University of London Archives | Details | Memorandum of agreement for publication of The Wonderful Visit by H.G. Wells

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Wells, Herbert George (1866-1946) novelist and social commentatorMore Info on CreatorLess Info on Creator H. G. Wells was born in Bromley, Kent, and educated locally. From the age of 13 he worked unsuccessfully as a draper's assistant and chemist's assistant, before becoming a pupil teacher at Midhurst Grammar School. In 1884 he began studying under Thomas Huxley at the Normal School (later the Royal College) of Science in South Kensington, but left without a degree. He finally gained a University of London BSc in 1890. Wells became a teacher and freelance journalist before branching out into novels and short stories. He was married twice and had several other liaisons with women, including the writer Rebecca West (afterwards Dame Cicily Andrews). Today he is best known for his science fiction works, including The Time Machine (1895) and The War of the Worlds (1898). During his lifetime he was also known as a non-fiction writer and a committed socialist. Scope and ContentMemorandum of agreement (2 manuscript pages) between Herbert George Wells and Messrs J. M. Dent & Co. of Aldine House, 69, Great Eastern Street, London E.C. Some closed fold tears and age toning, creasing and wear; light pencil notes throughout. Pin holes in the upper left corner, near the six pence revenue stamp. Notes“Memorandum of agreement made this thirtieth day of July 1895 between Herbert George Wells of Lynton, Maybury Road, Woking, of the one part, and Messrs J.M. Dent & Co. of Aldine House, 69, Great Eastern Street, London E.C., of the other part. Whereby it is mutually agree as follows.- (1) That the said H.G. Wells hereby assigns to the said J.M. Dent & Co. the exclusive right of printing & publishing in Great Britain, its Colonies and Dependencies, the Continent, and in the United States of America, the first and all subsequent editions of a new book at present entitled ‘The Wonderful Visit,’ of which the said Mr. Wells is the author. And in consideration thereof the said J.M. Dent & Co. shall pay to the said H.G. Wells a royalty of fifteen per cent (15%) on the nominal selling price of all copies of the book sold in Great Britain, its Colonies and Dependencies, & the Continent. Further the said J.M. Dent & Co. shall pay to the said H.G. Wells a royalty of ten percent (10%) on the nominal selling price of all copies of the said work sold by them or their Agents in the United States of America. The nominal selling price whether in Great Britain or America to be fixed at the discretion of J.M. Dent & Co or their Agents. Should the sales of the book elsewhere than in the United States of America exceed five thousand (5000) the royalty shall be Twenty per cent (20%) on all copies sold above that number and below ten thousand (10,000), and twenty five percent (25%) on all copies sold above ten thousand (10,000). (2) All details as to manner of production publication, advertisement, number & destination of free copies shall be left to the sole discretion of the said J.M. Dent & Co., who shall bear all expense of production, publication, & advertisement; it being understood that author shall receive free of the first edition ten copies, & of each subsequent edition two copies, & that he shall be entitled to purchase additional copies at wholesale rates. (3) That the said J.M. Dent & Co. shall pay to the said H.G. Wells the sim of fifty pounds in advance and on account of the above mentioned royalties on the day which the agreement shall be signed (4) That the said H.G. Wells guarantees to the said J.M. Dent & Co. that the said work is in no way whatever a violation of any copyright belonging to any other party and that it contains nothing of a libelous character, and that he & his legal representatives shall & will hold harmless the said J.M. Dent & Co. from all suits & all manner of claims & proceedings which may be taken on the ground that the said work is such violation or contains anything libelous. (5) That an exact account of the sales of the said book shall be made up every six months to the 30th day of June & the 31st day of December, delivered on or before the following October the first and April the 1st, & settled by cash on November the first and May the first. (6) That if any difference shall arise between the parties hereto the same shall be referred to Arbitration under the Arbitration Act 1889. Signed H.G. Wells” Conditions governing accessOpen for research although at least 24 hours advance notice should be given. Extent1 item Level of descriptionfonds

TitleMemorandum of agreement for publication of The Wonderful Visit by H.G. Wells

