John Cole (1792–1848) was an English bookseller, publisher and antiquary, of Northampton, Lincoln and Scarborough, North Yorkshire. He was born on 3 Oct. 1792 at Weston Favell in Northamptonshire. He is remarkable as having compiled over 100 publications but whether as bookseller, lecturer, 'general factor,' or school-master, Cole was invariably unsuccessful. As self-trained and industrious antiquary, he appears to have been utterly unsuited for the cares of a business life and he was constantly on the move and died in poverty. Cole generally printed only few copies of his books which make them rare. As his books contain much out-of-the-way information, they are sought after by collectors. He was in the habit of binding up extra plates and additional manuscript matter in his private copies. A silhouette portrait of Cole and facsimile of his handwriting are given in the "Yorkshire Library"
Early career.
He was apprenticed to Mr. W. Birdsall, a bookseller and noted bookbinder of Northampton. He began his literary career with a "History of Northampton and its Vicinity" in 1815. In 1817 he married Susanna daughter of James Marshall of Northampton. In the same in 1817 he paid £1,000 for the stock and goodwill of Mr Johnston, a bookseller at Lincoln. His shop was in the High Street, close to the Stonebow. He described himself as "Bookseller Stationer and Binder, top of the High Street, deals in OLD BOOKS, and fancy articles, Handscreens and handles, Medallions, Morocco and Copper Plate , Paper , Etc." He printed his first "Catalogue of Old Books" at Lincoln in that year. However, this book was largely based on information included in Adam Stark’s ‘"The History of Lincoln" of 1810, together with information taken from Edward James Willson’s "The History of Lincoln; containing an account of the Antiquities, Edifices, Trade", which had been published in 1816.
Hull and Scarborough.
Following this he moved to Hull and afterwards to Scarborough. In 1821 publishing "An Ænigmatical Catalogue of Books of Merit, on an entirely new plan". In the next ten years he issued most of his antiquarian and biographical works, many of which relate to Scarborough. He added to his small income by giving lectures on natural philosophy and related subjects. A Mr. Bean records "I have known Mr. John Cole and have attended many of his lectures on astronomy, the anatomy of costume, architecture, and natural history. These several subjects [were] discussed in a scientific, pleasing, and popular manner". Failing to make a success at Scarborough, Cole returned to Northampton and opened a shop in the market square some time after 1830.
Attempted Career as a Schoolmaster.
He was forced into bankruptcy by his creditors at Northampton, and went to live at Wellingborough about 1835. "There Cole opened a small school, and placed geological specimens, &amp;c. [as well as such incongruous wares as apples, bacon, and ham] in his window for sale. He was a quiet man and regarded as very eccentric because he and his sons would go out all day, and return laden with wild plants, &amp;c. . . . His industrious curiosity was never appreciated in Northamptonshire, where he dragged out a miserable existence. From Wellingborough he removed to Ringstead, or some village in its vicinity, where he ransacked every nook for relics of antiquity and natural curiosities" He moved to Rushden as a schoolmaster in 1837, and successively lived at Polebrook, Huntingdon, and Woodford (near Thrapston), where he died in greatly reduced circumstances on 12 April 1848, aged 56.
Works.
Cole's works include:
Undated works:
Notes.
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