Memorandum of agreement for publication of The Wonderful Visit by H.G. Wells

Memorandum of agreement (2 manuscript pages) between Herbert George Wells and Messrs J. M. Dent & Co. of Aldine House, 69, Great Eastern Street, London E.C. Some closed fold tears and age toning, creasing and wear; light pencil notes throughout. Pin holes in the upper left corner, near the six pence revenue stamp.

H G Wells was born in Bromley, Kent, and educated locally. From the age of 13 he worked unsuccessfully as a draper's assistant and chemist's assistant, before becoming a pupil teacher Midhurst Grammar School. In 1884 he began studying under Thomas Huxley at the Normal School (later the Royal College) of Science in South Kensington, but left without a degree; he finally gained a University of London BSc in 1890. Wells became a teacher and freelance journalist before branching out into novels and short stories. He was married twice and had several other ongoing liaisons with women, including the writer Rebecca West (afterwards Dame Cicily Andrews). Today he is best known for his science fiction works, including The Time Machine (1895) and The War of the Worlds (1898); during his lifetime he was also known as a non-fiction writer and a committed socialist.

Trained as a bookbinder, Dent founded the publishing firm J.M. Dent and Company in 1888, and printed small runs and high quality volumes of Chaucer, Tennyson and Jane Austen. Dent's success as a publisher was based on consistently transforming his business. The firm eventually published textbooks, travel guides and children's books and, in 1894, the popular Temple Shakespeare series. J. M. Dent & Sons was acquired by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in 1988.

Open for research although at least 24 hours advance notice should be given.

Acquired at auction ($350) from Invaluable auctions (Lion Heart Autographs, New York).

Fonds-level description on Senate House Libraries archives catalogue