Author: DIBDIN (Thomas Frognall)
Title: Bibliotheca Spenceriana; or A Descriptive Catalogue of the Books Printed in the Fifteenth Century, and of many Valuable First Editions, in the Library of George John Earl Spencer... [Vols., I-IV]. [With:] Aedes Althorpianae; or an Account of the Mansion, Books, and Pictures, at Althorp... To which is Added a Supplement to the Bibliotheca Spenceriana. [Vol. V]. [With:] Supplement to the Bibliotheca Spenceriana... [Vol. VI]. [With:] A Descriptive Catalogue of the Books Printed in the Fifteenth Century, Lately Forming Part of the Library of the Duke di Cassano Serra... [Vol. VII].
Description: London: Printed for the Author by W. Bulmer and Co., (Later by W. Nicol, Successor to W. Bulmer) Shakspeare Press, 1814-23. First edition, 7 vols., complete, small 4to (263 x 165 mm). (I): [6], ix, [3], lii, 383, [1]pp., with half-title, 11 engraved plates on 12 leaves as called for, without the rarely found india paper print which was to be pasted into the text of p. 79, frontis., offset, occasional spotting and offsetting. (II): [6], 503, [1]pp., with half-title and fly-title, one engraved plate as called for; (III): [4], 509, [1], [6]pp., with half-title and fly-title, no plates called for; (IV): vii, [3], 587, [1], lxxvii, [3]pp., with half-title and fly-title, 10 engraved plates as called for, occasional spotting and offsetting; (V): viii, [4], lxii, 279, [1]pp., 32 engraved plates, half-title, frontis., offset, without the plate of the Marchioness Camden which Jackson describes as an 'added plate' present in some copies, offsetting from plates; (VI): [6], 322, [2]pp., half-title, engraved portrait frontispiece (offset); (VII): x, 295, [1]pp., without half-title, no plates called for; numerous illustrations, engraved portraits, plans and views, facsimiles of woodcuts and devices, mostly mounted India proofs, extensively printed in red and black, some spotting and offsetting, uniform contemporary calf, panels blind-tooled, hinges cracked and a couple holding by cords, spines and labels chipped (see image). Guild, p.24. "This superb collection of books contains upwards of 45,000 volumes; among them are sixty-four editions from the press of Wm. Caxton... The abundance and beauty of the facsimiles and other embellishments, as well as the fineness of the paper and printing, render this catalogue one of the most splendid bibliographical works ever published in any country. It describes books printed from wooden blocks about the middle of the fifteenth century, early printed Bibles, Liturgical works, works of the Fathers, Greek and Latin Classics & Miscellaneous Literature". Windle & Pippin, A25, A26, A27 & E4 a; Jackson 36,37 & 38; De Ricci 72-77pp.

Keywords: LIBRARY CATALOGUES BIBLIOGRAPHY CAXTON BIBLES INCUNABULA THOMAS FROGNALL DIBDIN BOOKS ABOUT BOOKS