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American Letter-Writers
1698-1943
By Harry B. Weiss

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1945

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American Letter-Writers, 1698;...1943

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By

REPRIHTfD FROll THIE
IULU:TI N OF THE NlW YOU PUBLIC Lll!lltAllY .

or

D!CEMIElt , llU AND JANUARY , IUI

"UNT!D AT THI! NEW TORll PUBLIC LllllAllY

lorm p514 [ •· 24-0 2c)

HARRY

B.

WEISS

. •,·FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS letter-writ~rs have been published in a
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steady flow and have circulated among those who wanted to write
' ~loquent, polite, and effective letters on all sorts of subjects, but who lacked
~·.the skill to express themselves adequately. Confronted by this situation,
;ruch persons could, and still can, turn to a letter-writer or handbook conJlaining model letters suitable for all occasions. It is with this type of general
1 letter-writer, designed for the "average" person, that the present account
;is concerned. Such books as those dealing with the letters of famous persons,
'·medieval formularies, papal formularies, literary correspondence, social eti.· quette, stenographer's rules, form letters for business and advertising, spelling, punctuation, etc., of which there are hundreds, have been excluded
·from consideration. It is the homely and simple letter-writer with which
· -1 am concerned and not the specialized ones for persons anxious to increase
-;~eir incomes.
·
/ ;,~ Much fun has been poked at these little books that aimed to teach the art
. of polite letter-writing. Edmund Pe'arson in his chapter on genteel behavior
in Queer Books, reproduces some of the letters from the Letter Writers' Own
.Book, published in Philadelphia in 1848, and comments upon the amuse. ment such letters give to people who feel above such advice. Russel Crouse
ill.The American Keepsake, also reproduces some of the model love letters
that appeared in the '1iterary gift books," or "keepsakes" that flourished
.,.from 1826 to around 1850, along with smug reading matter of various sorts
;.supposed to be polite literature. There have also been histories of letter"' wri.ting, but for the most part these are not histories at all, but compilations
,of historical and literary letters of famous persons and authors,' typical of
· tluferent periods. However, in 1902 Maude Bingham Hansche reviewed
Hie contribution of the letter to the essay and the novel and studied not
"'oµly some of1 the earlyletter-writers as the term is understood in the present
.. :account, but also the prose epistolary literature preceding the appearance
·~ of the prose essay and literary letter. Miss Hansche was not occupied with the
· history of letter-writers as such, and neither were other authors who studied
J etter-writers · as contributors to other forms of literary efforts. It was not
'. until · 1934 that a scholarly and discriminating. history of letter-writers
{appeared. This, writte_n by Katherine Gee Hornbeak, was entitled The Com."pl.ete Letter Writer in English, 1568-1800.1 It also contains a bibliography
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! In: Smith College studies in modem languages, vol. xv, nos. 3-4, April -July, 1934 .
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.e EngUsh letter-writer from 1568 to 1800 including those published in ~. into English, by Abraham Fleming, 'London, Printed for Ralph Newbe~e,
tAmettca. Because of the completeness of the Hornbeak study, it will be used '. 1576. This quarto of 448 pages consists of model letters by 57 authors mas a basis for a part of this 1introduction to the "Preliminary Check List of eluding Cicero, Plato, Socrates, Pliny, Aristotle'. ~eneca, Erasmus, etc., as
American Letter-Writers, 1698-1943." Because ofits availability, only enough
well as a dissertation on the theory of letter wntmg. The letters, that are ·
of its wealth of information will be utilized to provide a background for an
translated fro'm the Latin, are classified into twenty-one types such as exunderstanding of the development of American letter-writers. Readers who
hortatorie, accusatorie, commendatorie, excusatorie, congratulatorie, condesire more detailed information will be amply rewarded if they consult . .. solatorie, amatorie, conciliatorie, etc., Fleming having used as ~ sou~ce the
the original paper.
. formulary compiled by Libanius. There is only one love l~tter m this book
Apparently the first letter-writer to be printed in English was The Enimie . . . ~nd that follows a note advising flattery, fair speeches, praise of her pers?n,
of Idlenesse . . . by William Fulwood. This was printed in London, 1568, . a complaint of her cruelty, his misery, enb"eaties, and promises, a ro~tme
by Henry Bynneman for Leonard Maylard. It consists of four books. The , which lovers have always used with success. The model love letter itself
first supplies "Instructions how to endyte Epistles and Letters" together •!contains such phrases as "golden glistering h~y lo:~es," "comfort.abl~ counwith an enumeration of the parts of a letter such as the salutation, subtenaunce," "crimson cheekes," "sugred lippes, and neate proportion. What
scription and superscription, and with directions for the application of the .· · woman could resist such flattery?
principles of oration, with examples. The second book contains twenty- ; The English Secretorie, wherein is contained, a perfect Method for the
three letters of learned men such as Poliziano, Ficino, Pico della Mirandola,
' inditing all Manner of Epistles and familiar Letters, by Angel Day, London,
Pope Innocent vm, etc. The third book includes familiar letters on everyday
· 1586, was, according to Hornbeak, the first English letter-writer to show
affairs, such as occur in business and family life, letters from a father to his 'i · independence of alien tradition and customs. This letter-writer includes a
son, a wife to her husband, a mother to her daughter, a merchant to his ~ detailed discussion and model letters for "the unlearned," written to meet
factor, etc., together with replies. The fourth book contains flattering love
contemporary needs. Although Day was influenced by his pr~~eces~ors, th~
letters in verse and prose. This letter-writer was very popular and numerous
'Latin formularies with their rhetorical principles of letter-wr1tmg, his appheditions were published, with of course some changes and additions.
•cation of previous theories was tempered with common sens~. The vari?us
Previous to the appearance of The Enimie of Idlenesse, there were avail- . ~ usable models, rather than the elaborate rhetoric, made Days letter-wnter
able the printed letters of Latin and Greek authors such as Cicero and · •. popular over a period that continued into the seventeenth century. In the
• 1607 edition of Day's work, approximately 100 model letters are presented
Aretino, manuscript compilations, and printed formularies in Latin, Italian
and French. Italian formularies were numerous and popular in England
: in 32 subdivisions of Demonstrative, Deliberative, Judicial and Familiar letas were also French letter-writers during the sixteenth century.
· • ters. The second part, added after the first edition, contains most of his
Although The Enimie of Idlenesse was probably the earliest English letter- .: · practicalletters such as those from.apprentices to their fathers, from. servants
writer, Miss Hornbeak found a few pages of French and English business · . ~ .·to masters, between husbands and wives, etc. Although the classical style
appeared in many letter-writers through the sev~nteent~ centur~, with Day's
letters in Communications familieres non mains propres que tresutiles la
natio angloise desireuse & diseteuse due langage fran9ois printed in 1563, 1 ~ book there came a partial freedom from the advice of Cicero, Aristo.tle, Er.asor five years previous to the appearance of Fulwood's book. What is more · ~ mus and others. Day was a miscellaneous writer. He wrote poetry, mcludmg
important, however, she discovered that The Enimie of Idlenesse on the
pastoral romance entitled Daphnis and Chloe and i.n 1563 he was apprenwhole, was a faithful translation of Le Stile et maniere de composer, dieter,
• ticed to a London stationer, Thos. Duxsell, for a penod of twelve years.
et escrire toute sorte d'epistre, ou lettres missiues, tant par response, que
,:' ~ 'Day's letter-writer apparently had no influence upon i~s succ~ssors. It
autrement, published at Lyons in 1566, and tentatively attributed to S.
'. was not imitated and its letters were not used by later compilers. Miss HornLeMoyne, by the British Museum Catalogue.
beak states that the reason for this was the appearance in 1602 of Nicholas
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Breton's Paste with a Packet of Madde Letters, wherein the vivacious models
Another early English letter-writer was A Panoplie of Epistles, or, a
Looking Glass for the vnlearned, Gathered a~ translated out of the Latine · ~: · ~e far superior to the drab letters 'in the usual letter-~iters. Breton's spark, '

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ling and spirited letters were written with freshness and gusto. No attention :; iondon~ 1640. The strain of French influence in this letter-writer, which
· was paid to rhetoric, nor to the rigid groupings of the formularies. The 153 .' :was devoid of Anglo-Saxon ideas and expressions, persisted for 200 years
models include family letters, friendly letters, love letters, letters on university · ~English letter-writers. A New Academy of Compliments: Or, The Lover's
life, courtship, consolation, etc., and completely reflect the varied social fi . Secretary, was published in London in 1784 and in Worcester, Massachusetts
scene of the early seventeenth century. Some are witty, some are scurrilous ·: in 1795, and this letter-writer which borrowed so heavily from Le Secretaire
"ala mode, flourished in America as well as in England. Some of the model
and many are diverting: His letter-writer was the first to contain models for
the borrowing of money and asking repayment.
1 , letters of Le Secretaire ala mode, also made their appearance in The Young
•Secretary's Guide, by John Hill, London, 1687, and The Young Man's ComFor nearly a century there were many editions of Breton's popular letterpanion, by William Mather, London, 1681.
writer, and of course, many imitations. The Dictionary of National Biography
· · Although the courtly French element lingered on in English letter-writers
contains a long list of Nicholas Breton's poetical and prose works, which
are of high quality. In 1929, The Cresset Press Ltd., of London, brought ; as late as 1840, . it did not at all dominate the eighteenth-century letterwriters. When The Young Secretary's Guide: or, a Speedy Help to Learning,
out a limited edition of Breton's A Mad World My Masters, edited and with
an appreciative introduction by Ursula Kentish-Wright. Miss Hornbeak · by J. Hill, London, 1687, appeared, it contained a native spirit that eventually
states that "only twice has genius touched the complete letter-writer in 1 , ·overshadowed the French element. This letter-Writer specialized in letters
English: once in Nicholas Breton's Paste with a Packet of Madde Letters . 1that dealt with the actual everyday problems of the mass of people and
and again - almost a century and a half later - in Richardson's Letters 1 · with business and important affairs and not with successes in love. In addition .
· to the model letters there were forms for bills, bonds, wills, indentures,
Written to and for Particular,Friends."
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Mention should be made here of a letter-writer that was probably the · deeds, letters of attorney, assignments, bills of sale, etc., together with the
'names of women, cities, counties, interest tables, etc. Until 1687, the model
first English guide to business correspondence. This was written in 1587
letters that dealt with business and family life were in the minority.
and entered in the Stationers' Register in 1589. Later editions appeared '
f, " In The Young Secretary's Guide will be found nothing on courtship or
in 1607, 1616 and 1640. The 1607 edition is entitled The Merchants Avizo.
Verie Necessarie For their Sons and Servants, when they first send them :. 'romance and it was the first letter-writer to recognize the letter-writing
beyond the Seas, as to Spaine and Portingale, or other Countries, By I. B., · needs of maid-servants. Its popularity is indicated by its numerous editions.
Merchant, London, Printed by John Norton, 1607. In addition to the model . 'The 1764 London edition is supposed to b,e the twenty-seventh and the
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;1750 Boston edition, the twenty-fourth. The contents of the various London
letters with their ethical instructions there are sections dealing with weights
. editions are practically identical. The Boston editions show much variation.
and measures, value of money in Spain, Portugal and France, and with
~· Some derive their model letters from The Experienc'd Secretary, By T.
directions for selecting the best wares.
' 'Goodman, London, 1707. In fact, Hornbeak states that the Boston editions
For a period of fifty years following 1640, French influence dominated the
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of 1703, 1713, 1718, 1727 and 1730 are really editions of The Experienc'd
polite correspondence of English letter-writers. This was due principally to , '
Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac and Jean Puget de la Serre. Balzac, who with · .: Secretary, with the title of The Young Secretary's Guide. However, fortyothers, attempted to polish the French tongue, was the author of twenty- 1 ·• seven of the fifty letters in The Young Secretary's Guide, Boston, 1707 and
seven collections of ornate, affected and inflated letters that were imitated ".r 1708, and The Young Clerk's Guide, Boston, 1708, originated in the London
1 editions of The Young Secretary's Guide.
by La Serre in his Le Secretaire de la cour, Paris, 1625, and in his Le Secre·~ The 1728 Philadelphia and New York and the 1729 New York editions
taire ala mode, Paris, 1640. A translation of Le Secretaire ala mode as The
Secretary of ·Fashion appeared in London in 1640, 1654 and 1673, and La ' ; of The Secretary's Guide are descendants of the London editions of The .
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Young Secretary's Guide and derive most of their letters from that source.
Serre's imitations of Balzac's pompous style were translated in The Academy '
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The 1737 Philadelphia edition of The Secretary's Guide is indebted mostly
of Complements. Wherein Ladyes, Gentlewomen, Schollers, and Strangers ,
may accomodate their Courtly Practice with most Curious Ceremonies, Com- '" .., to The Young Secretary's Guide, and to a less extent to The Secretary of
Fashion and to the En!!lish edition of The Secretary's Guide.
speakine.. or writine. :_
plementall, Amorous, Hieh expressions and formes
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Miss Hornbeak characterizes the model letters in The Young Secretary's
Guide, The Experienc'd Secretary, and The Secretary's Guide as insipid and
humdrum, being a combination· of prosaic situations and a stilted, inflated
style. Aiiyone who has read, or tried to read many of such letters will come
to the same conclusions. There are letters, from an apprentice to his father,
of reproof from an uncle to a nephew, of consolation to one in prison, to "
reclaim youthful extravagancies in a son, to a young man upon the death
of his old wife, of reproof from a father to an ungracious son, and others
like them, so dull and uninteresting that one's patience is strained to the
utmost.
In 1741 the insipid models in The Young Secretary's Guide and its relatives were revitalized .and their characters became alive in a new letterwriter entitled Letters written to and for particular friends, on the most
important occasions. Directing not only the requisite style and forms to be
observed in writing familiar letters; but how to think and act justly and
prudently, in the common concerns of human life. Containing one hundred
and seventy-three letters, none of which were ever before published. This
letter-writer was printed in London for C. Rivington, in St. Paul's Churchyard, 1741. The author of this was none other than Samuel Richardson,
although he never "publicly avowed his authorship." In 1928 George Routledge and Sons, Ltd., of London, brought out these letters as Familiar Letters
on Important Occasions, By Samuel Richardson. With an Introduction by
Brian W. Downs. Many of the situations and titles of the Familiar Letters '.:
were suggested by earlier letter-writers such as The Young Secretary's Guide, :.
The Experienc'd Secretary, and The Secretary's Guide, and although there ·
are similarities between Richardson's letter-writer and earlier handbooks, °.
his book is more extensive; his letters are longer and many have a group
relationship; he was not interested in rhetoric or in the technique of letter- ;
writing such as forms to be followed, grammatical rules, and mechanical
details; he imparted interest and aroused suspense; his correspondents
are convincing individuals and not colorless characters and they write
naturally; many of his letters are full of definite details of the life and activi- ,
ties of the times; and his love letters are not romantic. Although some utilitarian missives, common to all letter-writers, are always prosaic by reason
of necessity, to most of his letters Richardson brought his skill as a ,
novelist.
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There were six editions of Familiar Letters before Richardson's death in •,
1761 and one in 1764. Not until 1928 was this work again pi:inte<l. In the ]'
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various subjects, he has tried "to inculcate the principles of virtue a d
t, ;~ne~ole;c~; to describe properly, and recommend strongly, the social a:d
"· e ahve uhes and to place them in such practical lights that the letters
.,. . may se.rve as rules to think and act by as well as fo;ms to write after." Rich' ar~son s 173 models are on the usual topics found in previous and later letterwr1ters such as:
" th Tto a fa~er, against putting a youth of but moderate parts to a profession
a requires more extensive abilities.
Ayoung man m
· b usmess,
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to a father, desiring leave to address his daugl t '
To a brother too captious to bear himself the ridicule he practices u1peorn.
· oth ers.
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~' _To a rich widow lady with children, dissuading her from marr in
y. g a
: . widower of meaner degree, who has children also.
An excuse to a person who wants to borrow money
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A wife to her husband at sea.
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To a young lady, cautioning her against keeping company with a gentleman of bad character.
'-~ , Ridiculing a romantic rhapsody in courtship.
" h A ~ather to a daughter in service, on hearing of her master's attempting
er vrrtue.
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From ~ tender father to an ungracious son.
To a father, on his neglect of his children's education.
From a country chapman beginning trade, to a city dealer offering his
correspondence.
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.' From a country gentleman
in town, to his brother in the country, d escn'b.
.ing
., a pu blic_execution in London.

.~·: According to ~iss Hornbeak, Richardson's models, without acknowled _
_,?1ent, of course, crrculated widely from 1746 to 1924 and later in 171 di.ffere!t
.ISsues ~f a~out '.5 letter-writers in four languages, published from Bavaria .
·~ t~ California. Eighty-two of these issues carried American imprints. Com..pilers borrowed from previous compilers and textual changes took l
·and ad1"ushn t ·
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en m names an p aces were made to make them suitable for
.American readers. ,- In .:-·f.iss Hombeak's "Bibliography of the English Letter-Writer 15681800, there are 239 editions of letter-writers listed some of th
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' ere~ e ihons o the same title. However, the titles mentioned in the
-~::;o;:~text appe.~ to be the most important ones - not only because of
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letter-writers. Miss Hornbeak's "Bibliography" includes, from 1698 to '.t.800,
thirty-six editions of letter-writers bearing American imprints, the titles of
these being:
The Secretary's Guide, or Young Man's Companion.
The Young Secretary's Guide: or, A Speedy help to Learning.
The Complete Letter-Writer: or, Young .Secretary's Instructor.
The Complete Letter-Writer; or Polite English Sec~etary.
The Complete Letter-Writer, Containing Familiar Letters.
The New Complete American Letter-Writer: or, The Art of
Correspondence.

I uvenile Correspondence.
The American Letter-Writer.
Models of Letters in French and English.
A New Academy of Compliments: or, The Lover's Secretary.
The American Academy of Compliments.
The New Universal Letter-Writer: or, Complete Art of
Correspondence.

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Thus for about 100 years or from 1698 to 1800, American needs were "·
apparently served by a dozen titles. Even this figure is misleading because .
different editions of the same book have different titles and the same model .
letters appear in different letter-writers.
Miss Horribeak in her "Introduction" states that she has listed 171 letter- ,
writers that appeared after Pamela [1740] and that she did not attempt to '
list those not indebted to Richardson. An examination of her "Bibliography"
however reveals only eighty-eight letter-writers after 1740, including the ·
American ones, which borrowed from Richardson's letter-writer. Even
though Miss Hornbeak did not attempt to list all the letter-writers after .
1740 and up to 1800, so far as American editions from 1698 to 1800 are con-..
cerned, I have not been able to add many new titles to her list, although ·
I have increased the number of editions from thirty-six to sixty-one.
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In addition to the letter-writers published in America, there were im- ·
portations. London editions of The Young Secretary's Guide were offered ."
for sale between 1694 and 1700 by Michael Perry of Boston. About 1760, "
according to an extant broadside, W. Bradford of Philadelphia advertised...
The Academy of Compliments among other books imported from London. .
And Robert Bell of Philadelphia offered in 1783 The Academy of Compli, ,_ - .._,_ - c ~~~:i~,,;,..,, rio ln r.nur. Of course.

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• thousands of letter-writers have been lost during the passage of time, but
enough have survived in libr.aries to give one a very good idea of their
, more or less continuous history.
·;.{ . As Miss Hornbeak has described, in her paper, the contents of the London
~ 11 letter-writers that preceded the American ones, there is no need to repeat
her descriptions here. Instead, some brief notes will be given about the
~eneral contents of some letter-writers published in America from early
times to the present, together with a few of their model letters. As it is
beyond the scope of this paper to trace the sources of the models appearing
in these let~er-writers over a period of almost 250 years, this aspect will
not be c~ns1der~d. From ~ examin~tion of many of these books it is my
general rmpression that Richardson s models and modifications of them
~t ~ave appeared in many American letter-writers from 1785 up to the present
', ; time. Th.at they ar~ circulating in a small way today is because some
. l~tter-writers copyrighted twenty-five and even forty years ago are pur•
I chasable today, even though their contents are out of step with present
; usage.
.
' The Young Secretary's Guide: or a speedy help to learning, published in
, Boston, 1750, by Thomas Fleet is a book of 178 pages. In addition to its
, ~odel letter~ it contains rules for capitalization, punctuation, forms for
.., bills, bonds, m~erest tables, names of counties, a few pages of dictionary,
}. and honorary titles. Its model letters include a letter of entreaty to continue
~ ab~oad, of thanks for a ~ndness .received, of advice to a friend, of congratu: la~10n, from an apprentice to his father, to ask pardon for a fault, from a
• 1 .~i£e to her absen~ husband, from a youth to his sister, etc. These are grouped
under such headmgs as letters of recommendation, of entreaty, of remon.1 strance, of exhortation, of reproof, of congratulation, of comfort, etc., and
,°'the foll~wing model from this letter-writer is no doubt one of reproof, al1, though it also sounds mandatory and exhortatory. There are no love letters
in this book.
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LErrnn WRITI'EN TO RECLAIM YouTHFuL EXTRAVAGANcms IN A SoN, &c

The unhappy Report of your Vagaries and wild Extravagancies having
, rea9hed my Ears, I .could no longer refrain to let you understand, that I ·
/~sent them v~ry hemously, and am altogether displeased, that you should
,' give ~P the Pnme of your Years to such Follies, as you stand charged withal;
especially when I expected other Fruits of my Labour and Care, to render

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you such an one as might be a Credit rather than a Reproach to me, you
little deserving the Cost I have from time to time bestowed upon you in
Learning, and other things, to fit and qualifie you for lmployments, that
might not only prove profitable, but render you accomplished: Nor is it the
smallest part of my Grief to hear, that you are addicted to Drinking, and
uttering prophane Words and Expressions altogether unbecoming a Gentleman. Wherefore I conjure you, by all the bonds and ties of Nature ~nd AHection, by which you stand bound and obliged to me, that you speedily reform
your Ways and Actions, or expect to be ever disowned and rejected by

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In The Complete Letter Writer, containing familiar letters on the most common occasions in life, New York, 1793, one finds Richardson's models, as
well as letters of Gay, Pope, Steele, etc., together with forty-eight pages
of rules of grammar, composition, punctuation. There are also forms for
cards and a spelling dictionary. The model letters are miscellaneous ones .
covering such subjects as courtship, marriage, advice, instructions, and including elegant letters on subjects to improve the style and entertain the
mind.
In addition to letters on common occasions, letters of courtship and marriage, letters of advice and instruction, there are general rules and remarks
on letter writing. The writer is advised to express his meaning as freely as
possible. "Long periods tnay please the ear, but they perplex the understanding." An "easy, genteel, and obliging manner of address" is recommended. "Lofty phrases are improper, but the style should not be low and
mean." In the following is shown the correct way for a son at school t<;J
address his father: .

