); John Henry Cardwell's, Men and Women of Soho: Famous and Infamous (1904); and Joseph Shaylor's The Pleasures of Bookland (1914).
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
. They also printed personalized stationery
Stationery
Stationery has historically meant a wide gamut of materials: paper and office supplies, writing implements, greeting cards, glue, pencil case etc.-History of stationery:...
and bookplate
Bookplate
A bookplate, also known as ex-librīs [Latin, "from the books of..."], is usually a small print or decorative label pasted into a book, often on the inside front cover, to indicate its owner...
s, offered a bookbinding
Bookbinding
Bookbinding is the process of physically assembling a book from a number of folded or unfolded sheets of paper or other material. It usually involves attaching covers to the resulting text-block.-Origins of the book:...
service, and acted as London agents for the State Library of New South Wales
State Library of New South Wales
The State Library of New South Wales is a large public library owned by the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Macquarie Street, Sydney near Shakespeare Place...
. There was a New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
branch, Truslove, Hanson & Comba, from 1899 to 1903.
Partners
In 1893 Joseph Truslove, who since 1890 had traded as a bookseller and publisher from 143 Oxford StreetOxford Street
Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, United Kingdom. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, as well as its most dense, and currently has approximately 300 shops. The street was formerly part of the London-Oxford road which began at Newgate,...
, London, went into partnership with Frank Hanson, who had been the London representative of Simpkin Marshall.
In 1899 Truslove and Hanson entered into partnership with T. Ernest Comba and Joseph Shaylor to open a New York office, operating as Truslove, Hanson & Comba from 67 Fifth Avenue. In 1903 this became the New York branch of John Lane
John Lane (publisher)
-Biography:Originally from Devon, where he was born into a farming family, Lane moved to London already in his teens. While working as a clerk at the Railway Clearing House, he acquired knowledge as an autodidact....
. Comba (1851–1921) specialized in selling French, Italian and Spanish books.
Bookshops
Truslove's original premises in 143 Oxford Street were supplemented by a bookshop in KnightsbridgeKnightsbridge
Knightsbridge is a road which gives its name to an exclusive district lying to the west of central London. The road runs along the south side of Hyde Park, west from Hyde Park Corner, spanning the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, at 6b Sloane Street
Sloane Street
Sloane Street is a major London street which runs north to south, from Knightsbridge to Sloane Square, crossing Pont Street about half way along, entirely in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Sloane Street takes its name from Sir Hans Sloane, who purchased the surrounding area in 1712...
(now a Shanghai Tang
Shanghai Tang
Shanghai Tang is an international clothing chain company, founded in 1994 by Hong Kong businessman David Tang Wing Cheung and now controlled by Richemont.David Tang claimed that Shanghai Tang is a Chinese label that set out to rejuvenate Chinese fashion...
outlet). This became a fashionable "quality" bookshop, with such customers as Archibald Wavell (Viceroy of India 1943-1947). There was a further bookshop in Mayfair
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
, at 14a Clifford Street (now the London outlet of Kiton
Kiton
Kiton is a clothing company founded in 1968 in Naples, Italy by Ciro Paone. It opened its US$40 million New York flagship and showroom on East 54th Street in 2004, it also opened a shop in London. Like many other fashion brands, Kiton has diversified to include sportswear, footwear, fragrances,...
).
The bookshops became a subsidiary of W H Smith
W H Smith
WHSmith plc is a British retailer, headquartered in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. It is best known for its chain of high street, railway station, airport, hospital and motorway service station shops selling books, stationery, magazines, newspapers, and entertainment products...
in 1923, but remained a distinct, up-market brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
, tied to Bowes & Bowes
Bowes & Bowes
Bowes & Bowes was a bookselling and publishing company based in Cambridge, England. It was established by Robert Bowes , a nephew of Daniel Macmillan...
after that was acquired by WHS in 1953. The Clifford Street shop was closed in 1958, and the Oxford Street shop in 1963. The Sloane Street premises were moved in 1972.
In 1969, Truslove & Hanson acquired the Times Library.
Publications
Truslove and Hanson were particularly notable as publishers for their list of works on art and design, with Joseph Truslove becoming a member of the Arts ClubThe Arts Club
The Arts Club is a London private members club founded in 1863 by, amongst others, Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope, and Lord Leighton in Dover Street, Mayfair, London, England...
in 1910.
They published several editions of Frederick Litchfield's Illustrated History of Furniture (7 editions, 1892–1922) and the same author's Pottery and Porcelain (1900, 1912); Fred Miller's Art Crafts for Amateurs (1901); W. G. Paulson Townsend's Embroidery or the Craft of the Needle (1899, 1907), and Plant and Floral Studies for Artists and Craftspeople (1901); and, as Truslove, Hanson and Comba, the American edition of William Millar's classic Plastering Plain and Decorative (1897). From 1899 to 1901 Truslove, Hanson and Comba also published the American edition of The Artist
The Artist
The Artist was a monthly art and design journal published in London by Archibald Constable & Co. from 1880 to 1902. From 1881 to 1894 the full title was The Artist and Journal of Home Culture. From 1896 the full title became The Artist: An Illustrated Monthly Record of Arts, Crafts and Industries...
, a monthly review of art and design.
Other notable publications include Henry Ling Roth
Henry Ling Roth
Henry Ling Roth was an English-born anthropologist and museum curator, active in Australia.-Early life:Roth was born in London, the son of Dr Mathias Roth, an Austrian-born surgeon, and his English wife Anna Maria, née Collins. Henry was educated at University College School, London, and studied...
's, The Natives of Sarawak and British North Borneo (1896) and Oriental Silverwork (1910); John Henry Cardwell's, Men and Women of Soho: Famous and Infamous (1904); and Joseph Shaylor's The Pleasures of Bookland (1914).
External links
- An image of author Frederick ForsythFrederick ForsythFrederick Forsyth, CBE is an English author and occasional political commentator. He is best known for thrillers such as The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War, The Devil's Alternative, The Fist of God, Icon, The Veteran, Avenger, The Afghan and The Cobra.-...
at a signing in Truslove & Hanson, Sloane Street, on 25 September 1972. From the Hulton Picture Library.