Arthur Tooth & Sons stock inventories and accounts, 1871-1959 860679

Jocelyn Gibbs
Special Collections
2006, revised in 2022
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles 90049-1688
Business Number: (310) 440-7390
Fax Number: (310) 440-7780
reference@getty.edu


Contributing Institution: Special Collections
Title: Arthur Tooth & Sons stock inventories and accounts
Creator: Arthur Tooth & Sons
Identifier/Call Number: 860679
Physical Description: 48.5 Linear Feet (36 volumes)
Date (inclusive): 1871-1959
Abstract: The records of Arthur Tooth & Sons consist of an incomplete set of stock books, sales books, consignment books, and account ledgers. They primarily focus on the transactions the firm made in London from 1871 to 1959, but also include a ledger recording sales made in New York from 1906 to 1912.
Physical Location: Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the catalog record  for this collection. Click here for the access policy .
Language of Material: Collection material is in English.

Related Collections

Records of Arthur Tooth and Sons, London, 1884-1976, Tate Gallery Archives, TGA 20106.
Copyright registers and correspondence between Arthur Tooth and Sons and Stanley Spencer, 1870-[c. 1960], Tate Gallery Archives, TGA 8917.
Exhibition catalogues issued by Arthur Tooth and Sons and dating from 1878 to 1976, National Art Library, London.
Exhibition catalogues issued by Arthur Tooth and Sons and dating from 1904 to 1974, Getty Research Institute, Research Library.

Scope and Content of Collection

The records of Arthur Tooth & Sons consist of an incomplete set of stock books, sales books, consignment books, and account ledgers. They primarily focus on the transactions the firm made in London from 1871 to 1959.
The archive includes a set of stock books dating from 1871 to 1943, which records transactions related to paintings, drawings, prints, ceramics, sculptures, tapestries, and furniture. A set of sales books dating from 1902 to 1945 records the sales of paintings, drawings, china, sculptures, furniture, and other objects, which were part of the firm's stock or sold on commission by the firm. Four consignment books dating from 1929 to 1959 document the artists Arthur Tooth & Sons worked with and from whom the gallery received consignments. A set of nine ledgers of accounts dating from 1913 to 1937, and from 1942 to 1945, documents transactions related to specific customers.
Brief references are made throughout the archive to transactions made by the firm's branches in Paris and New York, but specific records for the branch in Paris are not represented in the archive. Two volumes document the New York branch of Arthur Tooth & Sons, including the sales made by the branch from 1906 to 1912. A list of the books in stock in New York is also recorded in Stock book 4: Other publications (1928-1943).

Arrangement note

Arranged in five series:
Series I. Stock books, 1871-1943; Series II. Sales books, 1902-1945; Series III. Consignment books, 1928-1959; Series IV. Accounts, 1913-1937, 1942-1945; Series V. Ledgers related to the New York House, 1906-1924.

Biographical/Historical Note

Arthur Tooth & Sons, a firm of art dealers, was established in London in 1842. In 1866, it opened a gallery at 6 Haymarket with an exhibition dedicated to watercolor drawings. Drawings, and particularly British drawings, remained an important focus of the firm's stock throughout the years, along with British painting. The firm also dealt in prints, was active as a print publisher and, to a lesser extent, sold ceramics, furniture, sculpture, and books.
As of 1906, Arthur Tooth & Sons managed a branch in New York, which is documented until at least 1924, and the firm also had a branch in Paris. Arthur Tooth & Sons made joint acquisitions with Thomas Agnew & Sons, Arnold & Tripp, M. Knoedler & Co., Thomas McLean, P. & D. Colnaghi, Reinhardt Galleries, and other art dealers. In the 20th century, the gallery worked with contemporary artists such as Augustus John, Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson, and Matthew Smith, receiving consignments from them as well as exhibiting their work.
The closure of the gallery is generally associated with the passing in 1972 of Dudley Tooth, who was the son of Arthur Tooth and a director of the firm.
The firm's business premises have included: 5 & 6 Haymarket; 155 New Bond Street; and 31 Bruton Street. The branch in New York was established at several successive addresses (299 Fifth Avenue; 709 Fifth Avenue; 716 Fifth Avenue) and the branch in Paris was located at 41 boulevard des Capucines.
Sources consulted:
The London Gallery Project, s.v. "Arthur Tooth and Sons," viewed November 2, 2022, https://learn.bowdoin.edu/fletcher/london-gallery/
For an analysis of the purchases and sales made by Arthur Tooth and Sons in 1870 and 1871, see: Bayer, Thomas M. and John Page. "Arthur Tooth: A London Art Dealer in the Spotlight, 1870-71." Nineteenth-Century Art Worldwide 9/1 (Spring 2010).
For the 1866 inaugural exhibition, see The Rise of the Modern Art Market in London, edited by Pamela Fletcher and Anne Helmreich, pages 310-311.

