The Sampson Low Collection

Sampson Low (1797-1886) was a Victorian bookseller and publisher whose clients included many notable figures of the nineteenth century from Britain, North America and Europe. The Sampson Low Collection comprises two volumes of over 200 letters written by clients and friends, the majority to Sampson Low himself. The letters have been digitised and transcribed and made available online for the first time.

Image of The Sampson Low Collection
Thumbnail Type Name or title Description
preview image letterLetter from Angela Burdett-CouttsAngela Burdett-Coutts provided funds for explorers David Livingstone and Henry Morton Stanley's...
preview image letterLetter from Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of ShaftesburyThe Earl of Shaftesbury writes to Sampson Low regarding Harriet Beecher Stowe who had been taken ill.
preview image letterLetter from Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of WellingtonThe Duke of Wellington was appointed as the Lord Warden and Constable of Dover Castle in 1829. In...
preview image letterLetter from Baptist Wriothesley NoelThis is a personal letter of sympathy from Baptist Wriothesley Noel regarding the recipient's...
preview image letterLetter from Charles H. BennettIn this personal letter dated the 26th of December 1864, Charles H. Bennett accepts an invitation...
preview image letterLetter from Frederick Locker-LampsonFrederick Locker writes a personal letter referring to his poor health and a forthcoming trip to...
preview image letterLetter from Harriet Beecher StoweHarriet Beecher Stowe's letter to Sampson Low (whose name she misspells as Lowe) refers to her...
preview image letterLetter from Harriet MartineauIn this four page letter, Harriet Martineau writes at length about works written by the architect...
preview image letterLetter from James Cooley Fletcher (1)A personal letter to Sampson Low from James Cooley Fletcher in which he refers to Low's recently...
preview image letterLetter from James Cooley Fletcher (2)In this seven page personal letter to Sampson Low, James Cooley Fletcher writes quite a lot about...
preview image letterLetter from James Hamilton FennellThe writer is probably the author James Hamilton Fennell. He writes a 3 page letter which covers...
preview image letterLetter from Maria Susanna CumminsIn her letter to Sampson Low & Co, Maria Cummins writes over a page regarding financial matters and...
preview image letterLetter from Ralph Waldo EmersonIn his letter Ralph Waldo Emerson refers to being a stranger in London and to not knowing a Mr...
preview image letterLetter from Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess WellesleyA short compliment note to Lord William Bentinck from Lord Wellesley.
preview image letterLetter from Thomas Kibble HerveyIn his letter addressed to Rev. Thomas Dale, Thomas Kibble Hervey talks about having a cold and...
preview image letterLetter from Washington IrvingIn this letter from Washington Irving to his friend the publisher George Putnam at Christmas time,...
preview image letterLetter from William Henry ProwseWilliam Henry Prowse writes a personal letter to Sampson Low Junior reflecting on his current poor...
preview image letterLetter from William James StewartWilliam Stewart has been offered a job in law, in India, where his brother Sir Richard Couch has...
preview image letterLetter from William Lambert HotchkinThis is a personal letter edged in black, informing Sampson Low of the death from blood poisoning...
preview image letterLetter from William ShortIn this personal and religious letter, which appears to be written to to Sampson Low Junior, Rev....