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Scottish-American detective and founder (1819-1884) of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, known for his claim to have foiled an 1861 plot to assassinate president-elect Abraham Lincoln. Manuscript DS, one page, 9 x 13.75, March 20, 1875. A Canadian publishing rights agreement between Allan Pinkerton and Hunter, Rose & Co. of Toronto, with W. B. Keen Cooke & Co., publishers of the American edition, providing stereotype plates and acting as intermediary. The contract reads, in full: “Memorandum of an agreement made this day by and between W. B. Keen Cooke & Co. and Allan Pinkerton of the City of Chicago and Hunter, Rose and Co. Publishers of Toronto, for and in consideration of one dollar, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.
Witnesseth that the sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) to be paid to the said W. B. Keen Cooke & Co. they will furnish Hunter, Rose & Co. a complete set of stereotype plates of a book entitled ‘Claude Melnotte and other detective stories,’ from which plates the said Hunter, Rose & Co. agree to print and publish an edition of at least three thousand copies – and also agree to pay to the said Allan Pinkerton a royalty of Ten (10) cents on each and every copy of the work printed and sold of this first and all subsequent editions. Settlements to be made by remittance to said W. B. Keen Cooke & Co. on the first days of July, October, January and April of each year hereafter.
In consideration of the above agreement the said Allan Pinkerton hereby transfer to the said Hunter Rose & Co., all his right [title] & interest in the above named Book for the Dominion of Canada – the said Hunter Rose & Co. agree to take out a copyright in Canada at their own expense according to the law made & provided for such purposes.” Signed at the conclusion by Pinkerton and by representatives of the two publishing houses. In fine condition. Pinkerton remains scarce across all signed formats.
Drawing on his high-profile career as a detective and founder of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, Allan Pinkerton turned to producing popular detective literature based on his own exploits and those of his operatives. These works, believed to have been written with the assistance of ghostwriters and intended in part to promote his agency, include the book Claude Melnotte as a Detective, and Other Stories, which was published by W. B. Keen, Cooke & Co., in 1875. The work, one of his earliest, contained four detective stories: ‘Claude Melnotte as a Detective,’ ‘L'Envoi; Sequel,’ ‘The Two Sisters; or, The Avenger,’ and ‘The Frenchman; or, The Bills of Exchange.’
The Western Americana auction of Jochen Zeitz.
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