"George Spencer, fifth Duke of Marlborough (1766-1840), better known to book collectors as the Marquess of Blandford, spent enormous sums of money on his library at White Knights, near Reading...In 1819, he was compelled by circumstances to part with his library (7 and 22 June 1819). Although the sale was brilliantly attended and such great collectors as Spencer, Heber and Grenville bought liberally, the result was disappointing. The 'Valdarfer Boccaccio' which Blandford had bought against Lord Spencer for #2260 in the Roxburghe sale, now brought only #918.15s. and the buyer was Lord Spencer, who had lost nothing by waiting seven years."--De Ricci, pp. 77-78.