Frederic William Lucas
In 1898 he published a book with the great long title "The Annals of the Voyages of the Brothers Nicolo and Antonio Zeno in the North Atlantic about the end of the Fourteenth Century and the Claim founded thereon to a Venetian Discovery of America: A Criticism and an Indictment".
This book is a refutation of the claims of the two brothers and caused quite a stir in the circles interested in these voyages. [Attach some of the docs here]. The University of British Columbia Special Collections Department has copies of both of the books. Note that both catalogue records contain errors.
There was a third book titled "The new laws of the Indies for the good treatment and preservation of the Indians, promulgated by the emperor Charles the Fifth, 1542-1543; a facsimile reprint of the original Spanish edition, together with a literal translation into the English language; to which is prefixed an historical introduction by the late Henry Stevens of Vermont and Fred W. Lucas". Henry Stevens refers to this publication with the following comments:
In 1893 I issued to the subscribers that elegant folio volume which my father always considered as his magnum opus. It was entitled The New Laws of the Indies for the good treatment and preservation of the Indians, promulgated by the Emperor Charles the Fifth, 1542-1543. A facsimile reprint of the original Spanish edition, together with a literal translation into the English language, to which is prefixed an historical introduction. Of the long introduction of ninety-four pages, the first thirty-eight are from the pen of Mr. Henry Stevens, the remainder from that of Mr. Fred. W. Lucas, whose diligent researches into American history are amply exemplified in his former work, Appendiculae Historicae, or shreds of history hung on a horn, and in his recent work, The Annals of the Voyages of the Brothers Zeno.
The publisher of both of the books was Henry Stevens, Son, and Stiles,with the wonderful address of "39 Great Russell Street, Over Against the British Museum."
In December 2004 I ordered a copy of this book through AbeBooks from a bookseller in France. It arrived on my birthday! What a lovely present to myself! Great fun, although it is uncut so a bit of a pain to read and I'll have to decide whether to cut it or not. There is a signature on the flyleaf of the previous owner "Henri Harrisse". He turns out to be fairly well known in the same area of historical bibliography. Like Fred Lucas he was nominally a lawyer although he obviously spent enormous time and energy on his hobby. He was born in France, lived for a while in the US, returned to France but considered himself an "Americanist".
[Put this in a footnote]. "The Globe" was also published as "The Globe and Traveller", and later became incorporated in "The Pall Mall Gazette" which continues today as "The Evening Standard".
Almost exactly one year after the death of Clara he married again, this time to a woman 23 years younger than himself and only 11 months older than his daughter Winifred. The new wife was Gertrude Jane Corsar, the widow of David Corsar, of The Elms, Arbroath, Scotland. [For info on him search "David Corsar" Arbroath] Gertrude Jane was the daughter of George Simpson of Devizes, Wiltshire. [For info on Simpson search "George Simpson" Devizes].
George Simpson is listed as a newspaper proprietor in the 1881 census, and a son, another George Simpson is also listed as a newspaper proprietor. He must have carried on in the publishing business as there are books with the George Simpson imprint of the sort that Frederic Lucas would have been interested in.
Interesting that both of his father-in-laws were in the publishing business, and that he too must have been a bookish sort of man. He obviously had connections with Henry Stevens, the antiquarian bookseller and agent to the British Museum.
Miller Christy - Victorian
Henry Stevens of Vermont - American born antiquarian bookseller. Lived in London the greater part of his life and was an agent for the British Museum buying American books. Also was a publisher. He
Henri Harrisse - His name is on the flyleaf of the copy of "Appendiculae Historicae". He was from France but lived part of his life in America and was a bibliographer and "Americanist".