A SoN's LETIER AT ScHooL, To ms FATHER

Honored Sir,
I am greatly obliged to you for all your favors: all I have to hope is, that ,
the progress I make in my learning will be no disagreeable return for the
same. Gratitude, duty and a view of future advantages, all contribute to
make me thoroughly sensible how much I ought to labor for my ' own improvement and your satisfaction, and to show myself upon all occasions,
YOUR

MOST OBEDIENT AND EVER DUTIFUL SON

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', · Not only letter-writing, but dream interpretation, the significance of moles,
~ love songs, toasts and dancing instructions, appeared in A New Academy
· i; of Compliments: or, the Lover's Secretary, Worcester, 1795. With this ele« · gant guide to the social graces, one could be not only accomplished in the
, .. al;>ove, but could make out bills correctly and cast accounts. The colorless,
i. model letters, dependent upon Le Secretaire
la Mode, are the usual ones of
. compliment, complaint, entreaty, friendship, thanks, love, etc., . even in. eluding '1etters to complain of backbiting." This book contains a few pages
. . on form, punctuation, etc., -but no lengthy discourse on composition. One
· ~ of its letters follows:

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CONGRATULATORY LETTER TO A NEW-MARRIED MAN
1 Sir,
., Joy being ·the consequence of your happy choice, I make bold to con. , gratulate you, being glad that you have now divided the power which you
~· had acquired over my affection, as honouring at this present your dear wife,
.', ~th the respect heretofore rendered to you only. I will persuade myself
. you will make no doubt of ~t, no more than of the passion I have to your
ser".ice in quality of
Youn MOST HUMBLE SERVANT

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The American Academy of Compliments: or the Complete American
Secretary, Philadelphia, 1796, in addition to its model letters, witty dialogues
and advice on the art of good breeding and behavior, included instructions
for carving flesh, fish and fowl, and advice to young virgins. In The Com,. plete Letter-Writer: or, Young Secretary's Instructor, are found 104 letters
' including replies, among which are:
A pressing and angry letter from a city dealer, to his correspond,!:lnt in the
, country.
A young woman in town to her sister in the country, recounting her
narrow escape from a snare laid for her on her first arrival, by a wicked
procuress.
A model love letter and a model answer are reproduced below:
FROM

A

RESPECTFUL LOVER TO HIS MISTRESS

Dear Madam.
I have long struggled with the most honourable and respectful passio~
that ever filled the heart of man; I have often tried to reveal it personally;
as often in this way, but never till now, could prevail upon my fears and

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doubts. But I cannot longer 'struggle with a secret that has given me so 1 ~,~
much torture to keep, and yet, hitherto, more than I have that pleasure, '
instead of being animated as I ought, I am utterly confounde.d'. What can ·'
this be owing to, but a diffidence in myself, and an exalted op1mon of your
worthiness? and is not this one strong token of ardent love? Yet if it be, '
how various is the tormenting passion of its operations? Since some it inspires
with courage, whilst others it deprives of all necessary confidence. I can only '
assure you madam, that the heart of man never conceiv~d a .strong~r, or,
sincerer passion than mine for you. If my reverence for you 1S a cnm.e, I
am sure it has been my sufficient punishment. I ne~d not say ~y designs
and motives are honourable: who dare approach so much vrrtuous excellence with a supposition that such an assurance is necessary? What "
my fort~e is, is well known; and I am ready to stand the test.of the strictest
enquiry. Condescend, madam, to embolden my respectful passion, with one ,
favorable line; that if what I here profess, and hope farther to have an oppor- ,
tunity to assure you of, be found to be unquestionably truth, then my h~ble
address will not quite be unacceptable to you; and thus you will far oblige,

15

mantling payment, soliciting loans; from tenants to landlords, asking for
, more time in which to pay their rent; from insolvent debtors to' their prin' cipal creditors and from storekeepers and servants on various business mat1
1 ters. The following amusing models are from a young man to his sweetheart
. ~· and her reply:
,_' ·'FROM

A

YOUNG MAN, JUST OUT OF HIS APPRENTICESHIP, TO ms
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

SWEETHEART,

YoUR AFFECTIONATE ADMIRER,

dear Madam,

AND

DEVOTED SERVANT

THE ANSWER

Sir

-

if modesty be the greater glory of our sex, surely it can~ot be bla~e
worthy in yours. For my own part, I think it the most admrrable quality
either man or woman can possess. Nor can there be, in my opinion, a true
respect, where there is not a diffidence of one's own merit, and an high
opinion of the person's we esteem.
To say more on this occasion, would little become me; to say less would
look as if I knew not how to pay that regard to modest merit, which modest
merit, only deserves.
.
.
,
,
You, Sir, best know your own heart; and, if you are smcere and generous,
will receive as you ought this fran~ess from,
YoUR HUMBLE SERVANT

*

*

In The New Universal Letter Writer, Charlestown and Newburyport,
1805, we find in its 285 pages, 142 model letters, "cards of compliment," legal
forms, maxims, official titles, and an English spelling dictionary. The business '•
letters are, as a rule, short. They. are from merchants ordering goods, de-.;\

THE ANSWER

'

"· I received your very kind letter, but I do not know what to say in answer.
, Although I would be glad to marry, yet you men are so deceiving, tha_t there
· is no such thing as trusting you. There is Tom Timber, the carpenter, and
.Jack Hammer, the smith, who have not been married above 'six months,
, and every night come home drunk, and beat their wives. What a miserable ,
.. life is that, Jack, .and how do I know but you may be as bad to me? How
: do I know but you, like them, may get drunk every night, and beat me,
' black and blue before morning! I do assure you, Jack, if I thought that
, would be the case, ~ would scrub floors and scour saucepans as long as I
·' live. But possibly you may not be so bad; for there is Will Copper, the
; brazier, and Peter Jackson, the printer, who are both happy with their wives;
,they are both home-bringing husbands, and have every day a hot joint of
~ .1{1ea,t and a glass of grog. I _~ow not yet what I sh~ do, but as I like to walk

.,
/'

16

The New York Public Library

to Vauxhall, I will meet you at the Battery, on Sunday after dinner, and ·\
then we.will talk more of the matter.
I AM, DEAR JACK, YoUR MOST HUMBLE SERVANT

*

*

!.;';/"

*

Madam,- .
I received your letter, containing the follow~g request, vi~:
the most proper methods to be used in conductmg the education of young
ladies, as to avoid extravagance on the one hand, and meanness on the other?
This is a very important question. . .
.
· It is the misfortune of the present age, that almost all ranks of people
are so much infatuated as to strive who shall outdo one another in extrava- ;
gance and the daughter of an ordinary tradesman can scarce be distinguished ·
from ~lady of quality; if we inquire into the causes from which ~ese effects .
How, we shall find that they are partly owing to the conduct of their mothers,
and partly to those entrusted with their education. . .
. .
·
Mothers should, on every occasion, teach their daughters, that 1t 1s a duty ,
incumbent on them not to have aspiring views beyond that station in which _..
Providence has placed them: That humble unaffected mode~ty in ~ stuff •·
gown, will be preferred, by every sensible person, before eith,er silks or
Brussels lace: That it is a greater accomplishment for a tradesman s daughter
to wash a floor, than to dance on it; and much more useful to be able to "
dress a joint of meat, than point out the particular merit of an actress, a~d '.,
applaud or condemn a song. But the kee.pers o~ boarding-~chools are still ~;
more culpable than parents. No sooner 1s a Miss placed m one of these _:
seminaries, than she is taught to consider herself a young lady, and even .
·
·
j
honored with that high application. . .
. But there is something still worse: she is not only unfit to be the wife of ·,
an honest industrious tradesman, but she often occasions his ruin: ~he
expects to be supported in the same extravagant manner as at the boardmg : ·
~rhnnl: dissioation takes the place of prudence, public diversions are more ~"

*

*

.·" Another model from the same 1805 letter-writer is quoted and this also
'!. had a long life, turning up in_Letter-Writing Made Easy, New York, 1908.

~. FROM A YOUNG GENTLEMAN, IN EXPECTANCY OF AN ESTATE FROM A PE~OUS

writers during that interval.
FROM A LADY WHO HAD FORMERLY KEPT A BOARDING-SCHOOL, TO ANOTHER OF ·~
THE SAME PROFESSION ON FEMALE EDUCATION
·'.'

17

·: attended to than domestic duties, - and the unhappy husband, to enjoy
~ 1. peace, is often oblighe? to leave his business, that his lady may b~ honored
· i;with his-company.
I AM, DEAR MADAM, YoUR SINCERE FRIEND '

*

The following letter from this 1805 letter-writer made its appearance in
the Complete Letter Writer, published by Wehman Bros., New York, about
1900, almost 100 years later and no doubt appeared in many other letter- .

American Letter-Writers, 1698-1943

""

UNCLE, TO A YOUNG LADY OF SMALL FORTUNE, DESIBING HER
TO ELOPE WITH HIM

'!

My uncle's laying his injunctions upon me not to see you any more has
only served to add fuel to my passion. I can not live without you, and if
,·. you persist in refusing to comply, I will be miserable forever. I pay no
t ' regard to his threatenings, when put in competition with the love I have
! for you. Do not be' afraid of poverty: if he should continue inexorable, I
. have still education sufficient to procure a genteel employment in one of
·: the public offices, where I may rise to preferment. Therefore, if ever you
_loved me, let me beg that you will not make me any longer unhappy. Let
~ me entreat you by all that is dear that you will comply with my request,
·.f and meet me at s~ on Sunday evening at the back door of the garden, where
·.· a. chaise will be ready. I will Hy on the wings of love to my charmer, and
· ,· be happy in her embraces forever.
,>
IAM
YoUR DEAR LoVER
1

,·

*
,.,

*

*

According to the model answer in the letter-writer, Maria refuses to be
off in any such manner. She is too prudent. She does not believe
·-~ that her lover should sacrifice ~he estate of his penurious uncle to an im~\; petuous passion because she dreads his indigence more than she regrets
./ her own.
·\; · One runs across the same letters time and time again in letter-writers
:· of the same period and later, demonstrating both laziness and lack of
;: imagination on the part of the compilers. Many contain directions and rules
:.' for composition and advice on elegance in writing, and the letters themselves
·; are full of codes of morals and behavior, such as duty to parents, public .
-~ prayers, diligence, the avoidance of pitfalls, etc. For example, male coquetry
.~ rushed

. ,\
18

The New York Public Library

American Letter-Writers, 1698-1943

is more inexcusable than female, as .well as more pernicious. Do not marry ·
a fool; pay attention to health; cultivate books that improve the mind; ride '.
horseback and walk in the open; avoid drink, dishonesty and gambling; ·
don't always go abroad in a carriage; do needlework; dress in good taste; · '
and "the finest bosom in nature is not as fine as what the imagination forms." . ~
Of the total of 106 letters in The Fashionable American Letter Writer,
Newark, 1832, 26 are on business, 23 on love, courtship and marriage, 44
on relationship, and 13 on friendship. The following model from this letter- ,
writer illustrates how a dutiful daughter should write to her mother.
FROM A YOUNG LADY TO HER MAMMA

Give me leave, my dear mamma, to tell you, as well as my pen will permit . ,
me, or rather as well as my iriexperienced hand is capable of directing it,
how truly sensible I am of all your favours, and that I will e~deavor bY, my
conduct to merit the continuance of them. My prayers are, morning and
night, oHered up to heaven for your preservation, nor are you ever in the ,
day absent from my thoughts. May Providence preserve you, and grant ·
you everything you can wish for, from the good behaviour of

*

..
'· ·.
'.,
·.

t~ my cousin &:1ol~, in the way ·of courtship to me. My. cousin has brought
hun once .or twice mto my c.ompany, as he has a high opinion of him and
his .circumstan~es. J_Ie has been set up three years, possesses a very good
busmess, and lives m credit and fashion. He is about twenty-seven . years
old, and is likely in his person. He seems not to want sense nor manners
.and is come of a good family. He has broken his mind to me, and boast;
how well he can maintain me; but I assure you, sir, I have given him no
encou.ragement, yet he resolves to persevere, and pretends extraordinary
a~ection and. es~eem. I would not, sir, by any means, omit to acquaint you
with the ~eg~mng of an affair, that would show a disobedience unworthy
of your kmd mdulgence and affection. Pray give my humble duty to my
honoured mother, love to my brother and sister, and respects to all friends.
I

*

REMAIN YOUR EVER DUTIFUL DAUGHTER

*

*

, · In this :ase, the father did not approve of the linen-draper and commanded his daughter to give the suitor no encouragement.
Again in Everybody's Letter Writer, Philadelphia, New York, Boston and
'. ,Baltimore, 1851, the following good advice was given a daughter by her
. father:

YOUR DUTIFUL AND AFFECTIONATE DAUGIITER

*

'·

19

*

I

Even in 1845, English influence is found in American letter-wrfters. In .
The Parlour Letter-Writer and Secretary's Assistant, Philadelphia, 1845, .'.
with its letters on business, love, friendship, etc., one finds English names •'
of persons and places' and al.so a model letter from an English nobleman .
in Queen Elizabeth's reign advising his son to pray, to obey his master, to ,"
seldom drink wine, to be merry, not to swear, not to tell untruths and to '
listen and not talk overmuch. The preface of this letter-writer is dilted ·
January l, 1835. And in The Letter Writers Own Book, Philadelphia and ~
New York, 1848, the following Richardson model occurs.
·
'

~

A F Ann;it TO HIS DAUGHTER, REFUSING HIS CONSENT TO AN EARLY MARRIAGE

' ': Dear Daughter The request made in your letter has been a source of mingled wonder and
pain to me.
·
Nothing but the deep love I experience for you, would induce me to act
contrary to your wishes, even in the most trivial matter; but I am compelled, from a sense of duty, and from motives of prudence, to withhold
my approval; and I must even go so far as to censure you, and the young·
man for whom you plead, for your precipitate action in an affair so important
to you both.

' '

FROM A YoUNG LADY IN THE COUNTRY TO HER FATHER, ACQUAINTING
HIM WITH AN OFFER MADE TO HER OF MARRIAGE

Honoured Father,
My duty teaches me to acquaint you, that a gentleman of this town, whose .
name is Smith, and by business a linen-draper, has ~a?e some -overtures.- ,

You are only sixteen years of age, and although a good daughter, you
·are not,. as y~t, qualified to take upon yourself the cares and responsibilities
of married life.
· '.

Young people are often too impulsive, and imagine life as one great holiday of uninterrupted felicity. Although there is much for us to enjoy, yet

The New York Public Library
20
we should act with discretion and forethought and carefolly yield our own
wishes to the stern commands of duty.
Hoping, my dear child, that you will act with the same wisdom and consistency of conduct that has always characterized you, I remain with the
fondest affection, -

Youns

*

*

DEVOTEDLY,

*

How to Write, that was published in New York in 1857, is a pocket manual
of composition and letter-writing, including penmanship and brief, sensible,
natural letters. When Beadle's Dime Ladies' Letter-Writer appeared about
1861, the preface claimed that its models remedied the defects of previous
letter-writers and although, to some extent, this is true, the children's letters
remind one of Maria Edgeworth, and of 'the fact that they were written
by adults who knew exactly how children should behave. Sensible and
natural letters for the most part are also found in A New Letter-Writer for
the Use of Gentlemen, Philadelphia, about 1868. The models are not stiff
and exaggerated. Some letter-writers of this and later periods were concerned more with teaching the art of sensible letter writing than with models
for the guidance of the writers. This is true of How to Write Letters, Philadelphia, 1880, which deals with structure, composition, etc., and which was
intended as a school text. In Dick's Society Letter-Writer for Ladies, New
York, 1884, the letters are unaffected and sober, from the note accepting a
seat in a church pew for an Easter celebration to the note to the butcher
complaining about the meat. Model letters are missing from The Correspondent, New York, 1886, but everything else is included that an intelligent
correspondent should know. And in Charm and Courtesy in Letter-Writing,
New York, 1895, the author discards models and writes sound advice interestingly and philosophically. Models carrying the conviction that they
were written by real people appear in The New Century Standard LetterWriter, Chicago, 1900, and all the letters on business, love, friendship, etc.;
are simple in style and language.
·
Along with the change to models more suited to the times, some letterwriters continued to advance advice, particularly for writers of love letters.
A sample of this is quoted from Letter-Writing Made Easy for Ladies and

Gentlemen, New York, 1908:
"Your letters should express respect blended with exalted and overpowering passion, and this applies more particularly to your first letter. A tame,
hesitating lover can not make a strong impression upon the hearts of the

~erican Letter-Writers, 1698-1943

21

g~ntle ~ex. .. . He mu~t compromise himself, fearlessly and thoroughly in
his first. address to her, and have his mind made up to stand the hazard
of the die ...
"It ~s best.to use gilt-edged paper, and of a fine quality: write in a good
han~ if possible: fold and seal your missive neatly, and direct it in a bold
_ plain manner, that it may not fall into the hands of the wrong person, and ·
expose your lady-love to the jeers and malicious remarks of idle and heartless
worldlings."

*

*

*

And flowery models like the following still pour from the pages of such
books
. as
. The
. Up-to-Date Universal Letter Writer ' Baltimore, 1912, to serve
as msprrahon to enchanted lovers.
SENTIMENTAL LE'ITER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN FLORIDA TO A LADY
IN C~ORNIA

St. Augustine, Fla., Feb. 24, 19 - -.
My dearest Dorothy:
Your precious letter, laden with the fresh gales of the Golden Gate, that
the sweet incense of those scented fields, bathed in the mellow
hght ?~ the western .sun, has just been handed to me by the postman and
rea~ wit~ boundless )Oy. Indeed, my love, it came to me as to a shipwrecked
marmer m th~ fr?zen arctic seas: like the visitation of a dazzling apparition
from some farry land beyond the placid stars, to cheer me in my loneliness
' and desolation. . .
Only a few more weeks and my enforced sojourn here will be at an end.
~ But'. Oh, sweetheart, how those weeks will lengthen out into years before
. I will be free to spread my wings of love that are to transport me through
• 1- the cruel space .which separates us and restore me to my place by your side,
when once agam I may clasp my darling in fond embrace and drink d
from the limpid fountain of her pure and chaste lips that subtle sweet::!
, which is the transcending ecstasy of all earthly happiness . . .
1
. In.the meantime; my lovely Dorothy, I commend you to the care of that
-' infimte unseen love of which mine for you is the highest finite exp~ession.
With abiding affection,
I am, dearest, your faithful
~reathe

.HAROLD

• I

22

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American Letter-Writers; 1698-1943

The New York Public Library

Dorothy, not to be outdone, replies in a similar vein, in p~t, as follows:

Los Angeles, Cal., March 1, 19 - -:-.·
Dearest Harold,
Your sweet letter' bearing in its folds the spicy odors of the everglades,
commingling with those sentiments of love so dear to my. heart, came to
me by the early mail, just as I was returning from my mormng stroll among
~~.

th
.
With what rapturous delight, dearest Harold, do I dwell upo~ e promise
which will restore you to me after this long and cruel separation\ Only .one
ear since inexorable fate condemned you to that exile - so great a sacrifice
y
k
d h' h filled my cup of gladness with the bitter brew of
. d th mira e
for my sa e, an w ic
e
g
ain. Ohl how Time, who pursues with the speed of the wm
~appiness, drags his leaden feet when chasing the rainbow .Hope\ · · ·
1 enclose a little rosebud, Harold dear, which I have kissed: and now I
'm ust hasten to seal my letter for the postman hurries up the gravel walk.
In a few hours I will write again. Until then, sweethe~rt, good-bye.
Affectionately,
DOROTHY

*

*

*

More and more business letter-writers appeared, although some busin~ss
e found in the all-purpose letter-writer. In addition
letters a1ways were to b
.
·
_
to matters of correct stationery, construction, etc., such 1ette~-writers s~e
cialize in sales letters, collection letters, credit letters, a~d the mcorporation
into them of "persuasive appeal" and "human interest.. For the most part,
they are without general interest unless one has somethm? to. sell, or money
to collect and is not adept at wording one's own commumcahons. However,
even thes~ utility letter-writers sometimes include unexpected models su~h
as the following "collection letter" from Bus~ness Letters and How to Write

Them, Chicago, 1928:

If you will favor Messrs. Packard & Buick with a pr~tty ba~k che~k f~r .
121 b the first day of the coming calendar month you will receive m
$ . Ay BEAUTIFUL RECEIPTED BILL which, when properly framed,
return
·
h e The golden
has been found to be a very pleasing ornament m any om .
,'
h' h . e gift free of all cost is yours for the mere .r
.
opportumty to earn t is c 01c
af
"
. .
We cannot with any degree of s ety to our own . ,'
effort of sigmng your name.
.
.~

23

;. freedom do this for you, since there are dire penalties attached to Jim the
·.~' Penman stuff-: but we will sign the receipt ,i f you will sign the CHECK.
''J.'

