Ed Maggs, Chairman, joined the firm around 1978, initially packing books, then typing invoices, and eventually coming upstairs as assistant to Bill Lent, head of the modern department. He gradually took over from Mr. Lent, maintaining specialities such as Lawrence of Arabia, books of the English fin de siècle and Fine Press Books, as well as expanding into more modernist literature, particularly Irish, and literary archives.
He succeeded his father John as Managing Director in the late 1980s, as well as remaining in charge of the modern department. It fell to him to deal with the impending end of the lease at 50 Berkeley Square, and was very pleased to have successfully negotiated and managed the firm’s move to 48 Bedford Square.
