The letters concern various publishing interests, especially the securing of the rights to publish American editions of certain Murray publications. Also mentioned are copyright, and the encouragement of links between American publishers and the International Publishers’ Association.

(i) Letters of William Henry Appleton to John Murray III.



Letters 1871, 1889-1890: folios 1-5.

(ii) Letters of William Worthen Appleton mostly to John Murray IV, and also to John Murray III and Hallam Murray.

The letters are arranged chronologically.

1881, 1889: folios 6-10;

1890-1899: folios 11-54;

1900, 1902, 1913 1918-1919: folios 55-69.

Undated: folios 70-72.

(iii) Letters of D. Appleton and Company, New York, to John Murray, publishers.

1851: folio 73;

1886 (single letter with, as an enclosure, plates I to VII from the first edition of “The expression of the emotions in man and animals” by Charles Darwin): folios 74-82;

1889: folios 83-84;

1890-1893: folios 85-91.

(iv) Letters of D. Appleton and Company, London office, to John Murray, publishers.

1889: folios 92-93;

1897-1898, of G.W. Sheldon: folios 94-96;

1902, 1904, of Sidney Appleton: folios 97-98.

(v) Letters concerning “The ice age in North America, and its bearings upon the antiquity of man”, by George Wright, published by

D. Appleton and Company, 1889.

Letter, 21 June 1889, of William Allen and Company, London agent for D. Appleton and Company, to John Murray IV. Folios 99-100.

Letter, 27 June 1889, of Robert Etheridge (1819-1903) to Robert Cooke. Folios 101-102.

(vi) Letters concerning the death of William Worthen Appleton.

Letter, 25 February [1924], of Margaret S. Appleton to John Murray IV. Folios 103-104.

Letters, 18 February and 27 March 1924, of Rutger Bleecker Jewett to John Murray IV. Folios 105-106.

(vii) Newspaper cutting.

“International copyright. The extraordinary action of Canada. Mr. Spofford’s views – Assurances given by Lord Salisbury – Publishers’ demands denied”. Folio 107.