I

•

'

/

*

*

*

The mo~els in present-day letter-writers are for the most part present-day
models, whether they are on business, social matters, love or friendship.
Some of them are written about wartime activities and are supposed to be
particularly applicable to the present time. Some are breezy and full of slang
and humor. Others are sincere and thoughtful. Most of them are shorter
than those in the old-time letter-writers, but all appear to be of the type that
"' a sensible and intelligent person would write. They contain no advice on
conduct and morals, with which the early models were filled, and it would
app~ar that ther~ has now been a complete break with tr~dition, although
a few publishers continue to sell letter-writers of earlier periods.
·
Even an examination of the titles in the accompanying Check List of Ameri. ' can letter-writers will afford some indication ·of what has taken place over
. the period from 1698 to 1943.
Previous to 1698 English letter-writers were imported and sold in the
Colonies. From 1698 on, although some letter-writers were printed in
America, they were still English letter-writers. A few were English dom., inated by French influence: The Young Secretary's Guide is listed frequently
in the Check List from 1698 to 1750. From then to 1800 and even to as late
as 1850 and 1860 there followed a Hood of such titles as The Complete
'• Letter-Writer, New Universal Letter-Writer, Fashionable Amerlcan LetterWriter, Parlour Letter-Writer, etc., all descendants of English letter-writers
' and containing many of Richardson's models, either in the original or in
a modified form. From about 1860 on, there was a tendency to escape from
English influence and more letter-writers were devoted to American business
letters, school manuals, social and ceremonial forms, lessons in letter-writing,
. . commercial correspondence, effective writing, instructions for secretaries, ·
,·, · letter problems, style, composition, etc., and in many of these books the
.; number of model letters declined in comparison with the number found
.'. in early letter-writers and such as were included exhibited no trace of English
·' influence. The models declined and the general advice increased. For the
· most part, Ainerican letter-writers that .are published at present are really
~·, American. While this was happening, a few publishers continued to bring
· out so-called American letter-writers containing modified English models,
·f, especially Richardson's, on love, friendship and family matters and even .
~.

it,

, '

The New York Public Library
day a thin stream of these continues to circulate along with the others. ,
; a rule, the future social historian will find little information on American '
e in any of the American model letters and genius has not yet touched the _; ·
nerican letter-writer as it touched the English letter-writer through Nicho- '
s Breton and Samuel Richardson.
·
In view of compulsory education and the numerous commercial schools, ''
is difficult to understand the continued popularity of the letter-writer, "
t.less people forget what they are taught in schools. Many of them are ...
ghly useful. There is no doubt about this and perhaps for some people •
ey represent a means of acquiring easily, knowledge and culture that was
mied to them.
As was stated in the opening paragraph, this account and the accompanyg Check List are devoted mainly to the homely and simple complete letterriter. The Check List does not include pamphlets and magazine articles
1 letter-writing, commercial letter-writers, school texts, etc., especially such
have become so numerous of late years. A few of these may have crept
by mistake because it was impossible for me to examine every title. I am ~
re that recent ones have been excluded. The Check List is also preliminary ·,
td there must be omissions because it was also impossible for me to canvass ·~
•ery library in the United States. In spite of these defects, it demonstrates
e great and continued popularity of letter-writers in this country. Bilingual
tter-writers have been omitted, for the most part. A few with English titles
e included.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The introduction and Check List have been based principally upon the ·
1llections of The New York Public Library, the American Antiquarian
>ciety, the Library of Congress, Harvard College Library and Yale Uniirsity Library. Titles were also received from The Historical Society of
~nnsylvania, The New York Historical Society, Dartmouth College Library, •
he Free Library of Philadelphia, the Library Company of Philadelphia, the ··
'illiam L. Clements Library, Columbia University Library, The Grosvenor
ibrary, the University of Pennsylvania Library, the Henry E. Huntington
ibrary, The Newbury Library, Rutgers University Library, the Public
ibrary of the City of Boston, The John Carter Brown Library, the Essex ,
1stitute and the Cleveland Public Library. To all these institutions I grate- ~
illy acknowledge my indebtedness and I sincerely appreciate their help. t, •
I am also under special obligation to Clarence S. Brigham, Director of)
te American Antiquarian Society and to Felix Reichman, Librarian of the ";

American Letter-Writers, 1698-1943

I

25

Carl Schurz Memorial Foundation, Inc., for their continuous help and
interest.
REFERENCES
CROUSE, RussEL. The American Keepsake. Garden City, N. Y.: Doubleda
y,
Doran ~d Company, Inc., 1932.
EvANs, CHARLES. American Bibliography. Chicago, 1903-31.
HANSCHE, . MAUD BINGHAM. The Formative Period of English Famili
Letter-Writers and Their Contribution to the English Essay. A thesis r:
sented to the faculty of the Department of Philosophy of the Universit~ of
Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, 1902.
HILDE.BURN, CHARLEs. A List of the Issues of the Press in New York. Phil _
delphxa, 1889.
a
.HoRNBE~, KA_THERINE G~E . . The Complete Letter-Writer in English 15681800. Smith College Studies m Modern Languages vol. -xv nos 3-4 A il
July, 1934.
-,
'
'
·
' pr I

' PEARSON, EDMUND. Queer Books. Garden City, N. Y.: Doubleday D l"
and Company, Inc., 1928.
' o a~

fuCHARDs~N, . SAMUEL. Familiar Letters on Important Occasions. With an
Introduction by Brian W. Downs. London: George Routledge and Sons
·' Ltd., 1928.
'

'

RoBE~Ts, WILLIAM. History of Letter-Writing from the Earliest Pe~od to
the Fifth Century. London: William Pickering, 1843.
. RoBi::nTso~, JEAN K. The Art of Letter Writing. An essay on the handbooks
. published m England during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Lon' , don: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd., 1942.
.-, S~sBURY, GEORGE. A Letter Book. Selected with an Introduction on the
History and Art of Letter-Writing. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd. New
· York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., 1922.

.

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American LetteriWrit'ers, 1698-1943

The New York Public Library

6

17l7
'; THE SECRETARY'S guide, or, Young man's com) panion •. • 3rd ed. New York, W. Bradford,
'. 1717.
'
.

PRELIMIN,ARY CHECK LIST OF AMERICA.N
LETTER-WRITERS, 1698-1943 *

!

1698

sulf.°fs:;~ce:

'HE SECRETARY'S guide, or, Young man's comanion. In four parts... New York : Printed
nd sold by William Bradford. 1698. sm. 8vo.

THE YoUNG secretary's guide : or, A speedy
help to learning. . . Thos. Hill. 6th ed. Boston, J. Phillips, 1717.

Hornbeak List.

Reference: Brinley Catalogue.

1708
A USEFUL and necessary companion In two ,
parts... To which Is added, an appendix, ,. ,
containing useful forms of letters, &c. Boston!
Printed for, and sold by Nicholas Boone, 1708. ·
Duodecimo, 44 1. Original sheep over wooden . "
boards. The appendix contains two letters from
scholars to their parents.

urn.

1703

:HE YoUNG secretary's guide: or, A speedy
1elp to learning. . . 3rd ed. By Thomas Hill.
loston: Printed by B. Green & J. Alden [Allen]
or S. Phillips, 1703.

Reference: Liste<I in Early
bookl, by A. S . W. Rosenbach.

Reference: Hornbeak List.
Copies: BP, MHS.

1705

rHE SECRETARY'S guide, or, Young man's comJanion ... 2nd ed. New York: W. Bradford
1705?].

THE YoUNG clerk's guide: or, A speedy help ,'
to learning... "Collected by B. W.'' Boston: . w
Printed by B. Green, for Nicholas Buttolph, ,,
1708.

Reference.: Hornbeak List, Sabin, Evans, Hilde1Um.

1707
fHE YOUNG secretary's guide; or, A speedy
iielp to learning. In two parts. 1. Containing
the true method of writing letters on any
occasion. . . n . Containing a most useful collection of the best presidents [ric] of bills,
bonds ... deeds, wills . . . Indentures, &c ....
With a diction~ added. . . Also an appendix
containing sundry paragraphs of the law,
touching the matters In this book. Collected
by B. W. Boston, N. E.: Printed by B. Green,
for Nicholas Buttolph . . . 1707.
Note in records of Boston Public Library: "This i•
based on an English book of the same name which
bad appeared in many editions (7th, 1696: 27th,
1764) the author' s name being given as J. Hill, which
bas been believed to be a pseudonym. From 1694-1700 it was im11orted and sold in Boston by Michael
Perr1. The third Boston edition was printed bf.
B. Green in 1703 and attributed to Thomas Hit.
The present edition contains, in a note to the reader,
this statement : 'It was thous:ht good to make a
collection of such presidents [sic] as are most in
use among us here in New England, and to fit them . .•
to the circumstances of this country • .. and the book
bas been rewritten.' It bas been suggested th.a t B. W.

· Same as The Young secretary's ouide.
Reference : Hornbeak List.
Copy: MHS.

. ..

... ... .,. "

1718
THE YoUNG secretary's guide: or, A speedy
help to learning ... 5th ed. By, Thomas Hill,
Gent. Boston, Reprinted by John Allen, for
Eleazer Phillips, Charlestown, 1718.
Reference: Hornbeak List.
Copies: NYP, MHS, ]CB.

1727
' · THE YoUNG secretary's guide: or, A speedy
help to learning .. . 6th ed. By Thomas Hill,
Gent. Boston, Reprinted for Nicholas Boone,
1727. 14cm. lHi, [4] p.
.
Reference: Hornbeak List.
Copies: HC, NYS.

1728
THE SECRETARY'S guide, or, Young mans companion ... 4th ed. New York, W. Bradford;
Philadelphia, A. Bradford, 1728.

THE YoUNc secretary's guide: or, A speedt \
help to learning... "Collected by B. W. ,
Boston, Printed by B. Green, for Nicholas
Buttolph, 1708. 12mo. 192 p.
References : Hornbeak List, Evans 1354.
Copy : BP.

'

1713
THE YoUNG secretary's guide: orr A speedy '
help to learning. In two parts. . . Made suit- ·
able to the people of New-England. The 4th .'
ed. By Thomas Hill, gent. Boston, Printed by.
T. Fleet, for D. Henchman, 1713. lSY,cm.
·.,.,
4 p.l., 196 :{'·
hunning title: The experienc'd secretary : or, Citi·. ,
zen and countryman's companion.

Copy: LC.

•,,

THE YoUNG secretary's guide; or, A speedy ,
help to learning. . . 4th ed. By Thomas Hill,'1
Gent. Boston, Printed by T. Fleet for Samue~
Gerrish, 1713.
Reference: Hornbeak List.
Copies : MHS, JCB.

*Abbreviations: AAS, American Antiquarian Society; BHS, Buffalo Historical Society; BM,
British Museum; BP, Boston Public Library; CU, Columbia University Library; DC, Dartmouth ,
College Library; FLP, Free Library of Philadelphia; G, Grosvenor Library; HC, Harvard College ,
Library; HEH, Henry E. Huntington Library; HSP, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; HTM1.
Howard Tilton Memorial Library; JCB, John Carter Brown Library; LC, Library of Congress;
MHS, Massachusetts Historical Society; MdHS, Maryland Historical Society; NYHS, New York _
Historical Society; NYP, New York Public Library; NYS, New York State Library; R, Ridgway
Library; RU, Rutgers University Library; S, Schwenkfelder Historical Library; TFP, Trenton ,
Free Public Library; UP, University of Pennsylvania Library; W, Watkinson Library of Refer- ~
-

burn.

Copy: BP.

Refuencea: Hornbeak List, Sabin, Evans 818, Hilde-

- ·

Reference9: Hornbeak List, Sabin, Evans, · Hilde- :

\

was Benjamin Wadsworth, Pre•ident of Harvard Col·
lege." _Miss Hornbeak doubts . the validity of thi1

'I U!l -

!--a. .... _

1 ...... 1-:1-....

•~

lf' ..oa T

.~hT"anT• VTT . VA.le t

,
i

Reference: Hornbeak List.
Copies : NYHS, HEH.

1729
SECRETARY'S guide, or, Young mans comparuon . .. 4th ed. New York, William Bradford, 1729.

T~

Reference: Hornbeak List.
Copie1: HSP, HEH.

1730
i
. THE YOUNG secretary's guide: or, A speedy
. help to learning. In two parts. Part 1. Con•, . taining the most curious art of inditing fa'- miliar letters. Part n. Containing the nature
, of writings obligatory . . . made suitable to the
people of New England. The seventh edition.
With large and useful 11dditions. By Thomas
Hill, Gent. Boston: Printed by T. Fleet. 1730.
15cm. 156 p.
This is The experienc'd secretary, by Thomas Goodman. The YOU"ll secretary's JIUide, by ]ohn Hill is
a different work. See Smith Colleoe stwdses in modern
languages, v. 15, April/July, 1934, p. 85.
/
References : Hornbeak List, Evans 3288.
Copies: NYP, BP, HC, AAS, ]CB.

1737
" THE SECRETARY's guide or young man's com( panion. In four_parts: C<:mtainin_g, Part 1. Di-

'i

r.~' ~:,.I

I

"

'

'

27

English, with the pronunciation, &c. Part n.
How to write letters of compliment, friendship,
or business; with proper directions for external
and internal superscriptions, and other things
necessary to be understood In that affair.
Part i;n. Arithmetic made easy. . . Part rv.
Forms of the most useful writing, such as bills,
bonds . . . To which is added, The family
companion: containing rules and directions,
how to make cyder, mead, wines of our own
growth, &c. . . The fifth edition, greatly enlarged and carefully corrected. Philadelphia:
Printed and sold by Andrew Bradford at the
Sign of the Bible. MDCCXXXVD. ( 2), ( 8), 248 p.
sm. 8vo.
References: Hornbeak List, Evans 4127.
Copy: HSP.

1748
THE AMERICAN instructor: or, Young man's
best companion. Containing, spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetick ... and how to
qualify any person for business. . . Instructions
to write a variety of hands .. , How to write
letters on business and friendship. Forms of
indentures, bonds, bills of sale... Also merchants accompts . .. with a description of the
several American Colonies. Together with carpenter's plain and exact rule: shewing how to
measure carpenters, joyners, sawyers .. , work.
How to undertake each work, and at what
price ... with Gunter's line and Coggeshai's
sliding-rule. Likewise the practical gauger
made easy ... the art of dialling ... with instructions for dying, colouring... To which
is added, The Poor Planters Physician. With
instructions for marking on linnen· how to
pickle and preserve; to make ... ~ne; and
many excellent plaisters, and medicines ...
And also prudent advice to young tradesmen
and dealers. The whole better adapted to
~ese American Colonills than any book of like
kmd. By George Fisher. Accomptant. The
ninth edition, revised and corrected. Philadelphia: Printed by B. Franklin, and · D. Hall,'
at the New-Printing-office, in Market-Street.
1748. v, 378 p., 5 plates. 12mo.
Reference: Evans.
Copies: HSP, NYP.

1750
THE YOUNG secretary's guide: or, A speedy
help to learning. In two parts. Part 1. Containing the most curious art of inditing familiar
letters, relating to business in merchandize,
trade, correspondence, familiarity, friendship,
and on all occasions: also directions for directing, superscribing and subscribing of letters with due respect to the title of persons
of quality and others : Rules for pointing and
capitalling in writing,_ &c... P~ _u. Con-

'
American Letter-Writers, 1698-1943

The New York Public Library

28

1750, continued
THE YouNG secretary's guide ... continued
&c. . . The twenty-fourth edition, with large
additions. By J. Hill. Boston: Printed and sold
by Thomas Fleet, at the Heart & Crown in
Comhill. 1750. 15.5cm. 178 p.
References : Hornbeak List, Evan• 6517.
Copies: HC, MHS, NYHS, NYP, Y~, BP, JCB .

1753
THE AMERICAN instructor: or, Young m~n's
best companion. Containing spelling, readmg,
writing and arithmetick, in an easier way than
any yet published; and how to qualify any
person for business, wi~out ~~ help of a
master. Instructions to wnte vaneties of hands,
with copies both In prose and verse. How
to write letters on business or friendship. F~rms
of indentures, bonds, bills of sale, receipts,
wills, leases, releases, &c. Also merchants
accompts, and a short and easy m~th?d of
shop and book-keeping; with a descnptmn .of
the several American Colonies. Together with
the carpenter's plain and exact rufe ... How
to undertake rock work .. . the rates of each
commodity and the common wages of jo~mey­
men· with Gunter's line; and Coggeshal s descrif'tion of the sliding rule. f:ik~wise th~ ~r~c­
tica gauger .. . the art of dialling ... Wit .mstructions for dying, colouring and makmg
colours. To which Is added, The Poor ~anters
physician: With instructions for mar ng on
linnen; how to pickle and preserve; to make
divers sorts of wines; and many excellent
plaisters, and medicines. . . And also prudent
advice to young tradesmen and dea~ers . The
whole better adapted to these Amencan Colonies, than any other book of the like kin~.
By George Fisher, accomptant. The. tenth e?1tion, revised and corrected. Philadelphia:
Printed by B. Franklin and D. Hall, at the
New-Printing Office, in Market-street, 1753.
v, 384, (2) p., 6 plates. 12mo.

With a list of books for sal~ by Fr~nklin and Hall.

Contains models of letters, . mst.rucbons for putd<;:tui
ation arithmetical rules, h1stoncalbtabl~, . mi dead
remedies, etc. Is not a lcttcr~writcr, ut ts me u c

in this list because of i.ts model letter_s.
Reference: Evan• 7120 (indexed m Evans under
Mrs. Slack) .
Copy: HSP.

1760
THE AMERICAN instructor: or, Young man's
best companion. . . The . twelfth e~ition, revised and corrected. New-York: Prmted ~nd
sold by H. Gaine, bookseller at the Bible
and Crown in Hanover Square. 1760. 12mo.
v, [1], 378 p.
Reference : Evans 8736.
Coples: NYHS, AAS.

1761
THE COMPLETE letter-writer; or, .Young secretary's instructor ... By W. H. Dilworth. New
York H. Caine, 1761.
References: Hornbeak List, Evan• 8840.

1763
THE COMPLETE letter-writer; or, Polite Entlish secretary. By W. H. Dilworth. New Yor ,
Hugh Galne, 1763. 12mo.
Referenceo: Hornbeak List, Evans 9377 .

1766
THE AMERICAN instructor: or, Young man's
best companion. Containing . .. New-York:
Printed and sold by Hugh Gaine, 1766.
Reference: Evan• 10495.

1770
THE AMERICAN instructor: or, Young man's
best companion. . . The fifteenth edition, revised and corrected. Philadelphia: Printed and
sold by John Dunlap, at the Newest PrintingOffice, in Market-Street. M,DCc,LXX. 24mo. v,
390 p., plate.
Reference: Evans 11859.
Copies : HSP, AAS.

THE AMERICAJ::l instructor; or, Young man's
best companion ... New York, Hugh Gaine,
14th ed. 1770.
Not in Evans.
Copy : AAS .

1775
THE AMERICAN Instructor. . . Burlington, I.
Collins. 21st ed. 1775.
Reference: Evans '14458.
Copy: AAS • .

1779
THE AMEmCAN instructor: or Young man's
best companion. Contain~ng,_ spelling: reading, writing, and arithmetic, m an easier w_ay
than any yet published; and how to _qualify
any person for business. . . Instructions to ,
write variety of hands, with copies in ~rose .,
and verse. How to write letters on busmess
and friendship. Forms of indentures, bonds,
bills of sale. . . Also merchants accompts. · .
with a description of the several ~eri~n
Colonies. Together ~th the <;31J?enter s plam
and exact rule ... Wlth Gunter's line and Coggeshal's description of the sliding rule . . Like- ~
wise the practical gauger .. : the art of. dialling
... with instructions for dymg, colouring, and
making colours. To which is added, The poor
planters physician: with instructions for marking linnen; how to pickle and preserve; to

make divers sorts of wine; and many excellent plaisters and medicines. . . And also
prudent advice to young tradesmen. . . The
whole better adapted to these American Colonies than any other book of the like kind.
By George Fisher, Accomptant. Boston, J.
Boyle & J. D. M'Dougall, 1779.
Reference: Evans 16524.
Copy: AAS.

29

pendium of the sciences of geography and
astronomy ... and a survey· of the celestial
bodies. Also, several very useful tables. By
George Fisher, Accomptant. The second Worcester edition, enlarged and improved. Printed
at Worcester, Massachusetts, by Isaiah Thomas,
and sold at his Book-Store, near the CourtHouse. MDCCLXXXVI. Price bound 6s. 12mo.
384 p., frontispiece.
Reference: Evans 19990 (Mrs. Slack),
Copy: AAS.

THE AMERICAN instructor: or, Young man's
best companion. Containing spelling, reading,
writing, and arithmetic, in an easier way than
. any yet published; and how to qualify for
business without the help of a master. . . By
George Fisher, Accomptant. New-York:
Printed by Hugh Gaine, 1785.
Reference: Evans 19243.

THE COMPLETE letter-writer; or, Polite English secretary. Containing familiar letters on the
most common occasions in life. . . London,
Printed. Boston, reprinted by John West Folsom, 1785.
Reference: Hornbeak Li•t.
Copy : BP.

THE INSTRUCTOR: or, American young man's
best companion. [Thirty lines.] By George
Fisher, Accomptant. The thirtieth edition.
Printed at Worcester, .Massachusetts, by Isaiah
Thomas .[1785]. 384 p., frontispiece. 12mo.
Reference: Evans 19244.
Copy : AAS.

1786
THE COMPLETE letter-writer. Containing familiar letters on the most common occasions
in life ... By W. H. E>ilworth. A new edition.
New York, Samuel Campbell, 1786.
References: Hornbeak List, Evan•.

THE INSTRUCTOR: or, American young man's
best companion. Containing spelling, reading,
writing, and arithmetic ... and how to qualify
any person for business.... Instructions to
write a variety of hands. . . How to write
letters of business or friendship. . . Forms of
deeds, bonds, bills of sale ... etc. Also merchants accounts ... with a description of the
counties and market towns of England and
Wales, etc. Together with the method of
measuring carpenters, joiners ... work. With a
description of Gunter's line... Likewise the
practical gauger ... the art -0f dialling ... with
instructions for dying, colouring ... and some
general observations for gardening every month
in the year. To which is added, The Family's
best companion: with instructions for mark. ing on linen: How to pickle and preserve1
to make divers sorts of wine; and many excellent plaisters and medicines ... and a com-

1787
THE AMEmcAN instructor: or, Young man's
best companion. Containing, spelling, reading,
writing, and arithmetic .. . and how to qualify a
person for business. . . Instructions to write
variety of hands. . . How to write letters of
business or friendship. Forms of indentures,
bonds ... etc. Also merchants accounts. . . Together with the method of measuring carpenters, joiners ... work. With the description
of Gunter's line, and Coggeshal's sliding rule.
Likewise the practical gauger made easy ...
the art of dialling .. . with Instructions for dying, colouring ... and some general observations on gardening. . . With instructions how
to pickle and preserve ... to make divers sorts
of wine; and many excellent plaisters and medicines. . . A compendium of the sciences of
geography and astronomy. Also some useful
tables. By George Fisher, accountant. With
alterations and amendments adapted to the
use of the youth of the United States of
America. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by
Cruikshank,
in
Market-Street.
Joseph
MDCCLXXXVII. 12mo. xii, 372 p.
Reference : Evans 20709.
Copy: AAS.

