The Valuable Library of Books, in Fonthill Abbey. A Catalogue of the Magnificent, Rare, and Valuable Library, (of 20,000 Volumes). also of the Books of Prints, Galleries of Art, Curious Missals and Manuscripts, the Persian and Chinese Drawings, &c. Which will be Sold by Auction, by Mr. Phillips, at the Abbey, on Tuesday the 9th of September, 1823, and Nine Following Days, on Friday the 3d of October, & Four Following Days, and on. 23d October, 1823,& Four Following Days, . [with] [The Unique and Splendid Effects of Fonthill Abbey. Catalogue of the Extensive Assemblage of Costly and Interesting Property, which Adorns this Magnificent Structure; Embracing Part of the Furniture; the Bijouterie. the Matchless Collection of Raised Gold Japan.[wi

Phillips, H.

Published by [Phillips, H.], n.p., 1823, 1823

About this Item

Later half-leather and original boards with printed paper title-label, 8vo, [4], 391 pp. 3960 lots of books and 1588 lots of furniture, paintings, drawings and other items. The full catalogue of the 37 days' sales, arranged in chronological order, and with the 20 days of book sales priced in manuscript. The sale was initiated by John Farquhar, (1751-1826), a rich gunpowder manufacturer, who had bought Fonthill Abbey and most of its contents from the writer and collector William Beckford (1759-1844), 'England s wealthiest son,' in 1822. Beckford had been forced to sell after his finances collapsed from his extravagance, a loss of value in his West Indian property, and miscellaneous lawsuits. His financial difficulties did not deter him from buying considerable parts of his property back at the 1823 sale and continuing to collect. Lacking the frontispiece, the prelims in this copy comprise the title-page and the "Arrangement of Sale" leaf: not present but sometimes found are leaves headed "Arrangement of the Fonthill View", "Invitation to Visitors" (two leaves), and "The Books.some of the most choice in the Library". Spine rubbed, boards darkened and marked, some edgewear, binding firm and contents Good. The book sales are neatly priced in manuscript. Laid in is a contemporary manuscript slip relating to lot 1567. Seller Inventory # ABE-48441

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Valuable Library of Books, in Fonthill ...

Publisher: [Phillips, H.], n.p., 1823

Publication Date: 1823

Binding: Hardcover

Edition: 1st Edition