David Alphonso Talboys Explained

David Alphonso Talboys (c. 1790–1840) was an English bookseller, known as a publisher, translator, and local politician.

Life

Born around 1790, Talboys established himself as a bookseller in Bedford before moving his business to Oxford, where he became renowned for his knowledge of the book trade.[1] In 1823, he formed a partnership with James Luff Wheeler, the university bookseller, who married his daughter Anne Ophelia.[2] [3] Talboys & Wheeler then began publishing the "Oxford English Classics" series, in collaboration with William Pickering of Chancery Lane, London.[4]

On 1 December 1827, Talboys was admitted to the privileges of Oxford University membership. He played a leading role in Oxford city affairs, serving as a councillor for the east ward and holding the office of sheriff.[1] After the 1835 election, Talboys emerged as the leader of the radical reformers in Oxford municipal affairs, and, alongside Charles Sadler, a moderate reformer, he implemented changes in charity organisation.[5] However, he faced opposition from the Oxford Herald, controlled by Philip Bliss, who attempted to boycott his business.[6]

Talboys passed away on 23 May 1840, leaving behind a widow and seven children.[1]

His son-in-law was Archibald MacLaren, a gymnast and fencing master.

Works

Talboys was the author of Oxford Chronological Tables of Universal History, 1835 and 1840.[1] He referenced James Bell's Compendious view of universal history and literature, in a series of tables (1820) and adopted some of the typographical conventions of Bell. Together Bell and Talboys are considered to have innovated influentially, in the use of bold type for cueing, in a way that carried over into textbook design.[7]

Talboys made translations of Arnold Hermann Ludwig Heeren's Researches into the Politics, Intercourse, and Trade of the Carthaginians, Ethiopians, and Egyptians (1832) (from the Ideen of Heeren)[8] and Manual of the Political System of Europe (1834). He translated also Friedrich von Adelung's Historical Sketch of Sanscrit Literature (Oxford, 1832), making additions and corrections.[1]

Notes

Attribution

Notes and References

  1. Talboys, David Alphonso. 55.
  2. Book: Bookseller: The Organ of the Book Trade. 1863. J. Whitaker. 93.
  3. 29187. Wheeler, James Talboys. David. Washbrook.
  4. 22213. Pickering, William. Bernard. Warrington.
  5. Web site: Modern Oxford . Alan Crossley, C R Elrington (Editors), Eleanor Chance, Christina Colvin, Janet Cooper, C J Day, T G Hassall, Mary Jessup, Nesta Selwyn . Institute of Historical Research . 1979 . A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 4: The City of Oxford . 19 May 2014.
  6. 26947. Talboys, David Alphonso. David. Vaisey.
  7. Twyman. Michael. Textbook design: chronological tables and the use of typographic cueing. Paradigm. 4. December 1990.
  8. Book: George Ripley. Charles Anderson Dana. The New American Cyclopædia: A Popular Dictionary of General Knowledge. 1869. D. Appleton. 51.