1789
THE NEW complete American letter writer:
or, The art of correspondence. Containing letters on the most important subjects, viz. Business, friendship, love and martjage, courtship, politeness, economy, affection, amuse- ·
ment, duty, advice, religion, &c. Composed
by writers eminent for their perspicuity, and
elegance of expression. To which are added,
the principles of politeness, extracted from
the letters of the late Lord Chesterfield. Also,
moral maxims and reflections by the late Duke
de La Rochefoucauld. With forms of message
cards, instructions how to address persons of
all ranks in the United States of America;
France, Spain, Italy, Holland, and GreatBritain. And a copious English spelling dictionary. Philadelphia: Printed by William
Spotswood, Front-street between Market and
Chestnut-Streets. 1789.
,
References: Hornbeak List, Evana 21985.

}

~

.

.

'

The New York Public Library ·

30
1791

JuvENn.E correspondence; or, Letters, suited
to children, from four to above ten years of
age ... New Haven, Abel Morse, 1791.
Reference: Hornbeak List.
Copy: W.

THE NEW complete letter writer; or, The art
of correspondence ... Worcester, Mass., 1791.
Copies: YU, AAS.

1792
THE NEW complete letter writer: or, The art
of correspondence... Philadelphia, William
Spotswood, 1792.
Reference: Hornbeak List.
Copies: AAS, JCB.

1793
THE AMERICAN letter-writer: containing, a variety of letters on the most common occasions
in life, viz. friendship, duty, advice, business,
amusement, love, marriage, courtship, &c. with
forms of message cards. To which are prefixed,
directions for writing letters, and the proper
forms of address. Philadelphia: Printed and
sold by John M'Culloch, 1793. 12mo. 54 1.
Boards.

References: Hornbeak List, Evans 25097.
Copies: AAS, listed in Early American children'•
books, by A. S. W. Rosenbacb.

THE COMP~ letter writer, containing familiar letters on the most common occasions in
life. Also, a variety of elegant letters for the
direction and embellishment of style on business, duty, amusement, love, courtship, marriage, friendship, and other subjects. To which
is prefixed, a plain and compendious grammar
of the English language, with directions for
writing letters, and the proper forms of address. At the end are given forms of message
cards, and a copious English spelling dictionary. New York: Printed and sold by
William Durell, at his book-store and prlnUngoffice, No. 19 Queen-Street, M.DCc.xcm.
16.5cm. 288 p.
Attributed to H. W. Dilworth.
Ref~rences: Hornbeak List,_ Evan• 25403.
Copies: WLC, NYHS, NY.r, HC, AAS, YU.

THE COMPLETE letter writer, or Young secretary's instructor. . . By H. W. Dilworth, A.M.
New York, Benjamin Gomez, 1793.
Reference: Hornbeak List.
Copy: BM.

1794
THE COMPLETE letter-writer. Containing familiar letters on the most common occasions
in life ... 3rd ed. Boston, John W. Folsom.
1794.
References: Hornbeak List, Evan• 26890.
Copies: AAS, TC.

'

THE COMPLETE letter-writer: or Young secre- ~I.
tary's instructor.. . By H. W. Dilworth, A.M. : ' ·
New York, T. Allen, 1794.
. \;•.
Reference: Hornbeak List.
Copy: W .

t

,

·•

THE INSTRUCTOR: or, American young man's : '
best companion. Containing spelling, reading, :.
writing, and arithmetick . .. and how to quali- ),
fy any person for business. . . Instructions to i~1
write a variety of hands . . . Forms of deeds, :
bonds ... etc. Also merchants accounts ... with : ·.
a description of the product, counties and •f,.
market towns in England and Wales, &c. To- '..
gether with the method of measuring car- '1
penters, joiners ... work. How to undertake
such work. With the description of Gunter's
line, and Coggeshal's sliding rule. Likewise \
the practical gauger ... the art of dialling. . . · ~·
with instructions for dying [sic] ... and some ' 1,.
general observations for gardening... To
which Is added, the Family's best companion:
with Instructions for marking on linen: how
to pickle and preserve: to make ... wine; and
many excellent plasters, and medicines . . .
And a compendium of the sciences ot geography and astronomy; containing a brief description of different parts of the earth, and
a survey of the celestial bodies. Also, several
very useful tables. By George Fisher, Accomptant. Printed in Walpole, Newhampshire, by Isaiah Thomas and David Carlisle,
for said Thomas, in Worcester, Massachusetts;
said Thomas, and Andrews, D. West and E.
Larkin, jun. in Boston. MDCCXCIV. 12mo.
385 p., 5 plates.
Reference : Evans 27706.
Copies: AAS, NYP.

THE NEW complete letter writer: or, The
art of correspondence, containing letters on the
following subjects: business, friendship, love
and marriage . . . Composed by writers em!- ,,
nent for perspicuity and elegance of expression .. . to which are added moral maxims and
reflections, by the Duke de la Rochefoucault.
Boston. I. Thomas and E . T. Andrews. 1794.
17cm. 252 p.
References: Hornbeak List, Evans 27365.
Copies: DC, AAS, MHS.

1795
THE COMPLETE letter-writer: or, Young secretary's instructor. Containing a great variety
of letters on friendship, duty, love, marriage,
amusement, business, &c. To which are prefixed, plain instructions for writing letters on
all occasions. By H. W. Dilworth, A.M. Printed
for Evert Duyckinck, and Co. No. 110, PearlStreet, New-York. 1795. 13.5cm. 126 p.
References: Hornbeak List, Evans 28569.
Copico: NYS, AAS.

American Letter-Writers, 1698-1943

··,··~

Tim COMPLETE letter-writer. Containing familiar letters on the most common occasions
in life ... Philadelphia, Jacob Johnson & Co.,
1795.
,
References: Hornbeak List, Evans 285 70.
Copy: AAS.

MODELS of letters, in French and English;
containing 1st. A collection of familiar letters
and notes, with their answers, on a variety
of subjects. - 2dly, Several letters, both elegant and entertaining, extracted from the most
celebrated epistolary writers. - Sdly. Introductory remarks on the commercial style with
various specimens of letters, bills of exchange,
promissory notes &c., relating to the mercantile business. The whole designed for the instruction and improvement of such young
gentlemen and ladies as are particularly desirous of acquiring the true style and exact
manner of French epistolary correspondence.
By Mr. Porny [pseud. for Antoine du Maitre
Pyron]. The first American edition. Philadelphia. Published by Thos. Bradford, printer,
bookseller, and stationer. 1795. 17.5cm. xii,
216 p.
.
French and English on opposite pages.
References: Hornbeak List, Evans 29377.
Copies: NYP, HC, WLC.

A NEW academy of compliments: or, The
, lover's secretary: being wit and mirth improved
by the most elegant expressions used in the
art of courtship ... Together with instructions
for writing figure hand, bills of exchange,
receipts, casting accompts, &c., the signIBcation of moles, and the interpretation of dreams
. . . To which is added a choice collection
of above one hundred and twenty love songs,
merry catches and jovial healths being the
newest extant: with plain instructions for
dancing. Printed at Worcester. 1795. 18mo.
144 p. incl. frontis.
Reference: Hornbeak List.
Copies: NYP, AAS.

1796
THE AMEmcAN academy of compliments; or,
The complete American secretary; containing
the true art of inditing letters suitable to the
capacities of youth and age. . . Likewise, rules
for directing, superscribing, and subscribing
of letters. . . With dialogues very witty and
pleasing. . . To which are added ... the art of
good breeding, and behavior. . . With a col, lection of the newest songs. Philadelphia,
Printed by Godfrey Deshong & Richard Folwell. 1796. 14cm. 106 p.
Hornbeak states that this collection is closely related to The Comp/eat English secretary, and newesl
academy of comp/imenls/ London, 1714, and to A
New academy of comp ime,.ls: or, The Comp/eal
English secretary, London, 1748; Glasgow, 1789.
Reference: Hornbeak List.
Copies: NYP, YU.

31

THE COMPLETE letter-writer, containing familiar letters on the most common occasions,
also a variety of elegant letters for the embellishment of style: On business, duty, amusement, love, courtship, marriage, friendship,
and other subjects. Hartford- printed for, and
sold by Oliver D. & I. Cooke, at their bookstore near the bridge. 1796. 14 x Bcm. (1-3),
4-180 p.
Cardboard binding.
.
Referenc~: Horn~ak List, Evans 30256.
Copies : RU, YU, AAS.

THE LOVER'S instructor; or, The whole art of
courtship rendered plain and easy. Containing, I. Ingenious letters, proper for both sexes
on love and courtship. n. Elegant love letters
in verse. m . The art of personal courtship in
several dialogues. IV. Novels and dialogues
relative to love. With several other curious
particulars. To which is perflxed [sic] a preface,
containing directions in the choice of a wife.
[Four lines of verse.] Norwich: Printed by
John Trumbull, and sold at his printing-office,
a few rods west of the meeting-house.
M,DCC,XCVI. 12mo. 72 p.
Pages 5-32 comprise a liection beaded "Letters of
courtship.''
Copy: J.CB.

1797
THE COMPLETE letter-writer. Containing familiar letters on the most common occasions in
life. . . By W. H . Dilworth. 4th ed. Salem,
Mass., Printed by Thomas C. Cushing, 1797.
Reference: Hornbeak List.
Copies: AAS, YU.

.'

, '

THE INSTRUCTOR: or, Young man's best companion. Containing spelling, reading, writing
and arithmetic . . . and how to qualify any person without the help of a master. Instructions
to write a variety of hands. . . How to write
letters on business and friendship, forms of indentures, bonds, bills ... etc. Also merchants
accompts. . . Together with the method of
measuring carpenters' joiners', sawyers'. ...
work. How to undertake each work and af
what price; the rates of each commodity; and
the common wages of journeymen: with the
description of Gunter's line and Coggeshal's
sliding rule. Likewise the practical gauger
made easy: the art of dialling ... with instructions for dying, colouring .. . and some general
observations on gardening. . . To which are
added, the family's best companion; and a
compendium of geography and astronomy; also
some useful interest tables. By George Fisher,
Accomptant. Wilmington: Printed and sold by
Peter Brynberg. M,ncc,xcvn. 12mo. iv, 360 p.
Reference : Evans 32840.
Copies: AAS, DHS, WiF.

THE SCRIVENER's guide ... By Wm. Griffith.
Newark, N. J. 1797. 12mo.
Preface is dated Burlington, May 20 1797
Reference: Brinley Catafogue.
' _
•

The New York Public Library

32

1798
THE COMPLETE letter-writer: or, Young secretary's instructor. Containing a great variety of
letters on friendship, duty, love, marriage,
amusement, business, &c. To which are prefixed, plain instructions for writing letters on
all occasions. By H. W. Dilworth, A.M. NewHaven: Printed by George Bunce. M.occ.xcvm.
14 x 8.5cm. 144 p.
•

THE NEW complete letter writer; or, The art
of correspondence. . . Composed by writers
eminent for perspicuity and elegance of expression. To which are added, moral maxims
and reflections by the late Duke de La Rochefoucault. Likewise forms of message cards, and
instructions how to address persons of all ranks
in the United States. Printed at Boston by
Sam'l Etheridge, for Daniel Brewer, sold by
him in Taunton, and by D. West, and Thomas
& Andrews in Boston, April, 1798. 17cm. viii,
(1], 10--228 p.
References: ""llornbeak List, Evans 34177.
Copies: JCB, FLP, AAS, MHS, W.

1800
AM'ERICAN academy of compliments. Hudson,
180[ 4]?
Copy: AAS.

THE LETrER writer. n. p. [1800?]
Copy: YU.

THE NEW universal letter-writer: or, Complete
art of polite correspondence: containing a
course of interesting original letters, on the
most important, instructive, and entertaining
subjects .. . and a set of complimental cards . ..
to which is prefixed a new, plain, and easy
grammar of the English lang~~e. Philadelphia: D. Hogan, 1800. 16mo. vm, 14-254 p.,
frontis. new ed.
Reference: Hornbeak List.
Copies: NYP, UP, AAS.

1801
THE AMEru:cAN instructor. . .
J. Conrad & Co. 1801.

1808
THE COMPLETE American letter-writer: containing letters on trade and merchandize; also
letters on familiar and interesting subjects.
Otsego: Printed by H. & E . Phinney, jun.,
1808. 12.5cm. 192 p.
Copies: YU, NYS.

Copies: LC, AAS, G, HC, YU, HEH.

1803

Bound in wooden boards covered by decorative

paf;"c,'"py: RU.

American Letter-Writers, 1698-1943

following subjects: business, friendship, love
and marriage . .. composed by writers eminent
for perspicuity and elegance of expression:
To which are added moral maxims and reflec-·
tions, by the late Duke de la Rochefoucault . ..
Albany, C.R. & G. Webster, 1802. 18cm. viii,
[9]-240 p.
'

JuvENll.E letters; being a correspondence between children, from eight to fifteen years
of age. By Caleb Bingham. . . 2d ed. . . Boston, Printed by David Carlisle_for Caleb Bing~
ham, 1803. 14)4cm. 108 p.
·
Copies: LC, DC.

1804
NEW universal letter-writer. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, 1804.
Copy: AAS.

1805

t

JUVENll.E letters: being a correspondence be- .,''. .
tween children, from eight to fifteen years of ·.f.r
age ... 3d ed. Boston, Printed by David Car- •
lisle for Caleb Bingham [1757-1817]. 1805.
•
Copies: YU, HC.

THE NEW universal letter writer. Containing
letters on duty, amusement, love, courtship;
marriage, friendship, trade, religion, and other
useful subjects. By the Rev. Thomas Cook, •
A.B. And one of the authors of the New Royal '
and Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences
in England. Also, moral maxims and reflections by the late Duke de la Rochefoucault.
Likewise a copious English spelling dictionary. ,
Charlestown: Printed by and for Samuel Eth- .
eridge, and for Thomas & Whipple, New- .
buryport: 1805. 17.5 x Hem. viii, 9-285 p. ·
+ 2 P: advertisinJ!:.
Copies: RU, AAS.

1806
THE NEW and complete letter-writer. Pough- , .
keepsie, 1806.
·
Philadelphia,

Copy : AAS.

1802
THE COMPLETE letter-writer. Containing familiar letters on the most common occasions
in life on business, duty, amusement, love,
courtship, marriage, friendship and other subjects. Printed at Salem, for William Hunt,
of Easton. 1802. 16 x llcm. 36 p.
Copy: Essex Institute.

THE NEW complete letter writer; or, The art
of correspondence. Containing letters on the

Copy: AAS.

1807
COMPLETE American letter writer; & best com~
panion for the young man of business. Con- :
taining letters on trade & merchandise . .. also,
several forms of precedents used in the transac- ,
ti on of business ... to which are added, familiar ··
letters on interesting subjects. New York. IL .,
'\
Scott, 1807.
Copies: UP, YU, NYHS, AAS.

NEW classical selection of letters.
2nd ed. Boston. 1807. 2 v.
Cop1: AAS.

i. '

THE UNrvERSAL letter-writer: or, Whole art
of polite correspondence; containing a great
variety of plain, easy, entertaining, and familiar original letters, adapted to every age
and situation in life, but more particularly on
business, education, and love. Together with
various forms of petitions, suitable to the
different wants and exigencies of life: proper
methods of addressing superiors and persons
in all ranks . . . to which is added, a model
collection of genteel complimentary cards.
Likewise, useful forms in law, such as wills,
bonds, &c. To which is subjoined an index.
New ed., cor. and enl. Philadelphia, M. Carey,
1808.
Copies: He. BP, NYHS,

cu,

UP, YU.

1809
THE COMPLETE letter-writer: H. Dilworth.
New Haven, 1809.
Copy : AAS.

THE NEW and complete universal letter-writer.
Thomas Cook. New York. 1809.
Copy : AAS.

1810
THE AMERICAN instructor. . . Philadelphia. J.
Bioren, 1810.
Copy: AAS.

lowing subjects, viz. Business, friendship, politeness, affections, love, courtshif, marriage,
religion\ &c. Adapted to the use o both sexes,
and made familiar to every capacity. By writers
eminent for perspicuity and elegance of expression. To which are prefixed, forms of
message cards. Trenton: Printed and published
by James Oram, 1811.
Copies: TFP, HC.

THE UNrvERSAL letter writer; or, Whole art
of polite correspondence: containing a great
variety of plain, easy, entertaining, and familiar original letters, adapted to every age
and situation in life, but more particularly
on business, education and love. Together with
various forms of petitions, suitable to the different wants and exigencies of life: proper
methods of addressing superiors and persons
of all ranks .. . to which is added a modern
collection of genteel, complimentary cards.
Likewise, useful forms in law, such as wills,
bonds, etc. To which is subjoined an fudex . ..
A new ed., cor. and enl. Hudson, Printed by
William E. Norman, 1811.
Copies: G, YU, AAS.

1812
THE AMERICAN in·structor. . . Philadelphia. J.
· Bioren, 1812.
Copy : AAS.

THE NATURAL letter-writer. Sylvanus Shepard.
n. p.: Printed for the author. 1812.
Copy : AAS.

THE NEw and complete letter-writer. Thomas
Cook. New Haven, 1812.
Copy : AAS.

THE UNrvERSAL letter-writer; or, Whole art of
polite correspondence: containing a great variety of plain, easy, entertaining, and familiar
original letters, adapted to every age and
situation in life, but more particularly on business, education, and love. Together with various forms of petitions, suitable to the different
wants and exigencies of life: proper methods of
addr~ssing superiors and persons of all ranks
... to which is added, a modem collection of
genteel complimentary cards. Likewise, useful
forms in law, such as wills, bonds, &c. To
which is subjoined an index... A new ed.,
cor. and en!. Philadelphia: Published by
. Mathew Carey. 1810. Dickinson printer-,
· Whitehall. 18.5cm. viii, [9]-124 p., front.
Coliies : LC,

33

nc ..AAS,

NYP.

THE NEw universal letter-writer. Thomas
Cook. Hallowell, 1812. ·2 v. in 1.
Copy: AAS.

THE NEw universal letter writer. 4th ed. Philadelphia, 1812.
Copy : AAS.

1813
THE NATURAL letter-writer. Sylvanus Shepard.
n. p .: Printed for the public. 1813.
Copy: AAS.

1814
THE NEW and complete letter writer. Thomas
Cook. Brat~leborough, Vt. 1814.
Copy: AAS.

1811
' THE COMPLETE letter writer or, The art of
' correspondence. Containing letters on the fol-

1815
COMPLETE letter writer. New York, 1815.
Copy: AAS.

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34

The New York Puhµc Library- ,

1816
CLASSICAL English letter-writer; or Epistolary
selections; designed to Improve young persons
in the art of letter-writing, and in the principles
of virtue and piety. With introductory rules
and observations on epistolatory composition;
and biographical notices of the writers from
whom the letters are selected. . . By the author
of "Lessons for young persons in humble life."
Philadelphia: C. Richardson, 1816. 12mo.
xx.iv, 321 p.
Hornbeal< otates that this appears to be an English
work reprinted in America.

Copies: NYP, AAS.

LETTERS to a young lady, on a variety of useful
and Interesting subjects: calculated to improve the heart, to form the manners, and
enlighten the understanding "That our daughters may be as polished comers of the tempfe."
By the Rev. John Bennett. New York: Printed
by John Buel, for E. Duyckinck, and Co. PearlStreet. M,occ,xvi: [probably meant to be 1816).
17.5 x lOcm. In 2 volumes. v. I, 115 p.; v. II,
119p.

'

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, THE NEW universal letter writer.' Brattleboro,
1824.
I
Copy: AAS.

1826
THE ART of epistolary composition, or Models
of letters, billets, bills of exchange ... to which
are added, a collection of fables ... for pupils
learning the French language; a series of letters
between a cadet and his father, describing
the system pursued at the American, llterary,
scientillc and military academy at Middletown,
Conn ... and a discourse on educatio11, by Capt.
Alden Partridge. . . By Fram;ois Pyre-Ferry
'. . . Middletown, Conn., E. & H. Clark, 1826.
· 18cm. [iii]-xii, [13]-288 p .. front. (port. ),
plate.

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'

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THE NEW and complete letter writer. Thoinil I ·
Cook. Philadelphia, 1818.
· -~!. ;,
Copy: AAS.

· _.\_>,

THE NEW universal letter writer. 6th ed.
delphia, 1818.
C°opy: AAS.

Phila~ '.t ' ~
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1819
THE COMPLETE letter-writer: or Young secre-1 ~·
tary's instructor. Containing a 'great variety of
letters . .. By H. W. Dilworth. Baltimore~
Printed by Wm. Warner. 1819. 14cm. 108 p;

Copies: LC, YU, BP, NYP, NYHS, AAS.

.~

Copy: MdHS.

EXPERT letter-writer; or, Whole art of polite
correspondence. . . Philadelphia, 1826.

THE F AsmoNABLE letter writer. New
1819.

Reference: Brinley Catalogue.

THE FAsmoNABLE American letter-writer, or
The art of polite correspondence. Boston, J.
. , Loring, 1826.
':

Copy: HC.

1827
,THE LETTER writer: containing a great variety
· of letters on the following subjects: relationship - business - love - courtship and marriage - friendship and miscellaneous letters:
~ selected from judicious and eminent writers
." ' . . Charlestown [Mass.?]: G. Davidson, 1827.
. ·J 12mo. xi.l, 14-276 p.
.

THE NEW universal letter-writer; or, Complete
art of polite correspondence: containing a
course of interesting original letters on the
most Important, instructive, and entertaining
subjects. . . Philadelphia, 1816.
Copies: YU, AAS.

THE NEW universal letter-writer. Thomas
Cook. Montpelier, Vt. 1816.
Copy: AAS.

,

Copies: LC, NYP, NYHS, NYS, AAS.

THE NEW ~nd complete letter writer, or New
art of polite correspondence containing a
course of Interesting original letters on the
most important, Instructive and entertairiing
subjects ... by the Rev., Thos. Cook. . . To
which are added, forms of mortgages, deeds,
bonds, powers of attorney, indentures, &c; New
York, E. Duyckinck, 1817. 14.5cm. 107 p. ,
Copies: NYP, AAS.

