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- Molteno
- Also known as
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Molteno
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primary name: Molteno, Anthony
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other name: Molteno, James Anthony
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other name: Molteno & Graves
- Details
- individual; dealer/auction house; publisher/printer; British; Male
- Other dates
- 1783-1845 (active)
- Address
- 28 Haymarket (1784)
132 Pall Mall (1788-1792)
76 St. James' Street (sometimes 'near the Palace'), London (in January 1793-1799)
48 Pall Mall London (1797)
29 Pall Mall, London (1800-20)
20 Pall Mall, London (1821-35)
- Biography
- This entry is used for the printsellers Anthony and James Anthony Molteno, father and son, both of whom were commonly referred to as Anthony Molteno.
Anthony (possibly George Anthony) Molteno was one of three brothers from Milan who worked in London (John (d.1828) became Deputy Controller of the legacy office at Somerset House; see PQ 2002, p.45). According to 'Chalcographimania', 1814, pp.89-92, he was Italian, and began by selling prints in the street. He then worked for Thane, became a partner of Paul Colnaghi (q.v.) for a few years after 1788, and then traded on his own from 1796. He was buried at St Martin in the Fields, 1816, 'aged 65', so he was probably born in 1751. The 'Will of Anthony Molteno, Printseller of Saint James Westminster, Middlesex' is PROB 11/1588/495, date proven 31 January, 1817. His stock was sold in a series of eight auctions by George Jones 1820-23.
His son James Anthony Molteno was in partnership with Francis Graves as Molteno & Graves from 1830; the partnership was dissolved 18 July, 1835 (see The London Gazette, 21 July, 1835). He died in 1845 (The Art Union, Nov. 1845, p.345); his will is PROB 11/2024/208 where he is described as Printseller of Pall Mall. His posthumous sale was at Christie's 16-20 March 1846; it consisted mainly of expensive modern prints. There are letters and accounts, 1826-28, all or some relating to Lord Northwick, held by the Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service (see National Archive).
Trade card in Banks collection (D,2.3441) advertises 'Anthony Molteno, Printseller to her Royal Highness the Duchess of York. No.29, Pall Mall. Sells all Sorts of Ancient & Modern Prints. A large Collection of Portraits Engraved & Mezzotintos. Likewise a large Collection of Swiss Views in Colours, &c. &c. N.B. Prints Framed & Glazed. No. 76, St. James's Street, removed from No.132, Pall Mall.'; these addresses indicating a date between 1793 and 1799.
Another trade card in Banks collection (D,2.3437) is identical apart from the address which is given as 29 Pall Mall, 'Removed from No. 76 St James's Street', and so must date from between 1800 and 1820.
A bill-head in P&D (Banks,100.70) dated 'London 6 June 1809' states 'Bought of Anthony Molteno, Printseller. To her Royal Highness the Duchess of York. No.29, Pall Mall. N.B. Removed from No.76 St. James's Street.'; signed 'Js. Anty Molteno'.
- Bibliography
- Maxted
Information from Nicholas Stogdon