BUCKINGHAM, Richard Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos Grenville, First Duke of (1776-1839) – Catalogue of the library removed from Stowe House, Buckinghamshire. London: S. Leigh Sotheby & Co., 8 January 1849 [Together with:] – Catalogue of the important collection of manuscripts, from Stowe. London: S. Leigh Sotheby & Co., 11 June 1849 [And:] – Catalogue of the few remaining books, omitted in the sale from Stowe. S. Leigh Sotheby & Co., 9 August 1849 [This latter bound with:] PUTTICK AND SIMPSON. Catalogue of a very extensive and extremely rare and interesting library. London: 24 May 1854 [And:] S. LEIGH SOTHEBY & JOHN WILKINSON. Catalogue of a very valuable and important collection of early English poetry. London: 29 June 1854 [And:] GARDNER, John Dunn. Catalogue of principal portion of the valuable library … removed from … Bottisham Hall, near Newmarket. London: S. Leigh Sotheby & John Wilkinson, 6 July 1854. 6 auction catalogues bound in 3 volumes, 8° (213 x 136mm). 2 folding engraved plates in second named work. (Faint spotting towards end of last named work.) 19th-century half calf over marbled-paper covered boards, original printed wrappers bound in, gilt spines, marbled endpapers, marbled edges. (Extremities faintly rubbed). Provenance: FCB (ink collation note dated 1849 in first named work and 1858 in second named work). Sale catalogue of the library at Stowe, formed by the first Duke of Buckingham who, in 1834, owing to his vast expenditures on books and manuscripts, was forced to sell his furniture, pictures, and articles of virtû. On his death the library passed to his only son, Richard, the second Duke (1791-1861). ‘The habits of the son were not less extravagant than those of the father, and in 1847 the effects at Stowe and his other residences were seized by bailiffs, and in August and September 1848 the pictures, furniture, china, plate, etc., were sold by auction, realizing over £75,000’ (Fletcher). The sale of the library realized £10,355.7.16 and included a blockbook Apocalypse (£91); Le Fevre's Recuyles of the Hystoryes of Troye, 1503; a complete set of De Bry's Great and Small Voyages (£81); De Bry's Relation of Virginia 1590 (£60); the first four Shakespeare Folios (£76, £11.5.0, £35, £4.6.0); Prynne's Records, 1665-1670 (£140); a virtually complete set of the original impressions of Piranesi (£133), . The first named work PRICED IN A CONTEMPORARY HAND, AND RULED IN RED. De Ricci, pp. 131 note. Not in Blogie.