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Kirkman's musical instruments and literary connections
In 1786 Thomas Jefferson wrote 'get Kirkman to make for me one
of his best harpsichords'. Thomas Jefferson draftsman of the Declaration
of Independence later became the third President of the United States
of America. Jacob and his nephew Abraham Kirckman from whom Robert
Kirkman is directly descended were harpsichord makers and together
with Jacob Kirckman the composer and organist at St. George's, Hanover
Square, were subscribers to Dr Charles Burney's History of Music,
4 volumes, first published in 1776. Dr Burney wrote for Rees's Cyclopaedia
that Jacob Kirckman was worth £200,000 upon his death in 1792.
Leopold Mozart together with his young son Wolfgang Amadeus visited
Kirckman while on a trip to London in 1764. George Eliot, novelist,
bought a Kirkman Grand Piano in 1861.
The Kirkman family were famous London makers of harpsichords and
pianos. Joseph Kirkman & Son, Pianoforte makers, 3 Soho Square,
established 1730. Jacob and Abraham Kirckman harpsichord makers
to King George 11 and Queen Charlotte, wife of King George 111.
Joseph Kirkman Grand Pianoforte makers to Queen Caroline and H.R.H.
The Prince Regent. Joseph Kirkman Jnr Grand Pianoforte makers to
Queen Victoria and the Queen of Portugal. Abraham Kirkman of Blackwell
Hall, Chesham, great x3 grandfather of Robert Kirkman and son of
Joseph Kirkman had a fine engraved bookplate showing the family
coat of arms here reproduced.
Antiquarian Bookseller since 1961
Robert Kirkman worked for a leading London firm of antiquarian booksellers
for 25 years of which he was Managing Director for ten years. During
those years he had the opportunity to meet many famous book collectors
and handle numerous literary treasures. A complete set of the original
elephant folio edition of John James Audubon's Birds of America,
a complete canon of the ornithological works of John Gould, Second,
Third and Fourth folios of Shakespeare, books from the library of
Sir Winston Churchill to mention just a few. In 1988 Robert Kirkman
branched out on his own dealing in English Literature, Old English
Bibles, First Editions of Sir Winston Churchill, interesting editions
of John Bunyan, fine literary Sets of famous authors. Since 1988
Robert Kirkman has handled the great 'He' and 'She' Bibles of 1611,
all of the first editions of Sir Winston Churchill including the
elusive 'Mr Broderick's Army' in the original wrappers, books from
the library of Sir Winston Churchill, Third Edition of Pilgrim's
Progress, 1679, albeit incomplete, and in 1999 purchased on behalf
of a customer at auction an exceptionally fine complete Second Folio
Shakespeare of 1632 ... to mention just a few.
In many respects Robert Kirkman still remains a general bookseller
buying and selling books in most subjects including some specialities,
English Literature, Old English Bibles, John Bunyan, Sir Winston
Churchill, Literary Sets. From time to time fore-edge paintings,
important first editions of English Literature, Signed Limited Editions
and colour-plate books of natural history. A small stock of prints
including Fores' Sporting Prints and other restrikes.
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