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  • In bookselling (and other sales), selling a title "by hand"; that is, individually, one-on-one, by speaking directly with a customer, rather than having a customer pull a product (in this case, a book) from a shelf.

    October 23, 2007

  • "And fiercely drawing forth his blade, doth sweare,

    That who so hardie hand on her doth lay,

    It dearely shall aby, and death for handsell pay."

    Spenser's Faerie Queene, Book 6 Canto XI

    Relevant? I don't know, but the meaning given above does seem to fit the context, the "her" in this verse referring to a woman who is in danger of being sold as a slave. The "his" is her captor who doesn't want to sell her.

    February 6, 2009