1818
THE FAslilONABLE letter writer, or Art of polite
correspondence. Containing a variety of plain
and elegant letters on business, love, courtship ... adapted to general use. With forms of

Copy: Y:U.

\ THE UmvERsAL letter writer. Auburn, 1827.
Copy: AAS.

1828
,(l'THE FAsmoNABLE American letter writer; or,
·· The art of polite correspondence. Containing
' a variety of plain and elegant letters on busi, . ness, love, courtship, marriage, relationship,
· '. friendship, etc. With forms of complimentary
: cards. To the whole is prefixed directions for
'- letter writing and rules for comr.sition. New~' !lfk, N. J., B. Olds. New-Yor , Printed by
C. Totten, 1828. 15cm. xxxvi, [37]-179,
" 1] p. incl. frontis.

'·l·

'Copy: NYP. ·

~tJ!'AsmoNA~LE

AMERICAN letter writer: or, The
art of po.lite correspondence: containing a va'riety of plain and elegant letters on business,
love, courtship, etc ... New York, Printed for
.,lhe booksellers, 1828. ·1 ' . ;• ' ·' ' .
,
' Col>tfUP." l;·I.·~·;'·. ' ·• I·, d ;,\.';1, ' '
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THE FASIDONABLE · letter writer; or, Art of
polite correspondence: containing a variety of
plain and elegant letters on business, love,
courtship, marriage, relationship, friendship,
etc. adapted to general use; with forms of
complimentary cards, and a new and easy
English grammar peculiarly applicable to writing letters with accuracy. Rochester: E. Peck
& Co. 1828. 14cm. xx!, 24-179 p.
Copies: NYP, NYS.

1829
THE AMERICAN polite letter writer. John Kennedy. New York. Nafel & Comish [1829).
Copy: AAS.

1830
THE COMPLETE letter writer: containing rich
and rare collection ... New York, 1830.
Copy: YU.

NEW UNIVERSAL letter-writer. 8th ed. Philadelphia, 1830.
C°opy: AAS.

1831
THE LETTER writer: containing a great variety'
of letters on the following subjects: relationship, business, love, courtshlJ> and marriage,
friendship and miscellaneous letters: selected
from judicious and eminent writers. [2, lines
quoted.] Boston: Published by Charles Gay·
lord. 1831. 15.5cm. 144 p.
Copies: NYS, NYP.

· THE LETTER writer." Boston, 1831.
Copy: AAS.

1

Copy: NYP.

. THE NEW universal letter writer, containing
' letters on different subjects. Bellows Falls,
(Vt. ) J. I. Cutler, & Co., 1827.

1823

~

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American Letter-Writers, 1698-1943

Copies: HC, AAS.

1822

.''

.

complimentary cards and a new and e
English grammar peculiarly applicable to wrft;..
Ing letters with accui~cy. New-Yor~, G. Long; ;i,·
1818.
'
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Copy: AAS.

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Copy: Rupert W. Jaques.

1817
THE EPISTOLARY guide, containing models of
juvenile letters, on familiar subjects, with topics for the exercise of youth. Also, forms of
orders, agreements... To which is added,
A dissertation on epistolary correspondence,
with some easy and practical rules. . . For the
use of schools. By James Hardie .. . NewYork, Printed by S. Marks, 1817. 18.5cm. xii,
287 p.
'

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.,

1832
THE AMERICAN letter-writer; contairiing select
models of letters. . . Charles Bell & Sons,
Lewiston, Pa., 1832.
Copy: HEH.

THE FASHIONABLE American letter writer: or, _
The art of polite correspondence. Containing
a variety of plain and elegant letters on business, love, courtship, marriage, relationship,
friendship, &c. With forms of comr;>limentary
cards. To the whole is prefixed directions for
better writing, and rules for composition. New- ark, N. J. Printed lind published by Benjamin
Olds. 1832. 15 x 9.5cm. xxxii, [33]-176 p.,
,frontis.
• ''
Cardboard binding with printed cover-title. Accord· .
Ing to back cover page, Benjamin Olds was a book·
Beller, stationer, prmter and bookbinder at 278 Broad '·
Street1 Newark, N. J. Cover-title dated 1836.
'. · '
'
· Copies: RU, HC, AAS.

THE LETTER writer. Boston, 1832. ~4ino.
Copy: Essex Institute.
.

.

144 p.
·

'

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THE NEW and complete letter wrlter;··ot New ; ,
art ·of . polite correspondence containing a ·
course of interesting original letters on the .
most Important, itlstructive and · entertaining
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THE NEW universal letter writer. Philadelphia,
1834.

Copy: NYS.

THE Younis letter-writer; or, The epistolary
art made plain and easy to beginners, through
the example of Henry Moreton. By Mrs. John
Farrar. . . New York, R. Bartlett and S. Raynor, 1834. 14.5cm. xii, 155, [I) p., front. ·
Copy: LC.

1835
THE FAsmoNABLE letter writer. By R. Turner.
Baltimore, W.R. Lucas, 1835.
Copy: S .

THE LETTER writer, containing a great variety
of letters on the following subjects: relationship, business, love ... and miscellaneous letters ... selected from judicious & eminent writters . . . Boston. Charles Gaylord, 1835. 16cm.
iv, 6-144 p. ,

' ·THE FAsmoNABLE Ameriean letter writer: or,
, The art of polite correspondence. Containing

Copies: AAS, R.

THE YOUNG lady's book of classical letters con-'
sisting of epistolary selections: designed to mi.;
prove young ladies and gentlemen In the art .:
of letter writing. . . By the author of "The ·
young man's own book." Philadelphia: De- ''
Silver, Thomas & Co. Market St., '1836. · ~
<Young Lady's Library, vol. 5.>
',:;";;." ~tJ
Copy : FLP.

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a variety of flain and elegant letters. . . Hartford [1839? .
Copy: YU.

Copy : Essex Institute. Also published in New York
in 1835 by Leavitt & Allen, copy in Essex Institute.

THE YoUTil's letter-writer, or The epistolary art
made plain and easy to beginners, through
the example of Henry Moreton. [By Mrs. Eliza
Ware (Rotch) Farrar.] 2nd ed. New York,
R. Bartlett and S. Raynor . .. 1835.
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Copy: YU.

. PoCXET letter writer. 3rd ed. Providence, 1839.
• Copy: AAS.

1840
THE LETTER writer. Boston, 1840.
Copy: AAS.

Copy: BP.

F ASIDONABLE American letter
field, 1837.
Copy: AAS.

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THE UNIVERSAL letter writer, .
The ·~ •
plete epistolary guide in courtshfp, ma~t .
business, friendship. By Hannah ScribhlehaDd"
[pseud.] . New York, Elton and H;~n. -.!,~• " ,
Copy: HTM.

THE YoUTI1's letter-writer; or, The epistolary
art made plain and easy to beginners, through
· examples of Henry Moreton. By Eliza Ware
: Farrar (Rotch) LMrs. John Farrar, 1791..:.
.. 1870). 1840.
. . • Copy : YU.

1841
THE PARLOR letter-writer. Philadelphia,
Thomas Cowperthwait & Co. 1841. 288 p.

·

Copy : E ssex Institute.

THE YOUNG man's book · of classical letters;,
THE YOUNG man's book of classical letters,
consisting of epistolary selections: designed to· ·"'
consisting of epistolary·selections; designed to
improve young ladies and gentlemen In the ·improve young ladies and gentlemen in the art
art of letter-writing and in those prlndplet ,..
of letter-writing ... with introductory rules and
which are necessary for respectability and suo- ··
,
observations
on epistolary composition. By the
cess in 11Ie. With introductory rules and obser· ,,
author of The young man's own book. Philavations on epistolary com\'ositions. By the audelf-hia, Grigg & Elliot, 1841. 14cm. 2 p.I.,
thor of "The young mans own book." [Seo- 1
[iii -x, [11]-320 p., front. (Parloilr library.
ond edition.] Philadelphia, Edward C. BiddlJ,
. v. 5.)
1837.
.
Copy: G,

'

1838

Copy : YU.

Copy: UP.

USEFUL letter writer. New York [c. 1844] .
<Appleton's complete letter writer>.
Copy : AAS.

1845
AMERICAN fashionable letter writer, original
and selected, containing a variety of letters on
business, love, courtship, marriage, relationship, friendship, etc. with form~ of complimentary cards. To the whole are prefixed directions for letter writing, and rules fqr composition. Troy, N. Y. Published by W. & H.
Merriam. 1845. [Vincent L. Dill, Stereotyper.
F. D. Allen, Jr., Printer, 243Y. Center Street.]
llcm. 224 p., front.
Al so printed at Boston, n . d., and at Philadelphia,
1856, according to copies in the Essex Institute.
Copy: NYS.
'

THE FASIDONAB~E American letter writer.
American fashionable letter writer, original and
selected . .. Troy, N. Y., W. & H. Merriam,
1845.
'
Copies: YU, AAS .

THE PARLOUR letter-writer and secretary's
assistant: consisting of original letters on every
occurrence in life. . . To which are added
complimentary cards, wills, bonds &c. By R.
Turner. Philadelphia, Thomas, Cowperthwait
& Co., 1845. 14cm. xv, [17)-288 p.
Copy: NYP.

1846
AMERICAN text book for letters. By Nathaniel
Dearborn. Boston, 1846. 12mo.
Copy : NYHS .

.

let~~d:'ri~~~" Pe;,'if~~;f~ia~itte:Fve~~eh~eascl:s~~

Published also under title: Tbe classical letter.
writer.
Copies: LC, UP.

THE AMERICAN parlor letter writer: or, The
art of olite correspondence containing a variety o plain and elegant letters ... and rules
for composition. Springfield. J.M. Wood, 1847
[i.e. 1848].

LE'ITER-WIUTER's own book. [New ed.]
Philadelphia, J. B. Perry, 1843. 13.5cm. xxx,
[15]-224 p., 7 I.
Caption-title: The American letter writer.
Imperfect : title page and second leaf wanting.
Forms in law: 6 I. at end.
Copy : LC . .

·

THE FASIDONABLE American letter writer: or,
The art of polite correspondence. Containing
a variety of plain and elegant letters on ~tul·

'I

1847

1843
1839
1
THE AMERICAN polite letter writer. Contain'"'.
ing upwards of seventy letters, on vario~ ~­
subj'ects, written in a concise and familiar sty~e.; .
Phi adelphia, M. Kelly, 1839.
..
,,

1844

37

F ASIDONABLE American letter writer: containing a variety of plain ,and elegant letters, on
business, love, courtship . . . and rules for composition. Troy, N. Y., W. and H. Merriam.
1844.

'

THE NEW universal letter-writer; or, Complete
art of polite correspondence. . . Philadelphia,
1839.

:

1837

Copies: DC, NYP.

THE YoUNG man's book of classical letters.
Philadelphia: Key & Biddle. 1835. 24mo. 320 p.

"

;

Copies: LC, AAS, R.

Copy: AAS.

THE PARLOUR letter-writer, and secretary's
assistant: consisting of original letters on every
occurrence in life, written in a concise and
familiar style, and adapted to both sexes. To
which are added, complimentary cards, wills,
bonds, &c. By R. Turner. Philadelphia: Desilver, Jr. & Thomas, 247 Market Street. John
C .. Clark, Printer. 1834. [14)cm. xii, 13-283,
[I) p'.

'•'.

love, courtship, marriage, relationship,
friendship, ·&c. With forms of complimentary
cards. To the whole is prefixed, directions for
letter writing, and rules for composition. Newark, N. J., B. Olds, 1839. 15cm. xxxil, [33). 175 p. incl. front.

1833

1834

t"'•

·· · ~eSs,

Copy: NYP.

Copy: LC.

'•
,,_,

American Letter-Writers, 1698-1943

1832, continued
THE NE~ and complete letter writer . . . c't'd
subjects ... by the Rev. Thos. Cook.. . To
which are added, forms of mortgages, deeds,
bonds, powers of attorney, indentures, &c.
New York, E. Duyckinck, 1832. 14.5cm. 107 p.

THE CLASSICAL letter-writer: consisting of
epistolary selections; designed to improve
young ladies and gentlemen in the art of letter
writing .. . By the author of the Young man's ..
own book. Philadelphia, Key & Biddle, 1833.
13cm. vii (i.e. viii) , 312 p.
~

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LETTER writing. By Charlotte Elizabeth [Mrs.
'· C. E. Tonna ·(B. P.)J. 1st Amer., from London
ed. New York, 1843.
Copy: HC.

f

, Copy: YU.

THE COMPLETE letter writer: containing a
great variety of letters on the following subjects: relationship, business, love, courtship
and marriage, friendship, and miscellaneous
letters, law forms, &c., &c. Selected from
judicious and eminent writers. [ 4 lines verse.]
New-York: Leavitt, Trow & Co., 191 Broadway, 1847. 15.8 x IOcm. 144 p.
Copy: Rupert W. Jaques.

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38

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.
interesting . letters

1847, continued
THE MoDERN letter-writer; on love, courtship,
marriage, and business: being a complete
guide . .. with hints on courtship, maxims on
making love, poetical quotations, and remarks
on popping the question ... with forms and
rules of etiquette for every condition in life.
Boston: Printed and for sale by A. J. Wright,
no. 3 Water street [1847]. 15 x 9cm. 54 p.

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THE NEW universal letter-writer ... to which " '
are prefixed . . . a set of complimental cards. ;; ...,
Philadelphia, Hogan & Thompson, 1850. 12mo. 1
vii, 9-216 p. Philadelphia. J. B. Lippincott .~
& Co., 1867.
.

Reprinted in 1925 b:r Wright & Potter Printing Co.,

Copy : Rupert W. Jaques.

Copy : NYP.

THE PocKET letter writer, embracing practical
illustrations of epistolary correspondence
suited to the various situations in life, on business, love, courtship, marriage, relationship,
friendship, etc., with forms of complimentary
cards. Worcester: Published by S. A. Howland, 1847. 12 x 7.5cm. 160 p., front.

1851 '
THE AMERICAN letter-writer, and mirror of ,
polite behaviour: a useful guide in the art ;·
of letter-writing, with rules of conduct for «;:
both sexes. [Woodcut of writing materials.] . _,
Published by Fisher & Brother, No. 15 North •· ")
Sixth Street, Philadelphia; 74 Chatham Street, ..''l !
New York; 71 Court Street, Boston; 62 Balti- ·, ·
more Street, Baltimore. [cop. by Fisher ~('~·1<
Brother and preface dated at Philadelphia; ..:~ •
1851.] llcm. 256 p.

Copies: AAS, Rupert W. Jaques.

1848
THE ART of good behaviour, and letter writer
on love, courtship, and marriage: , a complete
guide for ladies and gentlemen, particularly
those who have not enjoyed the advantages of a
fashionable life ... including the necessary
preparations and arrangements for the marriage
ceremony. New York, C. P. Huestis; 1848.

Copies: NYS, HEH.

THE NEw letter writer, containing a great
variety of letters on the following subjects:
relationship, business, love, courtship and marriage, friendship, and miscellaneous letters,
law forms, &c., &c. Selected from judicious
and eminent writers ... New-York, R. Marsh
[1855?].
Copy: LC.

•'

·~

I

BEADLE's dime letter-writer and practical
guide to composition . . . and also a complete
dictionary of mottoes, phrases, idioms, etc. By
Louis Legrand, M.D. New York, I. P. Beadle
& Co. [cop. 1860.) 15.cm. 72, (8] p.

THE UNITED STATES letter writer: or, Directions to compose correctly letters, documents,
deeds, &c., which occur in the social relations
and business life of the United States, with an
introduction <in orthography and punctuation :
and an appendix of poems for particular occasions. Philadelphia, J. Weik, 1855. 18.5cm.
1 p.l., [l], iii-vi, iif.:..vi, 264, 264 p.

. 'fHE NEW parlor letter writer. Auburn. 1850.
Cop:r: A.As:
'
.
. ·
THE N!!W universal .'Jetter-writer: or, Complete art of poli~e corre5pondence, contai~ng
I

I

Only one letter from Chesterfield.
Copy: YU.

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'•.Coples:· NY·P ,HC,BPii . •.1- :·

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CHESTERFIELD's art of letter-writing · simplified. Being a guide to friendly, affectionate,
polite and business correspondence, containing a large collection of the most valuable
information relative to the art of letter writing ... New York, Dick & Fitzgerald (1860?].
1

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1
~~',· F'~s~oN~~.~/~;~ed~an ' letter writer.
American fashionableJettet Writer; onginal and
i elected, ' cont~ng ··a variety of letters on
.busin~ss, love;\ t::OurlShip, marriage, relation'S··'hip, ..fri
. eµdshi.IN -~.,er,• } .O.s.t, o.. n,J 1. 85~?].
;

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NEW standard letter-WHter ;_ for 'the'. people:
containing copious and accurate' directions for
conducting epistolary correspondence. . . By ' ' ·
J. W. O'Neill. San ;Francisco, 1861.
·' "

·•tations. New York: Fowler & Wells. l,1857.
~ 18cm, yi, S->-is6 p.-. (Handbook for home im·
~ provement. no, 1.) . '·,.. ·
•
'
,\

Pink1 illu1. paper coven. Cover-title like title page.
Fisher & Brother publi1hed oong book1, comic, hou1e·
keeper'•• farmer'• and German alma1:1acs1 pta1a, operas,

'

Copy : LC.

-.added fotms of letters · of intrpduction, notes,

EvERYBOD,Y's · letter-writer [Illus.] Fisher &
Brother, No. 8 South Sixth Street, Philadelphia;
74 Chatham Street, New York; 71 Court St.,
Boston: 64 Baltimore St., Baltimore. il. d.
, [circa 1850.) 11x7cm. 321., frontis.

'''

1860

Copy: Essex Institute.

i •cards; etc., and. a collection . df 'poetical .quo-

J

farces, it.ccording to back c<lver·page aavert1sement. ' •
Cop;: H. B. Weiss. " ·, ., . ,
, · ,, ·

, ,,.

Copy : LC.

THE PARLOR letter-writer. New York, R. Turner, 1855.

~illie;,o~s :;:tbe8~£,~~=-e .;t~:::~t~r:

BoOJt of politeness. Philadelphia. lisher &
Brother. n. d. [1850?] ·

"

Copy: LC.

OUTLINES of letter writing; illustrated by rules,
examples and illustrations . .. by D. Zeublin.
Cincinnati, The author, 1859. 22cm. iv, [5)- ·
28 p.

NEW standard letter-writer for the peopler ·
containing copious and accura,te directiqns for ,
1.::f Copy: ac.
'·
conducting epistolary correspondence; · ,with
~ ' ·'
'
'
numerous specimens of letters, adapted to
1857 '
every ' age and situation ... and to numerous
, How to write: a pocket manual of composition business pursuits . .. and an appendix, contain- ·
· and letter writing; embracing hints on penman- . ing forms for wills, petitions, bills, receipts,
'. "ship and the choice of writing materials and b.ills vf exchange, drafts, promissory notes,
· , directions for Writing letters of business, reetc., etc. By J. W. O'Neill.. Philadelphia, C.
'; lationshlp, friendship and love, illustrated by " Desilver, 1860. 17.5cm. xvi, 17-216 p ._

Copy : HC.

.'
·

LEriER-WRITINc made easy. Showing plainly
how to write letters upon almost every imaginable subject. Giving numerous examples of
model letters .. . New York, F. A. Brady
[1859]. 18cm. 72 p.

1855

1856

1850
AMERICAN fashionable letter writer, original
and selected, containing a variety of letters
on business, love, courtship, marriage, relationship, friendship, etc., with forms of complimentary cards. To the whole are prefixed directions for letter writing, and rules for composition. Troy,, N. ·y., Merriam, More & Co.,
1840. .
' '
'

.

Copy: YU.

'', THE NEW parlor letter writer. Containing a
". variety of letter's. Selected from judicious and
' · ~minent writers. Auburn. 185,6,.

Cop:r: AAS.

'

and Instructive aphorisms, for daily use ...
Boston [1859?].

Copy: YU.

Copy : YU.

Copy : AAS.

39

I ·

THE NEw universal letter-writer; or, Complete
art of polite correspondence. . . Philadelphia,
1854. .

Added t. p. in German· German and English on
opposite page•, paged in duplicate. Publisher'• lettering:
Englisch-deutscher Ver. St. Briefsteller.
Copy: LC.

THE LETTER writer's own book. Philadelphia
and New York, 1848.

'

'

Afilerican Let,ter-Writers, 1698-1943

a course of
on
important.• instructive and entertaining subfecla' ;j;
. . . And a set of complimental cards . . . phifa:.. )
delphia. Hogan & Thompson, 1850. 19cn'i..vil, \;
[9]-216 p.
~ . .~i ~'\ ,

Boston, Mass.

.

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Copy: DC.

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A _TEXT-BOOK on penmanship; 'containing all • '
. the established rules and prindples of the art,
with rules for punctuation, clirections and forms .
for letter writing: to which are added a brief
history of wBryltinHg, anWd ..hintslls onrthwriting ma..
_
terials. ..
E wo .. r' New
,•• ',
.... c opy . Yu • '.~" ·'· ,("- .I <' ii-· q
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; HE LADIES aml gentleme~ Ii letter writer, and . ' xviii, 232 p. illus.; diagrs. '· -. ~, "" , .' · . ;
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{gpidetopolltebena,vior,co_ntaj.ningalso,moral ·
Copies: LC, NYP •. '· i< .. , ..:'1';''{1'..'.h1 .,
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The New Yo~k Public Library

•40
1863

Copy: LC.

CHESTERFIELD'S letter-writer and complete
book of etiquette. Dick & Fitzgerald, 18 Ann
Street, New York.
Advertised for 40 cents, in 1863, in Le Marchand's
Fortune-teller and dreamer's dicti01tary, published by
same firm.

D1cK's commercial letter-writer, and book of
business forms. Dick & Fitzgerald, Publishers,
18 Ann Street, New York.
Advertised for 50 cents in 1863 in Le Marcliand's
Forlune-teller and dreamer's diclionary, published by
same firm.

'

Advertised for 50 cents in 1863 in Le Marchand's
Fortune-lei/er and dreamer's diclfonary, published by
same firm.

