GARTNER, John

An autograph letter signed 'John' to H.B. Muir, chiefly in relation to the Victor Singer bookplate collection

Quarto, 2 pages (one leaf), on the letterhead of the Australian Bookplate Club ('President: R.H. Croll.... Secretary: John Gartner').

Folded twice for posting; some tanning and a couple of creases; in very good condition.

The letter, dated 22 January 1944, begins by referring to an article recently published in the 'Argus' (11 December 1943) in relation to the important bookplate collection of Victor Singer (1877-1943), a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany who had recently died in Melbourne. The article (mistakenly identifying him as R.A. Singer) states that 'At the moment Australian collectors are thrilled by the news that one of the finest collections ever seen in this country is being broken up and sold'. It reproduces a bookplate for Vincent van Gogh, and Gartner writes in this letter: 'It is out of my collection, and if it is genuine I got it at a bargain for 2/6. If it is not genuine, well - !!'.

After discussing the forthcoming annual general meeting of the Australian Bookplate Club, Gartner concludes: 'The list sent you was the total of Singer's books. Some I had bought and some I was not interested in. There are no brochures - practically all quarto vols of substantial thickness. As soon as possible after the meeting on Wednesday I'll pack up a parcel of Singer's bookplates and send over to you. I don't expect much will be sold'.

Christine Bell outlines a history of Singer's bookplates (many of which is now held by the State Library of Victoria) in 'The New Australian Bookplate Society Newsletter', Number 39, March 2015. This letter confirms her supposition that Gartner had handled and partially dispersed the collection.

Provenance: H.B. (Harry) Muir (1909-1992), bookseller, publisher and bookplate collector; by descent.