Details
PENROSE, Bois (1902-1971) -- The Celebrated Library of Boies Penrose, Esq., ... Removed from Barbados Hill, Devon, PA. The First (& Second) Portion: Travel & Exploration, Navigation & Trade... London: Sotheby's, 7 June & 9 November 1971. 2 volumes, 4o. Original printed boards. Most prices and buyers' names in B.H.B's hand. -- Catalogue of Printed Books...including the Caxton Cordyal, Westminster, 1479... (the Property of Boies Penrose). London: Sotheby's, 23 June 1975. 4to. Original printed wrappers. -- Sixteen highly important Manuscripts and Early Printed Books. Basel: Haus der Bücher & L'Art Ancien, 27 September 1978. 4o. Original illustrated wrappers.
Penrose had inherited from his grandfather "an impressive library of Americana and several incunabula" (Dickinson) to which he added considerably. He sold a first lot of books in 1942, but from 1971 started selling in earnest. His two-volume sale of 1971 realized £230,733 (then $543,807), Caxton's Cordyal in the 1975 sale sold for £14,000, and the anonymous Swiss sale realized Sfrs.354,500. Blogie III, cols. 60 & 264. (4)
Penrose had inherited from his grandfather "an impressive library of Americana and several incunabula" (Dickinson) to which he added considerably. He sold a first lot of books in 1942, but from 1971 started selling in earnest. His two-volume sale of 1971 realized £230,733 (then $543,807), Caxton's Cordyal in the 1975 sale sold for £14,000, and the anonymous Swiss sale realized Sfrs.354,500. Blogie III, cols. 60 & 264. (4)