Processing History

The archive was processed and the finding aid written by Jocelyn Gibbs with updates made in 2022 by Karen Meyer-Roux.

Acquisition Information

Acquired in 1986.

Preferred Citation

Arthur Tooth & Sons stock inventories and accounts, 1871-1959, The Getty Research Institute, Accession no. 860679.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa860679

Publication Rights

Access

Open for use by qualified researchers.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Art dealers -- Archives
Art dealers -- Great Britain
Art -- Collectors and collecting
Account books
Merchandise inventories
Arthur Tooth & Sons

 

Stock books, Series I. 1871-1943

Physical Description: 18.92 Linear Feet (15 volumes)

Scope and Contents note

Series I consists of fifteen stock books that record drawings, paintings, prints, and other objects acquired by Arthur Tooth & Sons. The volumes record the date of acquisition, subject, artist, size, whom it was purchased from, cost, date of sale, whom it was sold to, and (until 1892) the sale price. Beginning in 1892, the sale price is not indicated and can be identified for the years 1902-1945 by consulting the sales books in Series II.
From 1871 to 1891, there are two sets of stock books dedicated to drawings and pictures respectively. Beginning in 1892, the acquisitions of paintings, drawings, prints, ceramics, furniture, and sculpture are recorded in the same ledgers.
In these volumes, a new year is started with number 1 and first inventories unsold stock. The numbers in the left column document the objects that were in stock in a particular year, including remaining unsold stock. As a result, the numbers in the left column are attributed to different objects over the years. Beginning in 1900 Stock book 2), the stock books feature two sets of numbers. The numbers in the left column are not consistently identified with a particular object from year to year. The numbers in the right column are stock numbers.
One stock book labeled "Stock book 4: Other publications" is from an incomplete set. It documents transactions from 1928 to 1943 relating to reproductive prints, other prints, and books, including books in New York.

Arrangement

The stock books are comprised of four sets of volumes: drawings; pictures; pictures, drawings, engraved plates, and china; and prints and books.
 

Drawings, 1871-1891, 1901

Scope and Contents

The set comprises two stock books that record transactions from 1871 to 1891 related to drawings. The columns in these two stock books are: Number; Date [of acquisition]; Subject; Artist; Size; Bought of; Cost; Sold for; Date; To Whom. A third volume dating from 1901 consists of an index of artist names referencing folio or page numbers in an unidentified ledger.
box 1

1871 January 1-1878 December 31

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

The ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning May 7, 1868. Totals are given at the end of the volume for the years 1871 to 1875.
box 2

1879 January 1-1891 December 31

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

The ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning April 8, 1873. The stock book comprises two indices: one at the beginning of the volume references an unidentified ledger; one index of artist names for the year 1891 references the numbers indicated for that year in the left column.
box 3

Index, 1901 July 1

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

The volume consists of an alphabetical index of artist names referencing folio or page numbers in an unidentified ledger.
 

