Three Catalogues of Valuable Printed Books, Autograph Letters and Historical Documents, Sold at Auction by Sotheby & Co.

Sotheby & Co.

Published by Sotheby & Co., London, 1963

Three catalogues of valuable printed books, autograph letters and historical documents, sold at auction by Sotheby & Co. in February and May 1963. Three volumes in the publisher's original paper wraps. Ink inscription to the front of the wraps and to page 1, 54 and 131 of the first catalogue, and to page 4 and 94 of the second catalogue. Three catalogues for auctions by Sotheby & Co. in 1963. The first catalogue comprises of printed books originally belonging to the Rt. Hon. The Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, Mrs. D. Ibberson, Professor W. J. Hemp, I. C. Morrison, E. S. Quayle, Mrs. Dixon and many others. This catalogue records 908 lots sold between 4th and 6th February 1963, comprising scarce 17th and 18th books and pamphlets; an extensive antiquarian collection; Roxburghe Club books; first editions of Rider Haggard and Hall Caine; Kelmscott and Gregynog Press books; notebooks and typescripts of H.L. Joly; and much more. The second and third catalogue cover the same auction, but the third is an illustrated version containing four plates, one of which is a folding plate. They comprise of printed books, autograph letters and historical documents originally belonging to the Rt. Hon. Viscount Mersey, the Rt. Hon. Viscount Cobham, the Rt. Hon. Lord Stanley of Alderley, Viscountess Gormanston, the ornithological collection of A. W. H. Harvey and many others. These catalogues record 610 lots sold between 13th and 14th May 1963, comprising finely illustrated books on natural history; letters of famous authors such as Charles Dickens and Benjamin Disraeli; the Genoa Polygot Psalter, 1516; rare early Paris books; and much more. From the library of W. A. Foyle at Beeleigh Abbey. William Foyle was the co-founder of Foyles bookshop, founding the leading bookshop in 1903 alongside his brother. He purchased Beeleigh Abbey during the Second World War, an impressive twelfth century monastery in Essex, which became home to his library, one the largest private libraries in England. Collated, complete. In the publisher's original paper wraps. Externally smart. Backstrip to the second catalogue is torn to the head of the backstrip, causing it to lift a little. Crease to the lower corner of the front of the wrap to first catalogue. Ink inscription to the front of the wraps and to page 1, 54 and 131 of the first catalogue, and to page 4 and 94 of the second catalogue. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright and generally clean. Near Fine. Seller Inventory # 911M12

Bibliographic Details

Title: Three Catalogues of Valuable Printed Books, ...
Publisher: Sotheby & Co., London
Publication Date: 1963
Binding: Paperback
Illustrator: Not Stated
Condition: Near Fine
Edition: First edition.
Book Type: book