Launceston Booksellers in the 19th Century. Part One.

At first glance, 1842 in Launceston would not seem to be an auspicious time or place to open a publicly funded, subscription based, Mechanics' Institute and library. It was a period of economic uncertainty in the colony, with falling prices and reduced trade; the town's population was around 10,000 and not more than half of those were literate. Yet this small community was served by three newspapers; several private subscription libraries; and an active trade in bookselling.

What made Launceston special at this time was the combination of entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen, foresight and energy among its community leaders. 

One of these was Henry Dowling, Jnr. By the age of 21 he was editor and publisher of the Launceston Advertiser. At 24 he commenced business as a printer, publisher, stationer and binder, in Brisbane Street. His leadership extended well beyond business to include immigration schemes, railways, a savings bank, and a long career in local and colonial politics.

Binder's Ticket from an LMI item circa 1848

In 1837, he established a bookshop and circulating library. He made arrangements with Samuel Tegg of Hobart Town for the supply of books from London, arrangements which led to a court action which was resolved in Dowling's favour in 1842. He published a "pirate" edition of Dickens' Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, in twenty-five parts and in July 1839 a bound volume of that novel with locally engraved illustrations, which was promoted as "the largest publication which has issued from either the New South Wales or Tasmanian Press".

Launceston Advertiser 25 January 1838, p4

Henry, his father the Rev. Henry, and his brother John, were all active members of the Board of Management of the Mechanics' Institute. He is recorded as an early donor of books to the Institute's collection, and he served two terms as Vice-president.

In 1852, the same year that he published John West's landmark History of Tasmania, Dowling sold his bookselling and stationery business to a new arrival in the colony, James John Hudson.

Hudson operated the business until 1868 when he entered into a partnership with Stephen Hopwood, a partnership which continued until 1885. The close business ties between the bookseller and the Institute is evidenced by the large number of books in the surviving collection which bear their blind stamps. Institute members frequently expressed a wish that more books be purchased from local suppliers. In addition, Hudson and Hopwood supplied stationery to the Institute, including ledgers and accession books. As well as his business activities James Hudson was involved in the Launceston Benevolent Society, founded the Northern Tasmanian Permanent Building Society and was instrumental in the establishment of the Launceston Working Men's Club which operated its own library (and competed with the Institute for members).

Blindstamps from books in the LMI Collection

Stephen Hopwood had started in the book trade as an apprentice to Alexander Duthie, and later in the employment of Walch Bros. and Birchall. Following the partnership with Hudson he continued the business, in partnership with John James until 1891, and then as Hopwood and Co. until his death in 1901. At this time arrangements were made for the continuance of the business for the benefit of his widow and family. The bookselling side of the business appears to have been transferred to T Hood and Co. (they also operated bookshops in Hobart and Zeehan) in the mid-1890s. They operated a circulating library from the long-established Brisbane Street premises, as had Henry Dowling back in 1837. This arrangement appears to have been shortlived as T Hood and Co. were no longer trading in Launceston in 1900, whereas Hopwood and Co. operated well into the twentieth century.

Daily Telegraph, 3 Sep 1895, p1.

Hopwood label from a book published in 1922

 In the second post in this series we will look at another bookselling business in Launceston, established in 1844, which continues to the present day.