Pictures, 1871-1891, 1903

Scope and Contents

The set comprises four stock books that record transactions from 1871 to 1891 relating to paintings. The columns in these stock books are: Number; Date [of acquisition]; Subject; Artist; Size; Bought of; Cost; Sold for; Date; To Whom. A fifth volume dating from 1903 consists of a summary of stock for that year.
box 4

1871 January 1-1874 July 16

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

The ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning January 9, 1868.
box 5

1874 July 18-1880 December 31

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

The ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning January 8, 1868. The first entry in this volume is numbered "859" and follows the entry numbered "858" in the preceding volume ( Pictures, 1871 January 1-1874 July 16).
box 6

1881 January 1-1886 December 31

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

The ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning February 16, 1872.
box 7

1887 January 1-1891 December 31

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

The ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning January 19, 1878. The stock book comprises two indices: one at the beginning of the volume references an unidentified ledger; one index of artist names for the year 1891 references the numbers indicated for that year in the left column.
box 8

Pictures stock, 1903 July 1

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

The ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning January 17, 1878. On cover: Pictures Stock, 1 July 1903. Date on first leaf: 1 July 1900.
 

Pictures, drawings, engraved plates, china, 1892-1935

Scope and Contents

The set comprises six stock books that record transactions from 1892 to 1935 related to paintings, drawings, prints, and objects included in a category labeled "China." The category "China," also labeled "China, etc." and "China and Furniture" features ceramics, sculptures, tapestries, and furniture. Each volume consists of sections for each type of objects and there may be blank leaves between sections. The verso of each leaf bears the number of the following leaf such that a double-page spread shows a single-numbered opening.
In red ink are indicated purchases made with other firms such as half shares and partial shares. Brief references are made to transactions made by the branches in Paris and New York.
The columns in these stock books are: Number; Date; Subject; Artist; Size; Bought Of; Cost; Date [of sale]; To Whom; and (beginning in 1900) Stock Number.
box 8

Stock book 1, 1892 January 1-1896 June 30

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

Sections in the ledger include: leaves 1-136: Pictures; leaves 170-240: Drawings; leaves 246-252: Engraved plates; leaves 271-282: China.
In the section "Pictures," the ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning January 19, 1878. In the section "Drawings," the ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning May 23, 1873.
box 9

Stock book 2, 1896 July 1-1901 June 30

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

Sections in the ledger include: leaves 1-161: Pictures (stock numbers 1-1290); leaves 161-238: Drawings (stock numbers 1-581); leaves 279-288: Engraved plates; leaves 299-[310]: China.
In the section "Pictures," the ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning January 17, 1878. In the section "Drawings," the ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning May 23, 1873.
box 10

Stock book 3, 1901 July 1-1905 August 30

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

Sections in the ledger include: leaves 1-71: Pictures (stock numbers 1291-3861); leaves 249-274: Drawings (stock numbers 582-1373); leaves 282-285: Engraved plates; leaves 302-314: China, etc.
In the section "Pictures," the ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning January 17, 1878. The numbering in the left column is continuous for the years 1901-1905. In the section "Drawings," the ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning May 23, 1873.
The spine suggests the stock book records transactions from July 1, 1901 onward but the entries in the sections "Pictures," "Drawings," and "Engraved plates" date from May 1, 1901.
box 11

Stock book 4, 1905 July 1-1913 June 30

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

Sections in the ledger include: leaves 1-84: Pictures (unsold stock, 1-3836c; stock numbers 3837-6127); leaves 153-191: Drawings (unsold stock, 1-1365; stock numbers: 1370-2295); leaves 201-203: Engraved plates; leaves 221-226: China.
In the section "Pictures," the ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning January 17, 1878. In the section "Drawings," the ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning May 23, 1873.
box 12

Stock book 5, 1913 July 1-1923 October 23

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

Sections in the ledger include: leaves 1-69: Pictures (unsold stock: 1-6125, stock numbers 6126-7899); leaves 70-94: Drawings (unsold stock: 112-2291, stock numbers 2292-3025); leaves 101-104: Engraved plates; leaves 111-113: China.
In the section "Pictures," the ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning July 17, 1878. In the section "Drawings," the ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning November 29, 1895.
box 13

