[Benjamin Bartrum, auctioneer.] Autograph household 'Inventory & Valuation' of 'the property of Thomas Harward Gardiner Esq' ('Common Brewer'), signed 'Benjn. Bartrum | Bath', containing furniture, plate, books, wearing apparel, jewels, wines.

11pp, folio. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Folded twice into the conventional packet. Ten-page inventory, followed by full page valuation, neatly written out on six leaves, which are stitched together, with the reverse of the last leaf carrying the title written lengthwise in conventional style for the outside of the packet: 'Inventory & Valuation of the several effects of the late Thos. Harward Gardiner Esq deceased at No. 14 Brock Street Bath | Amount £574. 8. 6', along with the word 'Copy' in red. Also on this page, in pencil in an early twentieth century hand: '? Gainsborough (painter) relation', this suggestion seemingly based on the first entry in the inventory under the heading 'Plate': 'Large 2 handled Vase richly ornamented & chased originally a present from the Royal Academy to Margaret Gainsborough' (this being the painter's wife, 1728-1797, born Margaret Burr, an illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Beaufort). The full title, at the head of the first page, reads: 'An Inventory of the Household Goods & Furniture Plate, Plated Ware, Linen, China & Glass, Books Wearing Apparel, Jewels & Orn[ame]nts. of the Person, Wines &c. at No. 14 Brock Street Bath late the property of Thomas Harward Gardiner Esq decd. who died Jan. 14th: 1841 | It was taken and made for the purposes of Administration March 26th. & 27th. 1841 by | Benjn. Bartrum | Bath'. See the two men's wills in the PCC files in the National Archives: Bartrum ('Auctioneer and Upholsterer of No 5 Norfolk Crescent Bath'), 18 March 1846; and Gardiner ('Common Brewer of Northgate Street Bath'), 17 May 1841. An inventory of the home of a conventional middle-class tradesman in early Victorian Bath, giving an interesting insight into the social history of period and place. Harward's collection of books is valued at £30 18 6d, and the inventory lists, on two-thirds of a page, works of mostly devotional nature. In contrast the brewer's wines (sherry, 'Ginger Wine' and 'Bottles Various') are valued at three times as much, £91 1s 6d. No paintings appear to be present. The inventory's headings begin by listing the contents of the house by room, before starting half-way through to group items by type: Left Hand Back Garret; Right hand Back Garret; Right hand front Garret; Left hand front Garret; Back Attic; Front Attick [sic]; Drawing room Bedroom; Front Drawing Room; Stairs & Passages; Dinner Room; Front Parlour; Servants Hall & Pantry; Kitchen Scullery & Lower Offices; Plate; Plated; Linen; China; Glass; Books (subdivided into 2to and Octavo); The Whole of the Wearing Apparel (nothing in this section); Jewels Trinkets & Ornaments of the Person; Wines. The valuation is presented as an itemised list in nine categories, with signature (or copy of signature) dated: 'March 26th & 27th. 1841 by | Benjn. Bartrum | Appraiser Bath'. The list is preceded by this note: 'The foregoing Articles were valued at the Sum of Five Hundred and Seventy four Pounds, Eight Shillings & 6d. of which the following are particulars viz.' Not quite the Bath of Jane Austen, but not too far off.