Robert Hoe III (10 March 1839, inNew York City – 22 September 1909, inLondon) was an American businessman and producer ofprinting press equipment. He succeededRichard March Hoe as head ofR. Hoe & Company, which continued its preeminence among printing-press makers. He was one of the organizers and first president of theGrolier Club, the well-knownNew York organization for the promotion ofbookmaking as an art. He was also one of the founders of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Hoe was an extensive collector of rare books andmanuscripts as well as silver,miniatures, and other art objects, his collections at the time of his death being valued at several million dollars.[1] The catalogues of his library were unique and valuable from both a typographical and bibliographical standpoint.[2] His collection was sold at auction during 1911 and 1912 with almost half going toHenry E. Huntington including aGutenberg Bible.[3]
Following Hoe's death at his house inBrunswick Square, London, a Mrs Brown from Lexington, Kentucky, daughter of his manager, sued Hoe's estate for $250,000, claiming that he had promised her a large sum of money before he died. She had been living in London, at the same address as Hoe, and two maids confirmed in court that they had a close relationship. A former husband of Mrs Brown also claimed that Hoe had paid him $20,000 as a settlement for a threatened "alienation-of-affection" suit. The matter was eventually settled out of court.[4][5]
On August 12, 1863 at Trinity Chapel,Wavertree near Liverpool, he married Olivia Phelps James (1837-1935), who was the daughter ofDaniel and Elizabeth Woodbridge (Phelps) James.[6] Olivia's brother wasDaniel Willis James. Robert and Olivia had 9 children.
He edited Maberly'sPrint Collector (1880).
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