Francis Isaac Du Roveray collection, 1795-1810

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Summary

Creators:
Du Roveray, Francis Isaac, 1772-1849
Abstract:
A collection of correspondence related to the merchant and publisher, Francis Isaac Du Roveray.
Extent:
1.2 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials are in English and French.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Francis Isaac Du Roveray collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The majority of this collection is made up of letters written to Francis Isaac Du Roveray from British and French printers, and engravers, including Thomas Bensley, Robert Bowyer, Vincent Figgins, Thomas Palser, Bryan Troughton, and Gaetano Testolini. The largest part of the letters is about the production of books, costs of publishing, engravings, and illustrations. There are several drafts of letters written by Du Roveray and a copy of an agreement for the publishing of a book. Several of the letters are in French.

Biographical / historical:

Francis Isaac Du Roveray (1772-1849) was the son of a Genevan Huguenot immigrant, John Peter Du Roveray, who was settled in London, England, by 1765. Francis Isaac Du Roveray was born in London and probably educated at home. Beginning at the age of twenty, he entered into business as a discount broker and expanded to selling wine, guns, antique gems, and various other objects of value. He opened a shop in London in 1799 and, in the first part of the 19th century, he was mainly involved with publishing and building up his collection of drawings and paintings. By 1810, he was winding up his publishing business to concentrate on building his collections and becoming a dealer of paintings, drawings, engravings, and books. Du Roveray never married and died on November 9, 1849, in London and is buried in Abney Park Cemetery.

Acquisition information:
Thomas Bensley letters were purchased from Sotheby's, October 1974.
Processing information:

Processed by Brooke M. Black in 2018; in May 2024, Gayle M. Richardson created the finding aid.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Francis Isaac Du Roveray collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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