Held atSenate House Library, University of London

Reference codeMS1262

Date1895 July 30

Creator
- J. M. Dent and CompanyMore Info on CreatorLess Info on Creator
  Trained as a bookbinder, Dent founded the publishing firm J.M. Dent and Company in 1888, and printed small runs and high quality volumes of Chaucer, Tennyson and Jane Austen. Dent's success as a publisher was based on consistently transforming his business. The firm eventually published textbooks, travel guides and children’s books and, in 1894, the popular Temple Shakespeare series. J. M. Dent & Sons was acquired by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in 1988.
- Wells, Herbert George (1866-1946) novelist and social commentatorMore Info on CreatorLess Info on Creator
  H. G. Wells was born in Bromley, Kent, and educated locally. From the age of 13 he worked unsuccessfully as a draper's assistant and chemist's assistant, before becoming a pupil teacher at Midhurst Grammar School. In 1884 he began studying under Thomas Huxley at the Normal School (later the Royal College) of Science in South Kensington, but left without a degree. He finally gained a University of London BSc in 1890. Wells became a teacher and freelance journalist before branching out into novels and short stories. He was married twice and had several other liaisons with women, including the writer Rebecca West (afterwards Dame Cicily Andrews). Today he is best known for his science fiction works, including The Time Machine (1895) and The War of the Worlds (1898). During his lifetime he was also known as a non-fiction writer and a committed socialist.

Scope and ContentMemorandum of agreement (2 manuscript pages) between Herbert George Wells and Messrs J. M. Dent & Co. of Aldine House, 69, Great Eastern Street, London E.C. Some closed fold tears and age toning, creasing and wear; light pencil notes throughout. Pin holes in the upper left corner, near the six pence revenue stamp.

Notes“Memorandum of agreement made this thirtieth day of July 1895 between Herbert George Wells of Lynton, Maybury Road, Woking, of the one part, and Messrs J.M. Dent & Co. of Aldine House, 69, Great Eastern Street, London E.C., of the other part. Whereby it is mutually agree as follows.- (1) That the said H.G. Wells hereby assigns to the said J.M. Dent & Co. the exclusive right of printing & publishing in Great Britain, its Colonies and Dependencies, the Continent, and in the United States of America, the first and all subsequent editions of a new book at present entitled ‘The Wonderful Visit,’ of which the said Mr. Wells is the author. And in consideration thereof the said J.M. Dent & Co. shall pay to the said H.G. Wells a royalty of fifteen per cent (15%) on the nominal selling price of all copies of the book sold in Great Britain, its Colonies and Dependencies, & the Continent. Further the said J.M. Dent & Co. shall pay to the said H.G. Wells a royalty of ten percent (10%) on the nominal selling price of all copies of the said work sold by them or their Agents in the United States of America. The nominal selling price whether in Great Britain or America to be fixed at the discretion of J.M. Dent & Co or their Agents. Should the sales of the book elsewhere than in the United States of America exceed five thousand (5000) the royalty shall be Twenty per cent (20%) on all copies sold above that number and below ten thousand (10,000), and twenty five percent (25%) on all copies sold above ten thousand (10,000). (2) All details as to manner of production publication, advertisement, number & destination of free copies shall be left to the sole discretion of the said J.M. Dent & Co., who shall bear all expense of production, publication, & advertisement; it being understood that author shall receive free of the first edition ten copies, & of each subsequent edition two copies, & that he shall be entitled to purchase additional copies at wholesale rates. (3) That the said J.M. Dent & Co. shall pay to the said H.G. Wells the sim of fifty pounds in advance and on account of the above mentioned royalties on the day which the agreement shall be signed (4) That the said H.G. Wells guarantees to the said J.M. Dent & Co. that the said work is in no way whatever a violation of any copyright belonging to any other party and that it contains nothing of a libelous character, and that he & his legal representatives shall & will hold harmless the said J.M. Dent & Co. from all suits & all manner of claims & proceedings which may be taken on the ground that the said work is such violation or contains anything libelous. (5) That an exact account of the sales of the said book shall be made up every six months to the 30th day of June & the 31st day of December, delivered on or before the following October the first and April the 1st, & settled by cash on November the first and May the first. (6) That if any difference shall arise between the parties hereto the same shall be referred to Arbitration under the Arbitration Act 1889. Signed H.G. Wells”

Conditions governing accessOpen for research although at least 24 hours advance notice should be given.

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