Truslove and Hanson

• Parent — W H Smith • Founded — 1893 • Founder — Joseph Truslove, Frank Hanson • Country — United Kingdom • Headquarters — London • Topics — art, crafts, travel

In 1893 Joseph Truslove, who since 1890 had traded as a bookseller and publisher from 143 Oxford Street, London, went into partnership with Frank Hanson, who had been the London representative of Simpkin Marshall. In 1899 Truslove and Hanson entered into partnership with T. Ernest Comba and Joseph Shaylor to open a New York office, operating as Truslove, Hanson & Comba from 67 Fifth Avenue. In 1903 this became the New York branch of John Lane. Comba (1851–1921) specialized in selling French, Italian and Spanish books.

Truslove's original premises in 143 Oxford Street were supplemented by a bookshop in Knightsbridge, at 6b Sloane Street (now a Shanghai Tang outlet). This became a fashionable "quality" bookshop, with such customers as Archibald Wavell (Viceroy of India 1943-1947). There was a further bookshop in Mayfair, at 14a Clifford Street (now the London outlet of Kiton). The bookshops became a subsidiary of W H Smith in 1923, but remained a distinct, up-market brand, tied to Bowes & Bowes after that was acquired by WHS in 1953. The Clifford Street shop was closed in 1958, and the Oxford Street shop in 1963. The Sloane Street premises were moved in 1972. In 1969, Truslove & Hanson acquired the Times Library.

The following is established of the heading itself. The record continues: truslove and Hanson is associated with United Kingdom. It is also recorded that truslove and Hanson is recorded from 1893.