Stock book 6, 1923 November 1-1935 May

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

Sections in the ledger include: leaves 1-70: Pictures (unsold stock, 2019-7766; stock numbers 7900-9571); leaves 71-100: Drawings (unsold stock, 1085-3025; stock numbers: 3026-3629); leaves 101-103: Engraved plates; leaves 111-113: China and Furniture.
In the section "Pictures," the ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning July 31, 1902. In the section "Drawings," the ledger lists unsold stock acquired beginning December 9, 1902.
box 14

Stock book 4: Other publications, 1928 January 1-1943 January

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

Sections in the ledger include: leaves 1-69: [Prints]; leaves 75-100: Books; leaf 101: Books in New York.
The verso of each leaf bears the number of the following leaf such that a double-page spread shows a single-numbered opening. The transactions in the section "Books" are not recorded continuously from leaf 75 to leaf 100. They are first recorded from leaf 90 to leaf 100, then from leaf 82 to leaf 89, and then from leaf 75 to leaf 77.
The columns in this stock book are: Number; Date [of acquisition]; State; Subject; Artist; By [printmaker]; Bought of; Cost; Sold for; Date; Purchaser.
In red ink are indicated purchases made with other firms such as half shares or parial shares.
 

Sales books, Series II. 1902-1945

Physical Description: 7.7 Linear Feet (5 volumes)

Scope and Contents

The sales books record the sales of paintings, drawings, china, sculptures, furniture, and other objects, which were part of the firm's stock or sold on commission by the firm. The entries in the volumes are recorded chronologically by date of sale. The set of sales books is incomplete as it begins with a book numbered 2. The set records sales from 1902 to 1945. Prior to 1892, the sales are recorded in the stock books (see Series I. Stock books).
The sales entries may record additional information such as delivery location, collections the object was formerly part of, fees for cleaning, framing, lining, catalog raisonnés, and exhibitions. The stock number is referenced next to the subject or the title of the object. For futher information on the object, see the stock books in Series I. Stock books.
In the left column of the sales books are referenced folio numbers to the ledgers in Series IV, which document the purchases made by a specific customer.

Arrangement

Series II. Sales books is arranged in chronological and numerical order.
box 15

Picture sales no. 2, 1902 April 25-1914 October 16

Physical Description: 1 volume
box 16

Picture sales no. 3, 1914 November 26-1921 September 13

Physical Description: 1 volume
box 17

Picture sales no. 4, 1921 September 15-1928 June 27

Physical Description: 1 volume
box 17

Picture sales no. 5, 1928 June 27-1934 May 28

Physical Description: 1 volume
box 18

Picture sales no. 6, 1934 June 1-1937 December 31

Physical Description: 1 volume
box 18

Picture sales no. 7, 1938 January 3-1945 June 29

Physical Description: 1 volume
 

Consignment books, Series III. 1928-1959

Physical Description: 5 Linear Feet (4 volumes)

Scope and Contents note

The consignment books in Series III consist of a set of two volumes recording consignments from 1928-1932 and 1932-1935, and two others primarily recording later periods up to 1959.
The consignments are primarily from artists, including Nadia Benois, Paul Bonner, Brandon Davis, Jacob Epstein, Barbara Hepworth, Augustus John, Henry Moore, Cedric Morris, Paul Nash, Ben Nicholson, Matthew Smith, and Stanley Spencer. There are also sections in the volumes dedicated to consignments that are not by artists such as consignments from the trade and from private owners.
The columns in these consignment books are: Number; Date; Subject; Artist; Size; Bought of; Cost; Date Sold; To Whom; Remarks; (and for the later years) Exhibition number.