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American Letter-Writers, 1698-1943

'. ~

A NEW letter-writer for the use of ladies;
embodying letters on the simplest matters of
life, and on various subjects, with applications for situations, etc., and a copious appendix of forms of address, bills, receipts ...
compiled from the best previous works of the
subject, with considerable new additions, hints
on style, etc., etc. Philadelphia: Porter &
Coates [1868?]. 17cm. xvi, [17]-139 p.

Cover-title: The hon-ton letter writer.
Copy: LC.

MARTINE's sensible letter-writer, being a comprehensive and complete guide and assistant
for those who desire to carry on an epistolary
correspondence, containing a large collection of
model letters, on the simplest matters of life,
adapted to all ages and conditions, embracing
business letters, applications for employment,
, '·
with letters of recommendation, and answers , •· .
to advertisements, letters between parents and .''. · '
children, etc... By Arthur Martine. New ;:, _
York, Dick [ 1866]. 206 p.
. ~• - ·r.

Copy: NYP (bound with: A new letter-writer for
the use of gentlemen) .

1870
THE F ASIIlONABLE letter writer, original and
selected, containing a variety. of letters on
love ... New York [187-?].
Copy: YU.

.r. ,;,

1871
THE PARLOR letter-writer and secretary's assistant: consisting of original letters on every
occurrence In life. . . To which are added
,. complimentary cards, wills, bonds, &c. By R.
Turner. New York, Clark & Maynard, 1871.
- 130cm. xv, [17]-288 p.
'Preface dated 1835.
Copy : LC.

D1cK;s letter writer for ladies. Dick & Fitzgerald, Publishers, 18 Ann Street, New York.
Advertised for 50 cents in 1863 in l:e Marchand's
Fortunc-ieller and dreamer's dictionary, published by
same firm.

FRosT's original letter-writer. Dick & Fitzgerald, Publishers, 18 Ann Street, New York.
Advertised for 50 cents in 1863 in L1 Marc hand' 1
Fortune-lei/er and dreamer's dictionary, published by
same firm.

FRosT's twenty-five cent letter-writer. Dick &
' Fitzgerald, Publishers, 18 Ann Street, New
York.
'
,
Advertised for 25 cents in 1863 In L1 Marchand's
Forttme-leller and dreamer's dictionary, published by
same firm. ·

MARTINE's sensible letter-writer. Dick & Fitzgerald, Publishers, 18 Ann Street, New York.
' Advertised for 50 cents in 1863 in Le M archand'1
Fortune-tel/er and dreamer's dictionary, published by
same firm.

NonTH's book of love-letters. Dick & Fitzgerald, Publishers, 18 Ann Street, New York.
Advertised for 50 cents in 1863 in L1 Marchand'•
Forlune-leller and dreamer's dictionary, published by
same firm.

WonCESTEn's letter-writer and book of business
forms for lad.ies and gentlemen. Dick & Fitzgerald, Publishers, 18 Ann Street, New York.
Advertised for 50 cents in 1863 in Le Marc hand's
Forlune-teller and dreamer's dictionary, published by
same firm.

1866
THE IMPROVED letter writer; or, The art of poli!e. corr~P.onden;e, contalnin_g _a vari~ of

41

THE NEW universal letter-writer; or, Complete
art of polite correspondence; to which are
prefixed an essay on letter writing and a set
of complimental cards. . . Philadelphia, ,Claxton, Remsen & Heffelfinger, 1875.
Copy : G.

1876
THE PARLOR letter writer, original and selected,
containing a variety of letters on love, courtship, marriage, relationship, business, friendship, etc., with forms of complimentary cards.
To which is added a dictionary of English
synonyms, also, a copious appendix of forms,
bills, receipts, and other useful matter, from
the best authorities. New York: J. Miller 1
[1876?] . 366 p .
Copy : NYP.

'-'! .

Copies: CU, BP.

D1cK's common sense letter-writer. Dick &
Fitzgerald, Publisher, 18 Ann Street, New
York.

;
~

plirnentary cards and directions for letter writ- ·
ing. To which are added forms of mortgages,
deeds, bonds, powers of attorney, &c. Baltimore, Fisher & Denison [ cof. 1866]. 15.5cm.
1 p.l., [ v]-xiv, [15]-180, [12 p .
,

I

BEADLE's dime letter-writer, a perfect guide to
all kinds of correspondence, with a dictionary
of phrases, quotations, etc., etc. Rev. and
_ enl. ed. New York, Beadle and Company, cop.
1863. 14cm. 2 p.l., [ix]-xi, [13]-100 p.

..

.. ,.,.

1872
I

ANALYSIS of letter writing . . . By Calvin
Townsend. New York, lvison, Blakeman .. ,
; [cop. 1872.] 8vo. viii, 181 p.
'•

.Copy: NYP.

1877
DEwrTT s handy letter-writer. Containing in
the most plain and simple language, fulf directions and explanations for writing every
kind of letter . . . With a large number of
ready prepared letters on all subjects. And
an extensive compendium of elegant poetical
quotations. Also a list of abbreviations, useful
law . forms, etc. New York, C. '.f, De Witt
[cop. 1877]. 17cm. 90 p.
0

Copy: LC.

THE EssENTIALS of letter-writing. By Wm.
McClain . .. Des Moines, The author, , 1877.
23cm. 12 p., cover-title.

•"

Copy: LC.

,
1873
' THE GENTLEMEN'S perfect letter writer; or,
-. FRosT's original Jetter writer and laws and
Hints and helps , to letter writing. .A comby-laws of American society combined. B{. plete and instructive guide for the correspond} S. A. Frost [Mrs. Sarah Annie (Frost) Shields . ertt ... New York, A. Cogswell [Albert Cogs; New York, Dick & Fitzgerald [1873]. 18cm. well 1877]. 19cm. 132 P·
Copies: LC, NYP.
(' 2 v. In 1.
.
th
"
Each volume hM special t. p.: Frost's original
THE SCHOOL-ROOM guide, embodying e inletter-writer .. • New York [1867); Fr""t'e law• and bystructlon given by the author at teachers'
~· laws of American society . .• New York [1869).
k
d th
·, "Dictionary of synonyms": [v. 1), p. 167-202.
institutes, in New Yor an o er states ..•
Copy: LC.
By E. V. DeGreff, A.M. [Esmond Vedder DeGraff.] Part 1. Language and letter Writing . .• .
Syracuse, N. Y., Davis, Bardeen & Co., 1877.
, THE NEW universal letter-writer; or, Complete
art of polite correspondence. Containing a
14cm. 80 P·
· course of interesting letters on the most Im~· [76)-80, advertising matter.
l portant, Instructive and entertaining subjects
Copy: LC.
'. . , . A!;ld a set of complirnental cards. . .
1878
· Philadelphia, Claxton, Remsen & Heffelfinger,
.. [9] 216
HAND-BOOK of punctuation, with Instructions
·~1873
·. 19cm. vu,
P·
f or capita1iz
. Ing, an d proof Cover-title: "Polite correspondence.'i
/
· ation, Ietter-wnt
1
, Copy: LC.
... •
reading, by W. J. Cocker, A.M. [William John- ·
son Cocker ..] New York, Chicago [etc.l :- A. S.
' 1875
Barnes & Co., 1878. 16cm. v, 127 p. ';' ··i: "
Copy: LC.
. .
· .
' HANDBOOK. for home improvement, comprisI
1lng how to write, how to talk, how to behave, How to write letters. Everybody's friend.
how to do business. Complete in one volume.
Samples of every conceivable· kind of letters.
New York: S. R. Wells, 1875. 1 p.l., vi, 1-: New York, Tousey & Small [cop. 1~78] , 17cm.
ifkll \>!, 7-156, xiv; 15;-149, viii, 9-156 P • - 61 n.
· ;- •.:· '-r '"•' ·,J: · ·

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1879

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to accomplishments in conversation,
letter-writing,i and oratory~ -rhe arts of self
' education in three of the most brilliant and
desirable accomplishments that adorn ladies
. and gentlemen in the best society .•• · Ed. by
Mrs. Jane Aster [pseud.]. New' York, G. W,.
Carleton Ile Co. [etc., etc.], 1879 1~.5cm. 2 v.
' in 1. ;
,
I
'

}

.,

At head of title: For ladies and gentlemen.
• ,° , ' I

I

.

THE · WoncESTER lei:ter writer and book of
. business forms for ladies and gentlemen. Con·
taining accurate directions for conducting epis- · .
'
' !
tolary correspondence, with 270 spetjmen let·~
•teril adapted lo every age and situation in life '
;} . ·
atld to business pursWts ..• with an appendix
.
· ·comprising forms for wills; petitions, bills, re. I ;: • ~ ceipts. . . New y ork, Dick & Fitzgerald; Phila~
1, ' ' .' delphia, J.B. Lippincott Ile Co.. [1879.) 17.5cm.
; . :' : xii, [13)-216 p. ·. ! '. I, '
. " ".. . .
".

' '

Copies: LC; ·CU,

·;_· . .,

; ·,

.

·

'

·; -

'" 1880

· THE ART of correspondence and usages of ·
polite society. By George .D. Carroll. [New
York:] Dempsey & Carro1l .[cop. 1880). 18cm.
xii, 13-117 p.; front.

..'i.

With thio ia bound hla Art stationn-y and ...rages

of polit• locin,, New York, 1880.
· C0pies: LC; YU 1 NYP. . • '

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· THE Co~PU::ra letter Writer: a comprehensive
arid "practical guide and assistant to letter
writing. Containing a large collection of model
. letters adapted to all occasions .. • Chicago,
·Donohue Brothers [18S-?]. • '
. "

'

·. C0py:

vu. ·

.~ . How to write lett.~rs; ~ m.anual of correspond7

ence; showing the correct, structute, composi· ,
1
tiein, punctua~on, formalities, and uses of the
-, varloU.s kinds of letters, notes, and cards. By
James Willis Westlake [1830-1912). Phila4elphia, Sower, Potts & Co. 1880. 17.5cm. 264 p.

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1881

"'

THE YoUNG American's letter-writer; or, The '
art of polite correspondence. Consisting
. ,. neW
ill part of original letters of business, love,
\
friendship, ¢tc., with instructions how to write
·· · , on any topic with elegance and ease. Adapted
, ; '· for both sexes. To which is added a new Eng''> ·.,. lish ' grammar. Comp. by M. Young [Martin
:•;'"
· Young]. • New York, M. 1 Young [cop. . 1881].·
't, :r
19cm. 1 p.l., [7]-94 p.
·
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43

'E.d ..:. by,'. William B/ Dick [William . Brisbane' · branches of letter-Writing,· forms of business/ :.
. Dick]; New York, bick & ' Fitzgerald . [cop. , papers •. . . To which are added sections on
l,.~884). 19cm. 268' p. --"~'. ' P:,. '.';•:" ':,~.": ·~ \ .·', punctuation and the use of capitals; with some
. ~·: Ccipies!' LC, NYP, YU!;,·• ;"·•· · ... ? ' · ·i . '·\_ : :
pages on grammar and spe1l4ig, and a· chapter · . '
1
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• ·
d"
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. 1 on the Chinese method
of'•reckoning time. . ·'
pA~JCELL s compen mm· o. o~s, e ucationa ; ,·, Specially adapted . to 1 self~i.nStruction. By
,· r
·,social, legal and commercial. .. By Geor~A.,. "· Kwong Kl Chiu.,. Sharighai,'Wah Cheung; ' -" 1
_G.askell. · · 31st ed. ~pic;,ago! fairbanks, Pa er '· San Francisco, Wing Fung · [etc., etC;] 1885..·
·•
,;~Co.. 1884. ' .. ~,-·~··)•.- ;-· ·/..
···: " 215
xxil [4] 276p " ' ...-,., ....
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~nglish and Chinese; added ·t •. p;·:·1n ·Chinese;
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.THE CoMPLETE letter writeri' for ladies and :· WARD's letter writing! bUSiness· forms for
"entlemen. Containing a complete· collection of schools and academies. New · York( American
'Usiness letters, 1etters 'ofintroduction .' .. rules · Book Company [cop. 1885-1891); 8 ~ . 4 nos.
1
·forr.:eo~4~~g ~uhli<fdebates ; and meetings, ' Copy: NYP.
, , ., '. ,:'}·! ,\ .'.,; (
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~b,' • l!cc. _A n.ew ,compilation .from original
· · -.':;:' .'. 1, 1 ·.,,
1886
oitlces, [By C.H. Ludwig.] New York, H.J.
" • .. · ;·' · •
:· ehman,'1885. '1~.~-9°·, ~ p . .(The ~versal . THE CORRESPONDENT. By fas. W~od Davidson, ,
,h~nd~ooks., no. l ,) f
,'.· -;1 . , ' . , .. -_,
.A.M. New York, D . .A,ppfeton and C6mpany,
1 , ·" · · • ; ' '' '
- ·i'Copy: LC.; : .. '•..I,.,
· · ' · . , · ,. ' ' " .
·
1886 • 18cm • 110 p •
.
~
'~'
I
.. ", 1<4:..SmoNAliLE letter ·Writer, original and · Copies: LC, NYP, R. .-, •• "\i• ~h.' . .i.' . ':-· ,
. 8ele<;t~. ' eont~g_ -a ' vilriety ' of letters on THE NEW Yorut £a8hiorl · bazar' m'Odei letter- ·-·
j ,"
.?.~e.f; 'courtship; . iriarl?!!g?, · relationship, busi- writer and lovers' . oracle. [By John Elderkin.] ·'
.~s. friendship, .etc.1 '..w ith f~rms of compli- · New York, G. Mtinro [1886), ; 18cni. 1 p.l., ' " ; . ';'
,. entary cards. To the whole are prefixed di• [vll]-xiii, [15]-157 P• ' "<' :· -..,.}, ' ': . . ~ \, ·
· ons. for letter 'writing: also a copious apCopy: LC.
,. : · Y•·' .;..; , ~ ~, ;
ndix ' of forms, " bills, receipts. New York .. ' ·
. ,.. 1 : • " <, .
· 1 Miller [1885?]. 17cm. viii, 166 p. '.
. : \'
1887 , ·
::· .. ,, • ·
) _Fi;py: NYP. · ·• ' .... (;~' · ··. '"• · ·, · "' '·
GASKELL's compendi~ of form~/ed~cational, :f ·
CAs.ll:u.'s cbmpen,diuin _of forms, educational, . . social, legal and commercial, embra~ng a com- :,. ' . ' '"
iocial and commercial, embracing a complete - plete self-teaching course hi .penmanship and · ·' -.. .
elf-teaching course'. in penmanship and llook- bookkeeping, and aid to English eomposition;" ,' I_: ,'
!lc~ping, and aid to English co,mposition. . .
. .. an~ a guide to parliamentary practice; the • ' )'I' :'.;
Y. ,Ceorge .A,. ·Gaskellt New York: ' Bryan, whole forming a colnj;>lete encyclopedla1 of :· , ,.,
Aylor & Co; ·1885. Sq. 4°. xxiv, 27-920 p. reference. ; . By Prof. G. A. Gaskell .. ; New,
' ' '
· ~J. ,J\l~fes (part co~'d), tabl~s ..\/ '. ' ' · · " .and rev. e~., edited· by LO<>II$ T. Palmer...
~,
:~Copy,: .. NYP. ', ( .. ... '
,
'Chicago, Fairbanks Ile Palmer Publishing Co.,
, .INTs on letter writing. 'For the use of acad1887.~ 27.5cm. xxvi, 27-920 . p. ' illcl. ',. illus., .\ (
fttle~ ' arid for' self-1.Ilstruction.' Adapted ,from · flates (Incl. 2 · col'd), col'd <ll,agrs.,, ' front ..'. .
':\

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. .· . , ' ,.'.
·,~c.J . ·Beilziger l;l.1'.othets; · Lond1m, R. Wash- PUNCTUATION and letter ·Writhig: <;ont8.ining, · .i
· · ·. e [etc., ~P-1, 1885. 15,. 5cm. 1 p.l.; 201 p. . also, the rules for the, tJse of capital letters. , . · ,"i'
;i~~y:' LC. ' -; ·:- f"" ;:',· .·· .'· " ., ,
.
By Albert N. Raub ... Philadelpliia, .Raub. & .
i-tJw. .to ·write a letter. Comprising observa- Co., 1887. 18Yacm. 92 P· ' · ., ,, · : ., · .
· "• on composing a . letter .. • · With forms ·author'•
"Thio little work is a reprint of Part 11, ·of · the
}D..'an
Practical rhetoric.u ·
· .,__ :

~!e
a:f~cli~o~ !ds~i:X:!i!~:i=~~r ~t!~ '
.YO, E.' L~zarre: .. ', Newed,. Detroit, M. W.
' Us\vorlh ~ Co., 1885; 18q1m146 P· . ·
~ ~0~~: .Lc.:1 '."·~ •' ' \«.~~.; ·i, " ··" '.·
·
WsmucrioNs In' composition and letter ,Writ< g. '. By J.
Pile ••,·. 1 F~.n~o~1 , Mi~.. ~e
llithor, 1885.· 170cm; ~l p ..· .• · . .. .

M:

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Le,.

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18,88 ·.: ·.·.;: . .}.'.'. '.
1"
.
'.·.;
Tm: .AMERICAN letter-writer. A complete guiqe ·
'
to correspondence on all subjects of every-day
life, with an Introduction on penmanship,
orthography . .. containing a large collection of '· · ·
models of familiar .letters .< .• business letters ·.
Copy:

- b~~i'k~~~:~~~~il;:k:~~i~~G~~n:d~~-

.·'.. ·"

;_A'NuAL of correspondence and social usages. " [1888] . 19cm. vi, 360 p. / · .•: .., ,· _.,.,. · ,'
,.': .
'
ontainlng ; Instruction ' and· examples in all • Copy: LC. .

., , .

-~P°!'~i :~<?~ ·>,'.;:'.: ··,::· .•;::;, ,,-.. :.:i ;.:: :_.'I/.
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The New York Public Library
1888, continued
THE Jl:LITE letter writer. · A comprehensive
assistant and instructor in correspondence on
all the occasions of social life. Containing
model letters, hints on punctuation, etc., etc.
By F. M. Payne [pseud. of Thomas Joseph
Carey]. .. New York, Excelsior Publishing
House [cop. 1888]. 18cm. 3, 140 p. .
I ssued also under title: Payne's gocial letter writer.
[By Thomas Joseph Carey.]
Copy: LC.

ENGLISH-GERMAN model letter writer and
book-keeper. A faithful companion in the various social and business relations and useful
adviser at home and in schools. By Dr. Jacob
Mayer. Philadelphia, I. Kohler, 1888. 19.5cm.
[I] , x, x, 244, 258 p.
P ages x and 1-244 paged in duplicate. No. vi
omitted in paging. English and German text on opposite pages. Added t . p. in German.
Copy: LC.

EvERYBODY's letter writer: containing all necessary instructions in the art of letter writing
together with numerous models of all kinds of
letters. By the author of "Good manners"
[Mary E. Nash] . Chicago, T. S. Denison [cop.
1888]. 19.5cm. 83 p.
Copy : LC.

·THE WRITER'S handbook, a guide to the art
of composition, embracing a general treatise
on composition and style; instruction in English composition, with exercises for paraphrasing; and an elaborate letter-writer's vade mecum, in which are numerous rules and suggestions relating to the epistolary art. Philadelphia,
J. B. Lippincott & Co. 1888. 20.5cm. 555 p.
Copy: NYP.

1889
THE ART of letter-writing, a manual of polite
correspondence, containing the correct forms
for all letters of a commercial, social or ceremonial nature, with copious explanatory chapters on arrangements, punctuation, grammatical
forms, etc., etc., etc. By Jennie Taylor Wandie.
New York, A. L. Burt [cop. 1889]. 15cm.
219 p.
Copy: LC.

BusINESS and social correspondence. A textbook ... By L. L. Williams and F . E. Rogers.
Rev. [Rochester, N. Y., E. R. Andrews, printer,]
·
1889. 25.5cm. 1 p.I., 74 p.
Copy: LC.

D1cx's common sense letter-writer : containing
three hundred and sixty sensible- social and
business letters. . . By William B. Dick. New
York, Dick & Fitgerald [I] [1889]. 16Y,cm,
200 p.
Copy : LC.

American Letter-Writers, 1698-1943

FRoST's twenty-five cent letter-writer:' a~·~ ,
plete collection of original letters and notes. i i· ·
By S. A. Frost. New York, Dick & Fitgerald .;<
[I] (1889]. 17Y,cm. 2 p.l., [21]-166 p. ;_.,... '-'.~

THE WAY to write letters. Containing instructions how to write letters on any subject.
New York, Street,. & Smith, 1890. 18Y, cm.
58 p. (On cover: Street & Smith's manual
library. no. 4.)

Added t. p. : Frost's original letter·writer ••• . New .,~'fl
York: Dick and Fitzaerald.
~~.. ,A •· \:II(
Copy: LC.
·
.
· ,(. ·r~:

Serles title also at bead of t. p.
Copy: LC.

HINTS to a silent friend upon writing Jett~ : ; / ~.
[By Frances Bennet Callaway.] Buffalo; ~
N: Y., P. Paul & Brother, printers, cop. [1889] • . '.
10 x 16Y,crn. [26] p.
·
· ~ '·~
Several of the leaves printed on rectos only.
·-1
Copy: LC.

;1

<~·".t.~

1891
FoRMs of letter writing to be used in commercial and normal schools. . . By Lucia W.
Raines . . . [2d ed.] Shenandoah, Ia., Kinsley
& Stephens, 1891. 20cm. 52 p.

'

;··~

Copy:

LETTER-WRITING: containing directions fot the ~.,
structure of the letter, punctuation, and _UJ!e .
of capitals, with numerous examples, diagrams, :·
forms, etc. For the use of teachers and pupils. '
By Ardelle M. Tozier. . . Farmington, Me.;: :t
D: H. Knowlton & Co. 1889. 18cm. 77 P•,..., ·-.~·1~
Copy : LC.
·:' ' J ··"

1892
THE ENGLISH · letter-writer. By A. Harkovy.
New York : Saphirstein & Katzenelenbogen,
1892. 8 °. 96 p.
Copy : NYP.

1893

THE VERY latest on letter writing and eti- '.
quette. By Mrs. W . M. Knight. n. p. [cop. .
1889.] 22Y,crn. 44, [l] p.
Copy: LC.

,

' 1t.

