Newton, A. Edward (Alfred Edward), 1864-1940

A. Edward Newton was an authority on book collecting during the first half of the 20th century. His correspondence with Alfred Blake Trott, president of Daniels & Fisher Company of Denver, Colo. from 1929-1944, details book collecting as well as travels, and reflects on the political and economic climate of the time in Europe and the United States. Newton also sent Trott copies of articles, most published in the Atlantic monthly between 1922 and 1938. Some articles were privately printed by Newton; these booklets or pamphlets were sent as Christmas greetings inscribed by Newton to Trott. The collection includes two letters written to Luella Corbin, 351 Acoma St., Denver, Colo. that discuss Newton and his wife.

Alfred Edward Newton was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1863. After receiving his education from private schools, Newton, in 1876, went to work for Porter and Coates Bookshop in Philadelphia. In 1890 he went to work at the Cutter Electrical and Manufacturing Company, becoming the company's financial manager in 1895. Newton wrote books and contributed to the Atlantic Monthly . He also collected rare books, building up a library of 10, 000 volumes. In 1930 Newton became the first American president of the Johnson Society of Great Britain. Newton died in Philadelphia on 29 September 1940.

Noted American rare book and manuscript collector.

Book collecter, member of Johnson Society.

Biographical note: Alfred Edward Newton was an American bibliophile; he worked in the electrical manufacturing business from 1890 to 1931 and was considered an authority on Samuel Johnson. He wrote several books about book collecting. Alex Aladar Blum was an American painter born in Budapest, Hungary in 1889.

American book collector from Philadelphia.

American author, businessman and book collector.

Born in Philadelphia in 1864, Newton was a renowned collector of rare books. He wrote entertaining books about his activities, and is best remembered for his Amenities of book collecting (1918). Acquiring nearly 10,000 volumes, collecting was a serious pastime he could pursue, as he was a shrewd businessman in the manufacturing of electrical equipment. Newton died in 1940.