Sir Thomas Phillipps: Autograph Account Book, 1819-1870

RLIN No.
NYGG04-A7

Author
Phillipps, Thomas, Sir, 1792-1872.

Title
Autograph account book, 1819-1870.

Physical Description
1 v. (ca. 300 p.) ; 13 cm. x 19 cm.

Historical/Biographical Note
English antiquary and bibliophile. He began collecting while at Rugby School and Oxford and on inheriting his father’s estate at Middle Hill in Worcestershire he embarked on a career of collecting manuscripts and books. Phillipps’s collections eventually contained over 60,000 manuscripts and an almost equal number of books and included many in Greek, Latin and eastern languages as well as English and Continental manuscripts. In the 1820s Phillipps made trips to the Continent where he visited many libraries and purchased manuscripts. On his return to England he continued to collect, frequently buying up entire estate libraries at auctions. He printed a number of the manuscripts as well as other works at his Middle Hill Press. During 1864-1865 he removed his household and all his collections to Thirlestaine House, Cheltenham.

Scope and Contents Note
The account book provides a chronological record of books and manuscripts purchased, household expenses, payments to dealers and auctioneers, printing expenses and purchase of Thirlestaine House and other properties, including the rents and taxes. Books and manuscripts are generally listed by author and short title. It also records several purchases of Caslon type. Also: 21 loose papers consisting various receipts, letters and documents, including a two-page autograph letter signed (1877) from Phillipps's James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps, to another son in law, John Fenwick, from 1877. Also: a four-page autograph letter signed from Phillipps to the editor of Debrett’s Illustrated Peerage that discusses the ancestry of the Phillipps family.

General Note
Title devised by cataloger.

General Note
Title on spine: Expence [sic] book from 1818 [to] 18--.

General Note
Pages ruled in red with entries in ink and pencil; partial pencil pagination; some pages are missing. Material for 1866 precedes records for 1819-1858.

General Note
Bound in contemporary vellum over boards with marbled end papers. Laid in modern folding cloth box with spine title in gilt: Phillipps Private Papers/Expense Book

Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase; Sotheby’s auction no. 3243, Lot 0054, London; 2003/12/02.

Provenance Note
Formerly owned by Martin Schoyer of Spikkestad Norway, who purchased it from the dealer H. P. Kraus of New York City. Previously owned by W. H. Robinson, Ltd. of London. It was sold at one of the numerous sales of Phillipps manuscripts at Sotheby’s starting in 1886.

Names
Phillipps, Thomas, Sir, 1792-1872.
Halliwell-Phillipps, J. O. (James Orchard)), 1820-1889, correspondent.
Fenwick, John Edwin Addison, 1824-1903, correspondent.
Schoyer, Martin, former owner.
Phillipps family.

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

Genres
Account books. 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.