[Sir Thomas Phillipps, collector of manuscripts.] The manuscripts section of the printed auction catalogue of Craven Ord's library, priced and named in one hand, and annotated by Phillipps with a running total of his substantial purchases.

Author: 
Sir Thomas Phillipps (1792-1872) of Middle Hill, Welsh collector of manuscripts; Robert Harding Evans (1778-1857), auctioneer, of 93 Pall Mall, London [Craven Ord (1756-1832)]
Publication details: 
[Robert Harding Evans, 93 Pall Mall, London.] 'London: Printed by W. Nicol, Cleveland-row, St. James's.' 25 to 27 June 1829.
£350.00
SKU: 18834

The last eight leaves only of a printed catalogue (no. 260 in M. V. de Chantilly's 'Robert Harding Evans of Pall Mall | auction catalogues 1812-1846 | a provisional list' (2002)). Stitched and unbound. On aged and worn paper, with slight damp staining to margins. Paginated 23-37 + [1], with the final page (i.e. the verso of the last leaf) carrying the advertisement: 'Preparing for Sale by MR. EVANS. | THE VALUABLE LIBRARY of an | EMINENT COLLECTOR.' (in manuscript: 'Mr Rennie'). Slug at foot of p.37: 'London: Printed by W. Nicol, | Cleveland-row, St. James's.' First page headed in Phillipps's hand: 'Ord MSS. Catalogue', with 'Sir T Phillipps sale' in another hand in pencil at the foot of the page. P.23 begins with lot 469 and the final lot of the sale, on p.37, is 618. After lot 510 on p.24 is the heading 'MANUSCRIPTS, VARIOUS SIZES'. All the lots are priced in manuscript, and the manuscripts in the sale (lots 511-618) are also named, in another hand than Phillipps's. Phillipps has written 'P' beside each of the lots which he acquired, and he reveals himself to be purchaser of 86 of the 109 (including 108*) manuscript lots in the sale, at an enormous total cost of £1983 16s 0d. These purchases were all made indirectly: most of the lots are recorded (in the second hand) as having been bought by four London booksellers: Cochran, Thorpe, Payne (of Payne and Foss), and Rodd. The British Museum ('The Museum') is given as purchaser of lots 535 and 561 ('Registrum de Bury (Tempore Edwarde III.) on vellum', £126 0s 0d). The purchaser of lot 524 is 'Duke of Norfolk', and lot 655 is said to have been bought 'By the Family who now possess the estate'. Beside this last note Phillipps has written 'bought | March Phillipps'. Phillipps has written 'query' beside lot 526.