Details
SPENCER, Charles, Third Earl of Sunderland (1674-1722) -- Bibliotheca Sunderlandiana. Sale Catalogue of the Truly Important and Very Extensive Library of Printed Books Known as the Blenheim Library. London: Puttick and Simpson, 1 December 1881-1 June 1883.
Six parts in two volumes, large 8o (285 x 195 mm). Printed price lists with buyers' names. Modern green half morocco, original printed wrappers bound in, t.e.g., others uncut.
FINE AND LARGE-PAPER COPY, including the "Catalogue of Books Returned Imperfect" and the "Books and Manuscripts (Overlooked during the Compilation of the Catalogue." "The great library of Charles Spencer, third Earl of Sunderland, contained only a few manuscripts and some 20,000 printed books... Baron James de Rothschild, of Paris, actually considered the purchase of the whole library when he suddenly died, and negotiations fell through. Lord Crawford was also tempted and Bernard Quaritch actually tried to raise the money but failed. The library was therefore sold by auction in five memorable sales, 1881-1883, the 13,858 lots of which brought the enormous sum of £56,581, about £33,000 being the share of Bernard Quaritch" (de Ricci, pp.38-40). (2)
Six parts in two volumes, large 8
FINE AND LARGE-PAPER COPY, including the "Catalogue of Books Returned Imperfect" and the "Books and Manuscripts (Overlooked during the Compilation of the Catalogue." "The great library of Charles Spencer, third Earl of Sunderland, contained only a few manuscripts and some 20,000 printed books... Baron James de Rothschild, of Paris, actually considered the purchase of the whole library when he suddenly died, and negotiations fell through. Lord Crawford was also tempted and Bernard Quaritch actually tried to raise the money but failed. The library was therefore sold by auction in five memorable sales, 1881-1883, the 13,858 lots of which brought the enormous sum of £56,581, about £33,000 being the share of Bernard Quaritch" (de Ricci, pp.38-40). (2)