Sir Thomas Phillipps: Almanacs and Diaries, 1803-1866

RLIN No.
NYGG04-A1

Author
Phillipps, Thomas, Sir, 1792-1872.

Title
Almanacs and diaries, 1803-1866 (bulk 1814-1866)

Physical Description
52 v. ; 8 x 33 cm. and smaller

Historical/Biographical Note
English antiquary and bibliophile, Phillipps began collecting while at Rugby School and at Oxford. On inheriting his father's estate at Middle Hill at Broadway, Worcestershire, Phillipps embarked on a career of collecting books and Eastern, Continental and British manuscripts. His library eventually contained over 30,000 books and 60,000 manuscripts. In 1819 he married Henrietta Molyneux, who appears to have been known as Harriet within the family. She died in 1832, and in 1842 Phillipps married Elizabeth Harriet Mansel. The three daughters of his first marriage were Henrietta, Maria and Katharine. Henrietta married the Shakespearean scholar James Orchard Halliwell in 1842; under the terms of the entail to the Phillips estate, Halliwell inherited Middle Hill at Phillipps' death in 1872 and took the name James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps. Owing to a disagreement with Halliwell, Phillipps moved his collection from Middle Hill to Thirlestaine House in Cheltenham in 1864-1865. His daughter Katharine married John Fenwick, who administered Phillipps's library from the collector's death until about 1880.

Scope and Contents Note
Diaries of Sir Thomas Phillipps for 1803 and 1814-1866 (the volume for 1865 is missing) kept in a series of annual almanacs. Phillipps recorded his travels, illnesses and visits paid and received as well as expenses and general family matters. He also made notes of his book and manuscript acquisitions and of the arrangements he made to have them shipped to him. The collection also includes thirteen diary volumes by Phillipps's first wife, Henrietta Molyneux, for the years 1820-1821, 1824-1825 and 1830-1831 that record mostly domestic matters. The five diary volumes by his daughter Henrietta for 1836 and 1838-1841 include information about the assistance that she gave him on his genealogical, antiquarian and transcription projects. Also: a diary by Phillipps's daughter Katharine for 1843 and one for 1844 possibly by his daughter Maria, who later married John Walcot. Also: two small bound blank books in which Phillipps recorded purchases for the years 1829-1830, and one German almanac for the year 1823 with no diary entries.

General Note
Title devised by cataloger.

General Note
Volumes bound variously in green, red or black leather; some with blind-stamped leather decorations. Some volumes have calling cards and miscellaneous notes inserted in pocket attached to inside front cover.

Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, Jean Mermin Horblit, widow of collector Harrison D. Horblit, 1995.

Related Publications
"The Horblit Phillipps Collection at the Grolier Club," by Martin Antonetti and Eric Holzenberg, Gazette of the Grolier Club, n.s., no. 48 (1997), pp. 51-71.

Related Exhibitions
Portions exhibited: "Sir Thomas Phillipps, portrait of a collector: an exhibition of the greatest book collector of all time," organized by the Grolier Club, 1972 December 19 to 1973 February 14; and "The collector collected: the Horblit Archive of Sir Thomas Phillipps at the Grolier Club," organized by the Grolier Club, 1997 May 20 to July 31.

Names
Phillipps, Thomas, Sir, 1792-1872.
Halliwell-Phillipps, Henrietta, 1819-1879.
Phillipps, Henrietta Molyneux, 1795-1832.
Fenwick, Katharine Somerset Wyttenbach Phillipps, 1823-1913.
Walcot, Maria Sophia Phillipps, 1821-1858.
Phillipps family.

Subjects
Book collectors. England. 19th century.
Book collecting. England. 19th century.

Genres
Account books. England. 19th century.
Diaries. England. 19th century.

Occupation (as reflected in collection)
Book collectors. England. 19th century.

Location
Grolier Club, 47 East 60th Street, New York, N.Y. 10022-1098.