priced and annotated book auction catalogues from the Golden Age of British collecting
(BOOK AUCTIONS) (DENT, JOHN.) (WILLIAMS, THEODORE). Two book auction catalogues: (DENT, JOHN.) Catalogue of the Splendid, Curious, and Extensive Library of the Late John Dent, Esq. … sold by auction by Mr. Evans (1827). [bound with] (WILLIAMS, THEODORE.) A Catalogue of the Splendid and Valuable Library of the Rev. Theodore Williams … sold by auction, by Messrs. Stewart, Wheatley, and Adlard (1827)
London: Evans [and Stewart, Wheatley, and Adlard], 1827
Three volumes in two: Dent: [ii], 84, 94, (2); Williams: 197, (1) errata, 8 “Books omitted.” Contemporary half calf. Joints cracked but held by cords, some wear. Untrimmed. Both auction catalogues are fully priced in manuscript with prices realized and buyer names.
These catalogues from the golden age of English book collecting are filled with landmark early printed books, books printed on vellum, illuminated manuscripts, and more. The Dent library contained “numerous volumes of the greatest beauty, several illuminated manuscripts, … other books printed on vellum” (De Ricci, English Collectors of Books and Manuscripts). Both auction catalogues are fully priced in manuscript with prices realized and buyer names.
The great names of English bookselling predominate including Thorpe and Payne. Sir Thomas Phillipps attended the Williams sale personally. The eight lots acquired by him included lot 355, the Gundulf Bible, for £189 and lot 749, the illustrated Gospels of Mathilda of Tuscany, for £172, now in the Morgan Library.
$900