Documents associated with: Ten O'Clock Lecture, publication
Record 10 of 71
System Number: 01964
Date: [c. 28?] February 1888[1]
Author: Charles James Whistler Hanson[2]
Place: London
Recipient: Hermann Wunderlich and Co.[3]
Place: New York
Repository: Glasgow University of Library
Call Number: Whistler H65
Document Type: ALdS
[logo with crowned lion:] R. B. A.
THE / ROYAL SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS.
SUFFOLK STREET, PALL MALL,
LONDON
Feb 1888.
Dear Sirs,
I am directed by Mr Whistler to write and say that he is sending you per [sic] box containing proofs, etchings etc[4]. Enclosed is a full and complete list of same. The titles and prices correspond with the numbers on the backs of the mounts
Mr Whistler sends[5] the proofs themselves to you instead of writing letters about them, and attempting, with loss, of time to make you understand what you have not seen. He begs that you will acknowledge safe arrival immediately upon this delivery - and at once enclose cheque on London for the proofs you buy - if you buy any;
for Mr Whistler does not send these wishes you to understand that these etchings are not sent, accross [sic] the Atlantic, "on approval", but Mr Whistler will allow you, as he allows the trade here 20% discount on cash. The price affixed to each proof is the same he receives here - Though any of these prices - may rise almost without notice, especially in the case of very delicate plates -
In case therefore you make no purchase, kindly pack and forward all immediately[6] to Mr
Ross Winans[7], 1217 St. Paul Street, Baltimore - If any case kindly send what you do not buy
Mr Whistler has refused to sell any of these plates, so that the proofs are no longer edited by any one of the dealers. They are to be obtained from himself - also the proofs are necessarily few - as he will never again bind himself to print in large number for the trade.
As yet he has not since thought of "The Dyer"[8] - [p. 2] but now that it is brought to his notice he will look at it - and if any thing comes of it you shall hear.
Mr Whistler has given up all intention of lecturing in America, and his "Ten O'clock"[9] will be published simultaneously in London and New York, almost immediately.
I am,
Dear Sirs,
Yours truly
Charles J. Hanson.
private secretary.
To
Messrs Wunderlich & Co
868 Broadway
New York.
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. [c. 28?] February 1888
After 4 February 1888, the date of Wunderlich's letter (#07155), to which this is a reply.
2. Hanson
Charles James Whistler Hanson (1870-1935), engineer, son of JW and Louisa Fanny Hanson [more], who was then acting as JW's secretary. This is a draft version of a letter written on JW's behalf. An initial draft in JW's hand is written at the end of #07155 (see #13574). This is a slightly fuller version of JW's draft.
3. Hermann Wunderlich and Co.
Firm of rare print dealers.
4. proofs, etchings etc
JW sent a list of 61 etchings of which Wunderlichs retained thirty-four and sent twenty-seven to Ross Winans (see G. Dieterlen to JW, #07158). The subjects included London, 'Belgian set', 1887 (K.349-367) (excat 8) and 'Naval Review set', 1887 (K. 316-331) (excat 7).
5. Mr Whistler sends ... buy any
Paragraph inserted with an arrow.
6. immediately
Double underlined.
7. Ross Winans
Ross Revillon Winans (1851-1912), son of C. and T. De K. Winans [more].
8. The Dyer
The Dyer (K.219) does not appear on the list sent to Wunderlich's.
9. Ten O'clock
The 'Ten O'Clock Lecture,' JW's chief public statement of his aesthetic ideas, was published by Chatto and Windus on 11 May 1888. The first American edition of the 'Ten O'Clock' was published by Houghton Mifflin and Co. on 26 May; see account dated 1 August, #02170. See Getscher, Robert H., and Paul G. Marks, James McNeill Whistler and John Singer Sargent. Two Annotated Bibliographies, New York and London, 1986, A. 9-10.