Letts of London

In 1796 John Letts opened a printing, stationery and book binding shop at the Royal Exchange, London,[1] which provided London merchants with stationery products designed specifically for commercial purposes.

Additionally, his factories at North Road, New Cross printed interest tables, specialist clerical and medical diaries, calendars, parliamentary registers, ledgers, maps, and logbooks.

[7] As the leading company in the sector, in 1900 Charles Letts sold almost 250,000 diaries a year, which rose to three million by 1936.

[8] By this time Letts was publishing over 400 types of specialist diaries aimed at hobbyists and professionals, including Scouts, motorists, investors, electrical engineers, poultry keepers, wireless amateurs, gardeners and many others.

[6] In the first half of the 20th century, along with Collins, T. J. and J. Smith, John Walker and Co., and Iliffe,[9] Charles Letts and Co. Ltd. continued to be one of the major British diary publishers.

The original Letts, Son & Co. Ltd. factory was in North Road, New Cross, London.

This was followed by expansion with a book binding premises in Bankside and a leather works in Marshalsea Road, still in London.