Launceston Booksellers in the 19th Century. Part Two

On Saturday November 23rd, 1844, Samuel Tegg purchased one and a half double columns on the front page of the Launceston Examiner to announce his imminent arrival in the town.

To the Inhabitants of Launceston and its Vicinity.

S. A. TEGG respectfully intimates to his friends and the public generally that he has taken those eligible and spacious premises, lately in the occupation of Mr. Cameron, situated in Brisbane-street, which he will OPEN ON MONDAY NEXT, the 26th instant, with a SPLENDID ASSORTMENT of BOOKS, STATIONERY, FANCY GOODS, &c., which it is his intention to offer at such prices that he hopes will insure him a share of their kind patronage. S. A. T. will always be enabled to afford novelty from the advantage he has over the rest of the trade by receiving NEW GOODS direct from the LONDON MARKET by every vessel.

To which was appended a detailed inventory of books, stationery, playing cards, perfumery, fancy goods, drawing materials and music.

Tegg's incursion may have surprised some residents in light of a protracted law suit brought against him by prominent local newspaper owner, publisher and bookseller Henry Dowling, and settled in Dowling's favour in 1841.

Samuel Tegg was a son of one of London's most successful booksellers Thomas Tegg (1), who pioneered the "remainder trade" and sent three of his sons to the colonies with a view to establishing a global business empire. Samuel first assisted his brother James in Sydney before returning to London for stock to establish himself in Hobart in 1838. He sold this business to James Walch in 1845.

Tegg's plate from a book inscribed 'Tegg's Circulating Library Launceston'

In a short period in the colonies Samuel Tegg publications included James Knox's Poetic Trifles (1838), David Burn's Plays and Fugitive Pieces (1842), James Bonwick's Geography for the Use of Australian Youth (1845), and Nathaniel Kentish's Essay on Capital Punishment (1842) and Work in the Bush (1846).

His residence in VDL was interrupted by several voyages back to Britain, and most significantly by the deaths of his brothers Henry, in South Africa in 1844, James (1845), and his father Thomas (1846) whose passing was followed by the sudden death of younger brother Alfred Byron the following day.

Samuel was required to assist his brother William in Britain, and he left the Launceston business in the hands of Robert Blake with a promise that he would continue to supply the establishment from London. He returned to sell the Launceston store to Mr Blake in 1847, but by 1849 the business was insolvent and Mr Blake's stock was sold at auction on April 25th of that year.

The enterprise was then re-established on the same site by John Alfred Huxtable, who also operated a bookshop in Hobart's Murray Street. Huxtable and Co. opened for business at the beginning of 1851 and a year later was taken over by its manager Mr A Duthie.

Four owners in five years may not have been a promising start, but this bookshop was about to enter a long period of stability and commercial success. Duthie sold the business to Hobart bookseller James Walch at the beginning of 1858, and it traded under the name J Walch and Sons until 1867. James Walch had employed Andrew Birchall as his Launceston manager, and between 1867 and 1893 the business operated as a partnership, Walch Bros. and Birchall.

An advertisement from Wise's Tasmanian Post Office Directory, 1891

Andrew Birchall purchased the business outright in 1893, and from that date traded as A. W. Birchall and Sons. His name is perpetually associated with the business which still operates from the same premises, offers a very similar product range, and since 1921 has traded as Birchalls Pty Ltd.

Examples of blindstamps found in LMI books

In addition to close commercial ties with the Launceston Mechanics' Institute, Andrew Birchall served on the Board of Management – as a member (1868-1874), as a vice-president (1875-76, 1883-93), and as President (1878-1882). He was also a member of the Launceston Hospital Board, vice-president of the Benevolent Society, a member of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a Justice of the Peace, superintendent of Christ Church Sunday school and secretary to the Church building committee.

On his retirement as President the Board passed a motion thankfully acknowledging his "earnest and unwearied service ... [and] their thanks for the valuable gifts of various kinds bestowed upon the Institute, and congratulate him on its present prosperity."

In a further appointment which closely linked Birchalls with the Mechanics' Institute, Joseph Reginald Forward held the position of librarian at the Institute for over forty years. His first job in Tasmania was with A W Birchall and Sons, following which he served as assistant librarian for five years, before being appointed librarian in 1906.

(1) The LMI collection includes a copy of Henry Curwen's A History of Booksellers [1873]which contains an excellent chapter on the life and career of Thomas Tegg.