Arrangement

Series III. Consignment books is arranged in chronological order.
box 19

Consignment book, 1928 January 3-1932

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

Sections in the ledger include: leaf 75: Consignment by others than artists; leaves 83-109: Augustus John: Paintings; Drawings; leaves 116-117: Sculpture & Pottery; leaves 124-127: Brandon Davis.
box 20

Consignment book, 1932-1935

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

Sections in the ledger include: leaf [1]: index of artists; leaves 85-96: Pictures consigned by others than artists; leaves 100-109: Augustus John: Paintings; Drawings; leaves 127-130: Sculpture & Pottery; leaf 35: Paul Bonner; leaf 36: Exors Stoop.
Includes typed sheets of works consigned by Matthew Smith.
box 21

Consignments, 1928-1940

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

Sections in the ledger include: leaf [1]: Index of artists; leaf 16: Sundry artists; leaves 18-19: Pictures, etc. consigned by the trade; leaves 20-24: Paintings, etc. consigned by private owners; leaf 25: Sculpture, bronzes, etc.; leaves 41-47: Exhibitions.
The ledger lists consignments from artists such as Nadia Benois, Paul Bret, Jacob Epstein, Augustus John, Eve Kirk, Paul Nash, Matthew Smith, Gilbert Spencer, Stanley Spencer, and Richard Wyndham.
The section on exhibitions lists the following: Drawing Exhibition; Monet Exhibition; Flower Exhibition; Modigliani Exhibition; "Maîtres populaires"; Dutch Flower and Still Life Exhibition.
box 21

Consignments, 1955-1959

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

Prior to June 1955, the ledger only lists summaries of consignments made as early as 1932. Beginning in June 1955, and with consignment no. 545, the ledger records the consignments in detail.
 

Accounts, Series IV. 1913-1937, 1942-1945

Physical Description: 13.8 Linear Feet (9 volumes)

Scope and Contents note

The ledgers in Series IV are customer accounts that record payments made for purchases and other services received. Each ledger contains an index of customers.
The ledgers dedicate specific sections to customers as well as feature sections labeled "Sundries" and "Presentation Account." Entries may reference stock or exhibition numbers. The set of ledgers is incomplete as it begins with ledger 13, which records transactions dating from 1913 onward and ends with ledger 22, which records transactions up to 1945. There is a gap for the years 1937-1942, as ledger 21 is not included in the archive.

Arrangement

Series IV. Accounts is organized in chronological and numerical order.
box 22

Ledger 13, 1913 July 1-1914 October 31

Physical Description: 1 volume
box 23

Ledger 14, 1914 November 1-1918 October 31

Physical Description: 1 volume
box 24

Ledger 15, 1918 November 1-1921 October 31

Physical Description: 1 volume
box 25

Ledger 16, 1921 November 1-1924 October 31

Physical Description: 1 volume
box 26

Ledger 17, 1924 November 1-1927 October 31

Physical Description: 1 volume
box 27

Ledger 18, 1927 November 1-1930 October 31

Physical Description: 1 volume
box 28

Ledger 19, 1930 November 1-1934 October 31

Physical Description: 1 volume
box 29

Ledger 20, 1934 November 1-1937 October 31

Physical Description: 1 volume
box 30

Ledger 22, 1942 November 1-1945 October 31

Physical Description: 1 volume
 

Ledgers related to the New York House, Series V. 1906-1924

Physical Description: 3.08 Linear Feet (2 volumes)

Scope and Contents note

Series V consists of two volumes that document transactions made by Arthur Tooth & Sons in New York. One volume records sales made in New York from December 1906 to September 1912. The second volume was apparently maintained in London, but is labeled "New York House." It is an account book that records expenses occurred by the branch in New York.

Arrangement

Series V is arranged in chronological order.
box 30

Sales book, 1906 December-1912 September

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents

The sales book records the sales of paintings, drawings, pastels, and sculptures made in New York, as well as half shares and sales on commission. Entries in the volume are recorded by chronological order of sales. For further information on stock numbers referenced in the volume, see Series I. Stock books.
box 30

Account book, 1919 December 6-1924 April 29

Physical Description: 1 volume

Scope and Contents note

The volume records expenses in New York, such as taxes, salaries, telephone, and electricity. One section is labeled "The Metropolitan Trust Coy."