,

"'f

WRITERS' reference hand-book. For popular ,
use, comprising a manual of the art o( cor- "
respondence, correct forms for letters of a ,.
commercial, social and ceremonial nature, with tJ
copious exrlanatory matter ... and a handy die- '.
tionary o synonyms . . . By Jennie Taylor,~/.
Wandie and H. C. Faulkner. New York, A. L. ~
Burt [1889] . 19Y,cm. 219, 217 p.
•. • 1.,
Dictionary of synonyms has separate pagination/~:"' ••.
Copy: LC.
·~r · . . .,.
·~ -

1890

,t~

/, -·:

~

Copy: L1::.

.

ILLUSTRATED book of objects.__By
ner. Reading, 1897. ,

w. c. Kant-

Has a chapter on letter-writi~ in En~lish and
in Rea ing, Pa.,

f!ic~91QO: A ! ccond edition appear

Copy: LC.

PRACTICAL letter writing. A text-book giving
complete Information regarding the construction, forms, punctuation, and uses of the different kinds of letters; also the correct forms
and uses of notes and cards; together with
exercises for practice. . . A reference book
. . . By H. T. Loomis . . . Cleveland, 0., The
Practical Text Book Company [cop. 1897].
20.5cm. 135 p. illus., plates.
The plates are sample letters.
Copies: LC, RU.

WEBSTER'S practical letter-writer, containing
THE ART of writing letters, a manual of cor- general directions for writing; also model letrect correspondence; arranged especially for . ters . . . Together with Bible quotations, choice
the class room, and adapted to the use of prose sentiments . . . Also a copious dictionary
private learners, by J. B. Duryea ... 20cm. ix, of synonyms, all the Latin, French, Spanish
[ll]-176 p.
·
and Italian words and phrases usually met'
Copy : LC.
with; a full list of abbreviations .. . and a
THE STANDARD letter writer for ladies and model of printers' proof corrections. New York
and Chicago, H . J. Wehman [cop .. 1897].
I gentlemen containing a complete collection
18.5cm. 1 p.l., [5]-192 p. (The DeWitt series.
of business letters; letters of introduction . . .
social letters .. . rules for conducting public no. 4.)
Copy: LC.
debates and meetings. New York, M. J. Ivers
1898
& Co. [1893.] 19cm. 111, [1] p.
Copy : LC.
BUSINESS and social correspondence. A text
1894
book for use in all schools in which the subject
F ARRIAN complete penmanship, correspond- is taught. Revised. By Louis Lafayette
ence, business forms and book-keeping. . . By Williams. Rochester, N. Y. [etc.] Williams and
J. W. Farr [John Wesley Farr], author. [Atch- Rogers, 1898. 24cm. 74 p.
C:opy: NYP.
ison, Kan., Press of the Home Printing Co.,]
1894. 22.5 x 17.5cm. 2 p.l., 3-284 p. illus. SOCIAL letters: models for use in the higher
grades of our Catholic schools. [Sisters of
On verso of t. p. : Farrian business course.
Copy : LC.
Notre-Dame.] Boston, Boston School Supply
Company, 1898. 18cm. viii, 161 p.
1895
Copy: LC.
•
CHARM and courtesy in letter-writing. By
1899
Frances Bennett Callaway.. . New York,
Dodd, Mead and Company, 1895. 17Y,cm. AMERICAN letter writer, English and Yiddish.
3 p.I., 250p.
By A. Harkavy. New York: J. Katzenelenbogen,
Copies : LC, R, NYP.
1899. 8° .' 11., 302 p.
Copy: NYP.
MANUAL for training in letter writing and
rhetoric, by Alfred Holbrook. . . Lebanon, 0., BusINESS letters in the simple reporting style
C. K. Hamilton & Co. [cop. 1895.] 27.5cm. of Graham's standard phonography. Series 1-2.
New York: A. J. Graham & Co. [cop. 18992, [2] p., 4-32 numb. I.
Copy: LC.
·
1901.] 2 v. 12°.
.
Copy: NYP.
1897
ENGLISH correspondence; for use in academies,
limos & NoBLE's new letter writer, showing normal schools, business colleges, public
' the correct structure, composition, runctuation, schools, etc., by W. W. Earnest, revised by
and uses of the various kinds o letters. To H. M. Rowe ... Baltimorel H. M. Rowe Co.,
which have been added a classified list of cop. 1899. 12mo. 2 p.I., ( 1 )4-116 p.
"',abbrevlatl~ns, foreign words and phrases most
Copy: NYP.,
• ·

MANUAL of correspondence for' schools and r;~
colleges and for self-instruction. Ed. by Sey- ,<J:• '
mour Eaton. 19th thousand. Boston, New Eng- . ..
land Publishing Co., 1889. 24cm. 60 p; ( Teacli-.. ~
·
... "' ~.
ers' help manual series. no. 2.)
Copy : LC.

!-C.

45

frequently used, and Important postal Information ... New York, Hinds & Noble, 1897.
18cm. 1 p.l., [ v]-vi, 161 p.
·

,.
46

The New York Public Library

1899, continued
LE'ITERS from queer and other folk, for boys
and girls to answer, by Helen M. Cleveland
. . . New York, The Macmillan Company;
London, Macmillan & Co., Ltd., 1899. 18cm.
2 v. illus.
Copy: LC.

LE'ITERS from queer and other folk; a manual
for teachers. By Helen M. Cleveland ... New
York, The Macmillan Company; London, Macmillan & Co., Ltd., 1899. 18cm. viii, 242 p.
Copies: LC, NYP.

STUDIES for letters, by Frances Bennett Callaway... Rochester, N. Y., Chicago, Ill.
Williams & Rogers, 1899. 17.5cm. v, [3], 147 p.
Copy: LC.

TWENTY lessons in letter writing and business
forms; for schools and private study. Chicago.
1899. 27.5cm. 84 p. illus.
Copy: LC.

1900
BooK of love letters and how to write them,
for ladies and gentlemen. Containing complete
instructions relative to writing letters on love,
courtship and marriage. Adapted to both
sexes. <Wehman Bros.> Published by Wehman Bros., 126 Park Row, New York. n. d.
[1900?] 18 x 12cm. 82 p. + 14 p. advts.
Col'd illus. paper covers.
Copy! NYP.

COMPLETE letter-writer or the new art of
polite correspondence consisting in part of original letters of business, love, friendship, etc.,
with instructions how to write on any topic
with elegance and ease. Adapted for bOth
sexes. To which Is added a new English grammar. Published by Wehman Bros., New York,
n. d. [1900?] 18 x 12cm. 11., [7], 8-94 p. + 6 p.
advts.

.. t

for the composing, punctuating, addresslni: ' '
sealing and stamping of letters and notes, witJi ·1 a large number of ready prepared letters on au •'
subjects, and an extensive compendium of el&: ..
gant poetical quotations, also a list of abbrevi- .f
ations, useful law forms, etc. Published by
Wehman Bros., New York. n. d. [1900?] 18 x
12cm. 90 p. + 6 p. advts.

1903
LETTERS and letter writing as means to the
study and practice of English composition, by
Charity Dye. . . Indianapolis, The BobbsMe~ Company, 1903. 20.5cm. 5 p.I., 226 p.
Copies: LC, "NY!?.

THE NEW century standard letter-writer; bi.tsiness, family and social correspondence, loveletters, etiquette, synonyms, legal forms, etc .. .
By Alfred B. Chambers. . . Chicago, Laird & ·
Lee [1900). 20cm. 276 p., col'd front.

''

Copies : LC, NYP.
STYLE manual for stenograehers, reporters and
correspondents. . . By Hugh Graham Paterson.
Chicago. 1903. 8°. 116 p., 3 plates.

Copies: LC, NYP.

1901
BRoWN's complete letter-writer for ladies and
gentlemen; contains full directions for business
correspondence, commercial forms, wills, notes,
drafts .. . etc., including a complete dictionllfY .,
of mercantile terms, by Charles W. Brown.
Chicago, The Henneberry Co. [1901.) 19cm. . -~
1p.I.,258 p.
''• l !i.i '
LC':"

Copy: NYP.

1904
THE ETIQUETTE of correspondence; being suggestions as to the proper form in present usage
of social, club, diplomatic, military, and business letters . . . By Helen Elizabeth Gavit.
New York: Baker & Taylor Co. [cop. 1904.)
12°. x, 286 p.

,

. , . ••,

THE EssENTIALS of polite correspondence; be- · •
Ing a collection of accepted forms of address ..'
and salutation, together with other information
regarding correct usage in social and official !'
correspondence, with an introduction and
chapter on accepted forms of address ~Y. Helen'_ 1 :
E. Gavit... New York, Belfast, Irelilnd, M •,.
Ward Co. [1901.) 16cm. 48 p. illus., dia~: ' .
Copy : LC.

'.
I

"I ~
.

Copies: NYP, R,.

1905
A LADY and h~r letters, by Katherine E. Conway. 6th ed. Boston, T. J. Flynn & Company,
1905. 16cm. 90 p. (Family sitting-room series. )
Copies: LC, NYP.

I

. •

How to write letters; a manual of correspond-, '
ence, showing the correct structure, composl~·' ;
tion, punctuation, formalities, and us~ oE .the .
various kinds of letters, notes,' and c8rds. 1 By~ •
J. Willis Westlake . .. Philadelphia, C. ~
Company [1901). 17~i.::m. 264 p.
·

'

1906
THE BOOK of correspondence; a collection of
interesting and divers data for the desk. By
, Kendall Banning. New York : The Triptych.
1906. 8.5 x 6cm. 3 p.1., 9-48 p.
Copy: NYP.

Copy : l'..C.

Col'd illus. paper, covers.
Copy: NYP.

Tm;: ETIQUETTE of correspondence, by Helen E.
Gavit, being illustrations and suggestions as
to the proper form in present usage of social,
club, diplomatic, military, and business letters,
with information on heraldic devices, monograms, and engraved addresses. New York, A.
Wessels Company, 1900. 19.5cm. x, 214 p.,
1 I. plates.
Copies: LC, NYP, HTM.

HANDY letter-writer containing, in the most
plain and simple language, full directions and
. explanations for writing every kind of letter;
whether relating to business, love, marriage,
friendship, sickness, health, recommendations,
introduction, or advertising, giving and accepting · invitations, including full directions

_

MODERN letter writing; a complete course in
business and social correspondence with numerous script-form illustrations. Arranged especially for use in public and private commercial schools and for home instruction.
[Albany? 1903.) 20cm. 4 p.1., 168 p.

Col'd illus. paper covers.
Copy: NYP.

°Copy:

. 47

American Letter-Writers, 1698-1943

/;
.·
.
~·'.

Copy: NYP.

•' ·

Advertised in Litt/it folks' spetches and dialogues
[Cover·title "Beadle's Dime little folks speeches and

~ ~ dialogues no. 17), pu~lished b7 same firm.
I

s'

1907· '

J. BoBEMIAN-AMmuCAN letter writer; or, Direc:.' tions to compose correctly, letters, documents,
·et~ .• which occur in the social relations and
~
.
'
.
J

,, ~ ~.

·~ ~

'

Added t. p. in Bobeinian; Bohemian and English

on opposite ~ages.

'

Copy : LC.

·

THE GENTLEST art; a choice of letters, by
entertaining hands, edited by E. V. Lucas ...
New York, The Macmillan Company, , 1907.
17cm_. xvi p., 11., 422 p., l l.
Copies: LC, RU.

1908
BusINESS letter-writer <Wehman Bros'.>.
<30 cents> . Wehman Bros., 158 Park Row,
New York City. [1908?]
Advertised in Wehman Bros'. B ook of I0111t lltttitl'.f.
ENGLISH-CROATIAN letter-writer for the Croatian and Servian people in the United States ...
Allegheny, Pa.,
Marohnic, 1908. 23.5cm.
2 p.1., 3-185 p. ii us.

J·

Added t. p. in Croatian; English and Croatian
/ in

parallel columns.

Copy: LC.

... THE GREAT English letter writers; with
introductory essays and notes by William J.
Dawson and Coningsby W. Dawson ... New
York, Chicago [etc.]: Fleming H . Revell Company [cop. 1908). 18Y,cm. 2 v. ( Thelr The
Reader's library. [ v. 1-11.))
Copy: LC.

LE'ITER-WRITING made easy for ladies and
gentlemen. Showing pliµnly how to write letters upon almost every imaginable subject.:Giving numerous examples of model letters upon
love, friendship, business, and legal affairs,
so that the most illiterate tnay easily learn
how to com_pose an effective and correct epistle.
Published by Wehman Bros., 126 Park Row,
New York. Copyright MCMVIII by Wehman
Bros. 18 x 12cm. 82 p. + 14 p. advts.
Col'd illus. paper covers.
Copy: NYP.

I

. .. PENMANSHIP, vertical penmanship, grammar, punctuation and capitalization, letter writing, proofreading, tabulating, title page composition. Scranton: International Te~~boo~ Co.
[cot. 1906.) 23.5cm. vi, [531), Vlll-xviii p.
inc . forms, tables, illus. ( I.C.S. reference
library. [v.] 124. )
·
·

THE PoLITE letter writer; or, How to corre,, spcind on all subjects in a refined and elegant
t style. M. J. Ivers & Co., Publishers, 379 Pearl
- Street, New York City [circa 1906] .
~ ..-

business life of the United States. Chicago,
Ill., A. Geringer [col?. 1907). 20cm. 122 p.

•

LE'ITER writing and model letters, by Alice
Bannon. Syracuse, N. Y., C. · w~ Bardeen,
1908. 18cm. 3 p.I., [9)--85 p.
Copy : LC.

·

MODEL letter-writer for ladies and gentlemen.
Wehman Bros., 158 Park Row, New York City.
<35 cents>. [1908?]
;
Advertised in Wehman Bros.' Handy /1tt" writer.

SPELLING and letter writing, for use in commercial schools, normal schools, colleges,
academies, and high schools. By H. T. Loomis.
Cleveland, 0., The Practical Text Book Comf::s.[1908?]. 20cm: vi, [~], 10-25~ ~· ill~.,
Copy : LC.

'

'

UNivERSAL letter-writer for ladies and gentlemen. <30 cents> Wehman Bros. 158 Park
Row, New York City (1908?]. ,
Advertised In Websln-'3 trarncol ltttw faritrr, i910.
•

.,

• I

•.

'

f

,'

·j

''

The New York Public Library
1909
THE ART of social letter writing; twelve charming studies, by Josephine Turck Baker. . . Chicago, Ill., Correct English Publishing Company [cop. 1909]. 19cm. 93 p.
Copies: LC, NYP.

Goon form in letter writing. Springfield: Whiting Paper Company, 1909. 12°. 31 p., 1 plate.
C:opy: NYP.

1910
A DESK book on the etiquette of social stationery. By Jean Wilde Clark. New York:
Eaton, Crane and Pike Co. [cop. 1910.] 16°,
2 p.l., 86 p., 2 l.
Copy : N"2"P.

THE SECOND post, a companion to "The gentlest
art" [by] E. V. Lucas ... New York, The
Macmillan Company [1910]. 17cm. xi, 264 p.
Illustrated t. p. An anthology of letters.
Copies : LC, NYP.

WEBSTER'S practical letter-writer containing
general directions for writing; also model letters: family letters, children's letters, letters of
friendship, letters of sympathy, love letters,
soldiers' letters, business letters, letters of introduction, and model notes of invitation. To. gether with a copious dictionary of synonyms;
also all the Latin, French, Spanish and Italian
words and phrases usually met with; a full
list of abbreviations, mottoes of the states,
and a model of printers' proof corrections. Published by Wehman Bros., New York. n. d.
[1910.] 18 x 12cm. 3 I., (15], 16-121 p. +
15 p. advts.
C-ol'd illus. paper covers.
Copy: NYP.

1911
How to write letters in English and Lithuanian languages; a comprehensive and practical guide to correspondence. Showing the
structure, composition, formalities and uses of
various kinds of letters, notes and cards. Kaip
rasyti lal§kus lietuvi§koje Ir angliskoje kalbose
... Sureda~avo J. Laukis. Chicago, Ill., Spauda
"Lietuvos,' 1911. 20cm. 293 p.
Copies: LC, NYP.

NEW practical letter writing; a text book for
use in schools, a reference book ... · By Henry
T. Loomis. . . Cleveland, 0., The Practical
Text Book Company [cop. 1911]. 19}1,cm.
220 p. illus.
Sample letters inserted.
Copy: LC.

SPECIMENS of letter-writing, selected and ed.
by Laura E. Lockwood ... and Amy R. Kelly
. . . New York, H. Holt and Company, 1911.
17cm. xii, 274 p.
·

On ,cover: E!111.l_isb readings.
Copies: LC, NYP.
I

American Letter-Writers, 1698-1943 .

1912
. CHINESE letter-writing for missionaries, by W.
Arthur Comaby. Shanghai, American PresbyTHE MODERN business letter writer containing
terian Mission Press, 1914. 18crn. 1 p.I. ii
specimen business letters on a great variety of · .
44 p.
' '
subjects, together with all the standard bus!- ~
. Copy: LC.
ness forms used in .modem commercial inter- · '
course also concise and simplified rules for . '• ,· A LABORATORY manual of letters, by Thomas
( ,I H. Briggs... Boston, New York, etc. Ginn
punctuation, the use of capital letters and the
forms of salutation, courteous closing, adand Company [cop. 1914). 16cm. viii, 94 p.
Specimens of letters.
dresses, etc. By Willis C. Parker, B.A. I. & M.
Copy : LC.
Ottenheirner Publishers, Baltimore, Maryland
[cop. MCMxn]. 18.5 x 13crn. 128 p. ·
THE LE'ITER-WRITER's handbook, by John
Paper covers. ·
·
Rexburn. Chicago, Browne & Howell ComCopy: NYP.
pany, 1914. 18cm. vi, 230 p. (The "practical"
SCIENTIFIC method in letter writing; number
series.)
forty-seven of a series of talks especially pre-·
Copies: LC, NYP. '
pared for the Alexander Hamilton Institute.·
LETTER
writing, business and social; a manual
New York City, Alexander Hamilton Institute
on the craft of letter writing with instructions
[cop. 1912]. 21.Scm. 27 p.
and specimen letters. By H. Cramp, PH.B.
Copy: LC.
Philadelphia, The J. C. Winston Company
STANDARD up-to-date practical letter writer; a
[cop. 1914]. 19cm. vii, 168 p.
comprehensive and practical guide to corCopies: LC, NYP.
respondence, showing the structure, composiTHE
MArL-MAN's message, by P. F. Sullivan;
tion, formalities and uses of the various kinds
a volume intended to assist in the penning
of letters, notes and cards, by E. J. Strong,
of a neat, plain and legible letter. Boston, The
a .s. Chicago, Charles .<?· ThomEson Co. [cop.
Roxburgh Publishing Company, Inc. [1914.]
1912.] 19.5cm. 2 p.I., n, 7-275, [ 4] p.
20cm. 2 p.I., [7]--89, 2 p. incl. double table.
Copies: LC, NYP.
Copy : LC •

THE UP-TO-DATE universal letter writer, containing a large variety of specimen letters. . .
also simplified rules for punctuation, the use
of capital letters and the forms of salutation,
courteous closing, addresses, etc., by Paul E.
Lowe ... Baltimore, Md., I. & M. Ottenheirner
[cop. 1912]. 18crn. 243 p.

1915

- '
' '
\ ..,

. ·.
• •. :

Copie.: LC, NYP.

1913
THE ART of letter writing; a practical manual,
covering the whole field of correspondencei
by Nathaniel C. Fowler, jr. . . New York;
Sully and Kleinteich, 1913. 17.5crn. viii, [9].207 p.
;,<-·'./

<.
1

Copies: LC, NYP.

· '

1~.r: .~r

How to write a letter; a modem tre~tlse
giving styles and forms for all kinds of lette
129 letters on all subjects. . . New York, G.
Dillingham Company [cop. 1913). 19cui. 1,
(5]-114 p.
.
\\y
Copy: LC.

··

1914

;,Ir\

r· .- •
i\

,

How to make love the mystery of love making
explained. The great secret of wooing and
winning - together with a variety of notable
and appropriate model love letters. By Joshua
Whitcornbe. Copyright, MCMXV, by I. & M.
Ottenheirner. Mr. Luck's Curio Co. Roots,
Herbs, Curio Candles, Occult Books and Incense. 207 North Michigan Ave. Chicago, Ill.
18 x 13cm. 95 p .
wiSi0~~1;:~'i1; ,!!~~t~. Make Love." First cover-page
1

Copy : NYP.

NAJNOWSZ~ . i najpraktyczniejszy listownik
polsko-arnerykat'iski. : . The latest and most
complete Polish and American letter writer;
being a very useful guide to correspondence
between the Polish and English speaking
people on all subjects of every. day life. Opracowal T. C. Skaryszewski. Chieago, Ill., New
York, Polish American Publishing Company
[cop. 1916]. !Bern. 269 p.
Copy: LC.

PRACTICAL English for high schools, by
William D. Lewis ... and James Fleming Hosie
. . . New York, Cincinnati [etc.]: American
Book Company [cop. 1916]. 19crn. 415 p.
illus.
Copy : LC.

1918
EFFECTIVE English and letter writing; a practical drill in the principles of grammar and
their application to business forms, customs
and usages, consisting of a series of carefully graded lessons that trace by easy steps
the natural development of the subjects treated.
Battle Creek, Mich., Ellis Publishing Company
[cop. 1918). 23crn. 106 p. illus. (forms.)
Preface signed: W. W. Kennedy, T. B. Bridges,
authors.
Copy: LC.

THE KNACK of writing good letters; a short,
practical course in the actual mental movements to make in the composition of any kind
of letter. By Herbert Watson... New York,
Business Book Concern [cop. 1918]. 20Y,crn.
5v.
Copy: LC.

THE SOCIAL letter, by Elizabeth Myers. New
York, Brentano's, 1918. 19crn. xiii p., 1 1.,
147 p. tables.
Copies : LC, NYP, G.

LADIES' letter-writer. The Arthur · Westbrook
~o., Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. A. [1915?]
Advertised for 12 cts. in New tramp jokes, published
by same firm.
.

THE UP-TO-DATE letter writer. The Arthur
Westbrook Co., Cleveland, Ohio, U. S. A.
[1915?]
Advertised for 10 cto. in New tramp jokes, published by ,same firm.

