Download Washington Booksellers. - Davies Project at Princeton University

The Washington Post: Feb. 26, 1895; page 15.
Washington Booksellers.
Men who began their business careers in the famous “Waverly.”
Some years ago there was published a most interesting volume, giving the history
of the London booksellers of several generations, and today a history of Washington
would have been an acceptable tribute to the men who have supplied the literary pabulum
of several generations of statesmen and scholars who have made Washington their
homes. Mr. Pishey Thompson, who, many years ago, occupied the store and house which
is now a jewelry establishment of Messrs. Harris & Shafer, was a man of literary ability
and culture which fitted him for his vocation. On his retirement from business and
removal to London, he became the European correspondent to the National Intelligencer.
Mr. Frank Taylor succeeded him as the bookseller of Washington. Mr. Taylor began his
business with Mr. Thompson, and, like him, was a man of culture and judgment, and
whose knowledge of books was esteemed by those whose literary tastes brought them
into contact with him. His store was known as the “Waverly” book store, and was the
resort of the literary and artistic element which congregate in this city. Messrs Webster,
Benton, Mangum, William R. King, Henry Clay, Gen. Jesup, and others were daily
visitors to the “Waverly,” and found Mr. Taylor and his assistants congenial
companionship in their search for literary recreation.
Among those whose business career began in the “Waverly” book store were
Messrs. Charles C. Glover, of Riggs & Co., Orson Bester, of the same time honored
bank, and Mr. Robert Beall, the latter of whom became the successor of Mr. Taylor in the
“Waverly” bookstore. Under the bust of the immortal author of Waverly, which adorns
the entrance of the “Waverly” of today, and looks down upon the literati of the present as
it looked down upon the literati of the past, the literary and artistic element find congenial
inspiration in their pursuits. Like his predecessor, Mr. Beall’s “heart is in his vocation,”
and in his visits to Europe he selects such rare and valuable books as suit the taste and
means of his customers. The “fad,” if that term is justified, of “enriching, enlarging, and
embellishing” rare and valuable books has been adopted by Mr. Beall in several rare
editions in his collection. “The London Stage,” an early copy, contains autograph letters
of Edwin Forrest, Barry Sullivan, Jospeh Jefferson, and other “stars” of the theatrical
firmament. A copy of Bancroft’s History of the United States he has “enriched” with
documents and autograph letters of contemporary statesmen.
The establishment of the “Waverly” bookstore was at that early period when the
name of Walter Scott had not been divulged s the author of the immortal novels which
today are as popular as when given to the public anonymously.
Mr. Beall has obtained an admirable portrait of his esteemed predecessor which
has given great pleasure to the friends who remember Mr. Taylor so well and pleasurably.