Illuminated Manuscripts executed by A. H. Reed

Illuminated manuscripts based on the collected correspondence of British literary figures.

This set of letters and manuscripts was originally collated by Alfred Hamish Reed (1875 – 1975) and later donated to Wellington City Libraries. These ‘autograph letters’ represent a small portion of Britain's publishers, writers and booksellers in the 19^th Century. Reed likely purchased the letters at various auctions and kept the originals in fine condition, later mounting them individually on card and adding his own notes and short biographies in the style of an illuminated manuscript.

Our set of A. H.  Reed’s manuscripts are likely just one part of what was once a much broader collection. Newspaper articles from the 1930’s acknowledge donations of similar scope made by Reed to other public libraries in New Zealand.

The 27 unique letters we do hold were written between 1772 and 1900 offer an account of British literary society during the advancement of printing technology. Books and articles were more available (and affordable) than ever before, and demand was an at all time high, thanks to rising literacy rates. Bookstores such as Lackington’s in London (established 1746) became popular institutions, and our collection includes an order of books placed by one William Phelps in 1810. Another note from 1786 instructs Thomas Cadell, bookseller, to send an order of books via the “York Waggon”, a journey which would take roughly a week.

Literary review magazines had also become popular early in the 19^th Century and their contributors and editors are featured frequently in this collection. The Quarterly Review began in 1809 with William Gifford as its first editor. Reed collected not only an annotated proof by Gifford but also letters by regular contributors such as John Wilson Crocker.

Perhaps the most well-known of the autographs collected is that of the poet, Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Reed set the small note from 1883 alongside a portrait photograph and short biography.