Thomas Winstanley Son (1 results)

2 vols in 1, contemporary calf with blindstamped decoration neatly rebacked with a gilt-decorated spine and morocco spine-label, marbled endpapers and edges, 8vo, 22 cm, [6], 208, [2] pp ; [4], 170 pp. Books 1813 lots; prints etc: 1394 lots. A volume containing two catalogues of the important collections of books and prints built up by William Roscoe (1753-1831) of Liverpool, who was a lawyer, abolitionist, botanist, author, art collector and bibliophile. In 1816 the Liverpool bank of which he was a partner, Clarke's, was in financial difficulties and he felt compelled to sell his library and collection, although the respite was temporary and he and his partners were made bankrupt in 1820. De Ricci notes that Roscoe's 'fine library' realized 'a little over £5000, a big buyer being Coke (of Holkham). Roscoe owned a block-book, several beautiful specimens of the earliest Mayence press and a number of fine Italian books and manuscripts including a fine 14th century Italian illuminated manuscript Bible, At his sale his friends bought in a number of books and offered them to him; on his refusal to accept them, they were given to the Liverpool Athenaeum, where they still form a 'Roscoe collection'. The book sale ran for 14 days and the prints sale for 11 days. There was also a separate sale of Roscoe's pictures (catalogue not present here). A 2-page advertisement appears at the end of the first catalogue for the sale of the prints and pictures. The book catalogue includes a 4-page index of the works of printers of the 15th century appearing in it, and also a 2-page index of 'works omitted by Panzer in his Annales Typographici', the latter listing some 24 items. Old printed number label '1241' upside-down on rear pastedown endpaper, elegantly rebacked, boards a little scuffed, last few leaves of first catalogue moderately foxed, otherwise just a little minor spotting to contents, a handsome copy, Good.