1916
THE, GoRDON-DETWILER Spanish letter writer,
by Grant Gordon and Justice B. Detwiler,
assisted by Walter Vernier, A. Centeno Bar. cena, Pedro Cezon and other members of "the
Gordon-Detwiler staff. . • San Francisco, Gor,, don-Detwiler Institute [cop. 1916]. 28cm.
\ 1 p.!., 5--77, [1) p.
_',;.: Copy: LC.

49

1919
PuTNAM's phrase book; an aid to social letter
writing and to ready and effective conversation,
with over 100 model social letters and 6000
of the world's best English phrases, comp. and
arranged by Edwin Hamlin Carr. New York ·
and London, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1919. 1'.7cm.
iv p., 2 I., 327 p.
Copy: LC.

THE UP-TO-DATE, practical letter writer. A comprehensive and practical guide to correspondence, showing the structure, composition,
formalities and uses of the various kinds of
letters, notes, and cards. By E. J. Strong •...
New York, Wiley Book Co. [cop\ 1_919.] .
. Copy: G.

·

' .. 1·

·.'
'

/.

1920
MILITARY correspondence, reports and orders,
by Lucius Hudson Holt. . . Poughkeepsie,
N. Y., The Clinton Press, cop. 1920. 20cm.
1 p.l., 73 p .
Copy: LC.

. . . SOCIAL letters made easy, by Gabrielle
Rosiere. New York, E . J. Clode [cop. 1920].
1 p.l., 5-175 p. 12°. (Made easy series. )
Copy: LC.

1921
. . . A CouRsE in secretarial correspondence,
divided into thirty lessons, by Stella Stewart
Center . . . New York, Columbia University,
1921. 23cm.
At head of title : Columbia University in the city
of New York.
Copy : LC.

MILITARY correspondence, reports and orders,
by Lucius Hudson Holt. .. assisted by James
Joseph O'Hara . . . James Gilbert Taylor .. . and
Clesen Henry Tenney. . . New York, Frederick A. Stokes Company [cop. 1921] . 19.Scm.
5 p.I., 208 p. illus. (forms), folded tables.
Copy: LC.

THE NEW standard business and social letterwriter; business, family and social correspondence, refined love-letters, marriage proposals,
acceptances and refusals, etiquette, synonyms,
legal forms, etc., by Alfred B. Chambers .. .
Chicago, Laird & Lee [1921]. 19.Scm. 1 p.l.,
xviii, 3-276 p., front., illus.
Copy : LC.

. . . SCALES for measuring special types of English composition, by Ervin Eugene Lewis .. .
Yonkers-on-Hudson, N. Y., World Book Company, 1921. 18.Scm. v, 144 p. tables (part
folded) . (School efficiency monographs. )
I ssued also as thesis (Pa.D) versity, 1921.
Bibliography: p. 141-142.
Copy: LC.

Columbia Uni·

WHEN you write a letter; some suggestions
as to whv, when and how it should be done,
by Thomas Arkle Clark. . . Chicago, New
York [etc.]: B. B. Sanborn & Co. [cop. 1921.]
19.Scm. l p.l., 165 p!
Copies : LC, NYP.

1922
APPLIED business correspondence, by Herbert
Watson. Chicago, New York [etc.] A. W.
Shaw Company [cop. 1922]. 25cm. l p.l.,
[ v ]-xiv, 599 p. illus. diagrs.
Copy: LC.

THE BooK of letters, what letters to write
for every purpose, business and social. The
etiquette of correspondence, by Mary Owens

Crowther. Garden City, N. Y., Doubleday,
Page & Company, 1922. 2lcm. xii p ., 1 l,
272 p. illus. (forms.)

..

Copies: LC, NYP, G, HTM.

· SOCIAL letters and etiquette of correspondence,
by Carleton B. Case. Chicago, Shrewesbury
Publishing Co. [cop. 1924.) 18cm. 156 p.
Copy: LC.
I

T.ilE LITERATURE of letters; famous literary
letters as related to life, to the history of literature, and to the art of composition, selected
and interpreted by John B. Opdycke. Chicago,
New .York, Lyons & Carnahan [cop. 1925).
18cm. 3 p .I., 5-504 p., 1 I., front.

Copies: LC, HTM.

A LETTER book, selected with an introduction
on the history and art of letter-writing, by
George Saintsbury. [4th impression.] London,
G. Bell and Sons, Ltd.; New York, Harcourt,
Brace and Co., 1922. 19cm. xii, 306 p.

Lettered on cover: Stratford classics.
Bibliography: p. 475-492 .
Copy : LC• .

1926
AMERICAN letter writing, by Ethel Shubert . . .
Suggestions, precepts and examples for the
conduct of business and social correspondence.
Philadelphia, The Penn Publishing Company,
1926. 16cm. 216 p.

Copy: LC.

1923
THE Boox: of letters; what letters to write
for every purpose, business and social. The •
etiquette of correspondence. By May Owens
Crowther. Garden City, N. Y.: Nelson Double- 1
day, Inc., 1923. 2lcm. xii p., l I., 272 p . illus.
(forms. )
Copy : NYP.

.

Copy: LC.

THE CHILDREN's own book of letters and
stories, by Maude Burbank Harding . . . Boston, Mass., Marshall Jones Company, cop.
1926. 19.Scm. 6 p.l., 221 p.

·t-

Copy: LC .

. . . Pru:PARATION of correspondence for the slg· 1 '
nature of the postmaster general. Washington, ~
D. C. February l, 1923. Washington,
Print. Off., 1923. 23cm. ii, 10 p.
• \i

1927

Gov.:

At bead of title: Post Office Department.
Copy : LC.
.

.,

~

. }· - . ~l.

1924

ti: r.

Paper covers. (25 cents] .
Copy: NYP.

· ;1 '

A Boox: of letters for young people. By Stella
S. Center and L. M. Saul. New York. ·Tht
Century Company. 1924.
1' ~~ "

1928
I

BusINESs letters and how to write them. The
modem improvements in busine~s correspondence told in simple language. By Carleton B.
Case. Shrewesbury, Publishing Co. Chicago.
Copyright, 1928. ls x 12cm. 158 p. + 2 p.
advts.
Paper covers.
Copy: NYP.

,,

.SUPREME letter writer; a guide to social and
business correspondence with forms of address.·ing important personages, by Cay Vernon. New
,1 York, G. Sully and Company [cop. 1928).
~ 19Y, cm. xvii, 226 p.
. .
Copies : LC, NYP.

Reference: United States Catalogue, 1928. ' "~

1929

I . .'' ;:

THE ETIQUETTE of letter writing, by Laura .
Thornborough ·[pseud.]. New York, N. Y.,
Newark, N. J., Barse & Hopkins [cop. 19~]. ..
19.Scm. xi, 13-183 p.
,.
'"..'rt.«!. •

>rHE COMPREHENSIVE letter writer of com' mercial and personal correspondence; a comt plete and exhaustive volume on letter writing
Copies : LC, NYP.
.1~· • ,.; .
embr.acing all forms of correspondence, busi~
•"' ~ ' . ness and social. A new and revised edition,
How to write love-letters <40 c.>. Shrew.;,.:.
_,,,,;,,·....,.- . containing an original collection of letters on
bury Publishing Co. Chicago. [circa 1924.) ~ ,
ll b'
Al
ul f
d
Advertised in Buiness lt1t1r1 ,.,.4 1111.., u ' -*
a su 1ects. so r es or con ucting debate,
tliem, 1928.
<"' · postal rates, business law, maxims, interest
'I
-

t

l

4

-

-- ~

'

Copy: NYP.

1930
How to write; meeting the needs of everyday
life, by John Mantle Clapp ... and Homer
Heath Nugent. . . New York, The Ronald
Press Company [cop. 1930). 22cm. viii, 555 p.
Copy : LC.

•

LETrER writing, business and social; a manual
on the craft of letter writing, with instructions
and specimen· letters, by H. Cramp, PH.B.
[Helen Cramp.] Philadelphia, Chicago [etc.]
The John C. Winston Company [cop. 1930).
19cm. vii, 184 p.
Copy : LC.

T8;E SECRETARY'S handbook. By Sarah Augusta
Tamtor. 5th ed. New York, Macmillan Co.
1930.
THE ST~DARO letter writer, a manual of
social and business forms .. . by R. B. Stem.
Chicago, Laidlaw Brothers [cop. 1930). 19cm.
vi, 7-256 p.
Copy : LC.

Copies: LC, NYP.

"~

THE AMERICAN letter writer. Containing an •,
anthology of original letters constituting a ..
perfect guide to commercial and friendsltlp
correspondence, together with business and
social forms and an exchange of model letten 1 ,
upon the tender passion between lovers. By
Paci E .. Lowe. David McKay Company, Pub-(
lishers, 604-608 South Washington Square. '
Philadelphia, Pa. Copyright, 1924. 18.5 x l2cm. •
64p.
'
•il .

SuccESs In letter writing, business and social.
By Sherwin Cody .. . New rev. ed. Rochester,
N. Y., Sherwin Cody School of English. 1929.
17cm. xiv p., 11., 17-224 p.

Copy: HTM.

CORRESPONDENCE, invitations· and their replies,
by Helen Hathaway [pseud.] . New York, N. Y.,
Home Makers' Bureau of People's Home Journal [cop. 1927). 20.5cII). 1p.1.,40 p.

, _r

11 ••

tables and an extensive !l.ictionary of abbreviations. Chicago: Regan Puhl. 1929. 18.Scm:
216p.
On cover : Regan handbook series.
Copy: NYP.

1925

A DESK book on correct social correspondence
and the etiquette of social stationery, by Caroline De Laney. New York, Pittsfield, Eaton,
Crane & Pike Company [cop. 1922]. 13cm.
3 p.I., 150 p.

,

51

American Letter-Writers, 1698-1943

The New York Public Library

50

.

WRITING letters, by Charles G. Reigner . ..
Baltimore, Chicago, etc. The H. M. Rowe
Company [cop. 1930]. 22Y,cm. 173 p. incl.
front., illus.
Copies: LC, NYP.

1931
THE BLUE book of social and friendly correspondence, by Mary Owens Crowther. [Garden City, N. Y.:] Published by Doubleday,
Doran & Company, Inc., for N. Doubleday,
Inc . .[cop. 1931.) 19.Scm. x p., l I.; 225 p .
incl. illus., plates.
·
"First edition. "
Published in 1922 under the title: The book of letters.
Copy : LC.

EvERYDA Y letters for every occasion [by JEdith
Warwick. Racine, Wis., Whiteman Publishing
Company [cop. 1931]. 16Y,cm. 3 p.l., 11-76 p.
Copy: LC.

,

,

A GumE to effective writing, by Peter T. Ward
.. . New York, D. Van Nostrand Company,
Inc. [cop. 1931.] 2lcm. xi p., 1 I., 157 p.
(Rapid guides to good English.)
Copy: LC.

I

52

American Letter-Writers, 1698-1943

The New York Public Library
1932

LETTEn writing in practice; instructions, outlines and drills in writing business and social
letters. By D. B. Marti. Lincoln, Neb., The
Univ. Pub. Co., 1932. 26.5 x 20cm. 112 p.
incl. forms.

TEN talks: personality applied and expressed
[by] / · J. Theobald ... [Fort Wayne, cop.
1934. 23.Scm. 76 p.
On cover:' Talks on persona1ity, applied and ex·
pressed. "Supplementin~ the author's course in 'per·
sonality and personalys1s.' "
Copy: LC.

1935

Copy: NYP.

THE M1ssmNARY's manual of Chinese correspondence, compiled by Harold A. Weller
. . . Shanghai, China Inland Mission, 1932.
18.5cm. 2 p.l., 16 p., 1 I., [I], 51, 51 p.

Goon letter-writing made easy [by] Judith
Lanier. . . [New York, Readet Mail, Inc.,
1935.] 18.Scm. 32 p., 1 illus. (Home service
booklets. l l 4. )

Title in English and Chinese.
"These examples have been prepared in simple
wen-Ii . . . Each letter is also reprcxluccd [on the oppo·
site page] in the colloqui al." - Preface.
Colloquial letter s paged with Chi11ese numerals.
Copy: LC.

THE LETTERS we write, by Emily Post. [Holyoke, Mass.] White & Wyckoff [cop. 1935].
12 x 9cm. cover-title, 27, 1 p.

SPEECHCRAFT: practical training in letter writing... Chicago, Ill., Speechcraft, Inc. [cop.
1932.] 19.5cm. 12 v. illus.
Copy : LC.

1933
SIMPLE letters for foreign born adults, by
Sarah Elkus ... and Babette S. Schwarz ...
New York, Chicago [etc.] C. Scribner's Sons
[cop. 1933]. 25cm. 32 p. incl. forms.
Copy: LC.

1934
BETTER letters: an indispensable reference
volume for students, and those in business
who do not want to stand still, by John Irwin
Billman . . . introduction by James Cloyd Bowman . . . Kansas City, Mo., The Executives
Guild [cop. 1934.]. 23 Y, cm. 289, [6] p.
Bibliography: p. 289.
Copy: LC.

INTERESTING letters, how to write them . ..
by Sherwin Cody ... New York, Chicago [etc.]
The Gregg Publishing Company, cop. [1934.]
20.5cm.
Copy: LC.

SoME short observations for the Lady Mary
Stanh ope concerning the writing of ordinary
letters, by Philip, second earl of Chesterfield
. . . edited by W. S. Lewis. . . Farmington,
Conn., Privately printed, 1934. 19.Scm. 2 p.I.,
16 p., 2 I., front. (port. )
Half-title: Miscellaneous antiquities. no. 9.
" One hundred copies printed for Wilmarth Sheldon
Lewis . .. Edmund B. Thompson, printer, Windham,
Connecticut."
"Extracts of only about a sixth of . .. [the] observations arc given." - p. 5.
Copies: LC, NYP.

TEACHING letter writing as a composition art:
a teacher's manual for "Interesting letters," by
Sherwin Cody. New York, Chicago, etc. The
Gregg Publishing Company [cop. 1934] .
2oy._~~~ ~ p .I., 45 p .

uBooks to help and inspire" : p. 32.
Copy : LC.

Copy: LC.

PERSONAL letters in business; a guide to correct usage, by John Mantle Clapp. . . New
York, The Ronald Press Company [cop. 1935].
2lcm. v p., 11., 337 p.
Copy: LC.

1936
Coruu:cr social letter writing; twelve charming
studies, by Josephine Turck Baker . . . Chicago, Ill., The Correct English Publications,
Inc. [1936.] 19cm. 95, [l] p.
"New edition 1936." Published 1909 under title: The
art of social letter writing.
Copy: LC.

THE HANDBOOK of social correspondence;
notes, letters, and announcements for various _,
occasions, by Sarah Augusta Taintor and Kate
M. Monro. New York, The .Macmillan Company, 1936. 2lcm. vii p., 2 I., 3-307 p. illus.

1938
. How to write good social letters, a modem
guide to good form, by Marianne Mead . ..
Cleveland, 0., New York, The World Syndicate Publishing Company [cop. 1938]. 20Y.cm.
4 p.I., 2 p., 1 I., 3-255 p.
{;opy: LC.

SuccESSFUL letter writing, business and personal, by Aline E. Hower. Garden City, N. Y.,
Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc., 1938.
20cm. x p., 1 l., 289 p.
"First edition."
Copy: LC.

1939
THE HANDBOOK: of social correspondence;
notes, letters, and announcements for various
occasions. By Sarah Augusta Taintor and Kate
M. Monro. New York, The Macmillan Company. 1939. 2lcm. vii p., 2 I., 3-307 p. illus.
Copy: NYP.

PoST haste : a manual for modem letterwriters. By Mary C. Foley . .. and Ruth G.
Gentles. . . Illustrations by Chichi Lasley.
New York and London, Harper & Brothers,
cop. 1939.
Copy: G.

THE SECRETARY's handbook; a manual of correct usage, by Sarah Augusta Taintor ... and
Kate M. Monro. . . 5th ed., completely reset
and rev. New York, The Macmillan Company,
1939. 2lcm. xiv p ., 11., 512 p. illus.
Includes bibliographies.
Copy: LC.

1940

1937

How to write letters for all occasions. By Lloyd
E. Smith. Haldeman-Julius Company, Girard,
Kansas. <Little blue book no. 855.> Copyright, n. d. [circa 1940.] 12.5 x 8.5cm. 64 p.

THE SECRETARY'S handbook; a manual of correct usage, by Sarah Augusta Taintor . .. and
Kate M. Monro . . . 5th ed., completely reset
and rev. New York, The Macmillan Company,
1937. 2lcm. xiv p., 11., 512 p . illus.

How to write love letters. By Leo Markun.
Haldeman-Julius Publications, Girard Kansas.
<Little blue book no. 1244>. Copyright n. d.
[circa 1940.] 12.5 x 8.5cm. 64 p.

"First printing."
Copy : LC.

Includes bibliographies.
Copies: LC, NYHS, RU.

Paper covers.
Copy : NYP. ·

Paper covers .
Copy: NYP.

SuccEss in letter writing, business and social,
by Sherwin Cody... Rochester, N. Y., Sherwin Cody School of English, 1937. 17.Scm. x,
11-155, [5] p.

LETTER problems simplified, by Kitty Warfield. . . Los Angeles, Lymanhouse [cop.
1940]. 19cm. 2 p.I., 7-70 p.

Blank pages {or "Memo." [ 5] at end. In manu·
script on t. p. : Second edition .
Copy: LC.

1941

TAKE a letter please! A cyclopedia of business
and social correspondence, by John B. Opdycke... New York and London, Funk &
Wagnalls Company, 1937. 22cm. ix p., 2 1.,
479 p. illus.
r --= -- ·

Tr

MVO

Copy : LC.

How to write letters (formerly The book of
letters). A complete guide to correct business
and personal correspondence, by Mary Owens
Crowther. Garden City, N. Y., Garden City
Publishing Company, Inc. [cop. 1941.] 20.Scm.
xii p., 1 l., 287 p. illus.
C'oov: LC.

53

How to write letters for all occasions [by]
Cynthia Sanderson ... [New York, Home Institute, Inc., 1941.] 23cm. 40 p. illus. (Home
institute booklets. 27. )
'
Copy: LC.

MAIClNG words work for you, by Lloyd Edwin
Smith . .. Garden City, N. Y., Blue Ribbon
Books [1941]. 20Y.cm. xi, 372 p.
Copy: LC.

1942
How to write letters for all occasions. Business
letters, by Alexander L. Sheff . . . Social letters
by Edna Ingalls ... New York, The New
Home Library [1942]. 2lcm. x, 278 p.
.Copies: LC, NYP.

1943
A GUIDE to intimate letter writing. By Jeanne
Georgette. Cambridge House, New York. cop.
[1943.] 20 x 13cm. 192 p.
Paper covers.
Copy: NYP.

How to ·write better letters. By Marcel M.
Swartz, direct mail consultant. Franklin Watts,
Inc. 285 Madison Ave., New York. Copyright
1943. 27 x 21Y,cm. 96 p.
.
Ycll_ow paper covers. Liihoprintcd t~xt.
Copies : NYP, L.C.

How to write a letter. A complete letter writer
for ladies and gentlemen. A perfect guide.
All kinds and forms of epistolary correspondence ... <25 cents>. I. & M. Ottenheimer,
Baltimore, Md.
Reference: Advertised in 1943 I. & M. Ottenheimer
catalogue.

' How to write love letters. Edited by Walter S.
Keating. Revised ed. Stravon Publishers, New
York, N. Y. [cop. 1943.] 19.5 x 14cm. 96 p.
Paper covers.
Copy : NYP.

LETTER writing in wartime. "How and what
to write about." By G. A. Reeder. Foreword
by John Kieran. Books, Inc. [New York, N. Y.]
1943. 20 x 13.Scm. + 226 p.
Cloth covers.
Copy : NYP,

SocIAL letters and etiquette of correspondence.
By Carleton B. Case < 40 cents>. 12mo. 160 p.

K!f:;.:;~;~r..tdvertised in

1943 I. & M. Otttenheimer

catalogue.

THE UP-TO-DATE letter-writer, containing simplified directions for writing letters, with
proper forms of salutations, courteous closing,
addresses, etc. Also, practical demonstration of
tl1e rules for punctuation, use of capitals and
model letters, covering a wide range of subjects. <25 cents>. I. & M. Ottenheimer, 114
South Street, Baltimore, Md.
Reference: Advertised in 1943 I. & M. Ottcnheimer

"'"'."'"'°'"""

' ·,

The New York Public Library
UNDATED LETTER-WRITERS
IERICAN fashionable letter-writer. Boston,
W. Cottrell. n. d. ·
:opy: AAS. ·

ox: of love letters and how to write them.
·ladies and gentlemen .. . n. p., n. d.
'over-title: Model book of love letter• • ••
'opy : YU.

COMPLETE letter-writer . .. [Charles WalBrown.] Chicago, n. d . 19cm. 319 p.

E

in U. S. A. [Home service bookiet no. 114.]
18 x 12cm. 32 p.
Paper covers.
Copn ' NYP.

.,

LADIES and gents' letter writer and guide to
polite behaviour. Boston, Cottrell, n. d.
Copy : UP.

MODEL letter writer.
n. d.

J.

A. Waldo. New York,

:opy : NYS (missing),

. Copy: AAS.

OD letter-writing made easy. By Judith La~
r. Copyright by Reader Mail, Inc. Printed

PocKET letter writer. Boston. n. d.
Copy : AAS.

.,.

,.
The New York Public Library
in U. S. A. [Home service boolc1et no. 114.]
18 x 12cm. 32 p.

mATED LETTER-WRITERS
fashionable letter-writer. Boston,
ottrell. n. d.

.N

Paper covers.
Copy: NYP.

\AS.

LADIES and gents' letter writer and guide to
polite behaviour. Boston, Cottrell, n. d.

love letters and how to write them.
is and gentlemen . .. n. p., n. d .

Copy: UP.

tie: Model book of love letter• ...
' U.

MoDEL letter writer. J. A. Waldo. New York,
n.d.

letter-writer .. . [Charles Waln .] Chicago, n. d. 19cm. 319 p.

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Copy : AAS •

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PocKET letter writer. Boston. n. d.

:ter-writing made easy. By Judith Lapyright by Reader Mail, Inc. Printed

Copy : AAS.

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