Guide to Sir Thomas Phillips’ Collection of Dr. Thompson’s and Others Correspondence
Title: Sir Thomas Phillipps’ Collection of Dr. Thompson’s and Others Correspondence
OCLC #: 8057355309
Dates: 1784-1845
Bulk Dates: 1810-1840
Extent: 1 volume.
Abstract: This collection consists of material collected by Sir Thomas Phillipps related to bookish concerns and concerning H. T. Hodgson, J. Heath, Joseph Hunter, J. Thompson and others.
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research use. Copyright restrictions may apply; please contact repository for requests for copying and for authorization to publish, quote, or reproduce the materials.
Preferred Citation: [Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Sir Thomas Phillipps Collection of Dr. Thompson’s and Others Correspondence
About the Finding Aid: This finding aid was prepared by Rachel E. Greer in Microsoft Word at the Grolier Club, July 2012.
Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Sir Thomas Phillipps, 1792-1872, Ms. 18967. Gift to the Grolier Club by member John Windle, January 2012.
Access Points:
Subjects:
Heath, J.
Holroyd, G. S. Sir, 1758-1831.
Callender, John, Sir, 1739-1812
Callender, Lady.
Hunter, Joseph, 1783-1861 Correspondence.
Thompson, J. Correspondence.
Hardwicke, Philip Yorke, Earl of, 1757-1834 Correspondence
Cheffins, Charles F. Correspondence.
Hakewill, Arthur William, 1808-1856 Correspondence.
Antiquarians Great Britain 19th century Correspondence.
Judges Great Britain 19th century Correspondence.
Bankers Great Britain 19th century Correspondence.
Lawyers Great Britain 19th century Correspondence.
H.T. Hodgson (Firm)
St. Bride’s Church (London, England) Pictorial works.
Boldero, Lushington & Co.
Letters Great Britain 18th century
Letters Great Britain 19th century
Receipts (financial records) Great Britain 18th century.
Receipts (financial records) Great Britain 19th century.
Bills of sale Great Britain 18th century.
Bills of sale Great Britain 19th century.
Pen and wash drawings England 19th century.
Added Name:
Windle, John, donor.
Phillipps, Thomas Sir, 1792-1872, former owner.
Biographical/Historical 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 Content Note: This collection comprises letters, receipts, bills of sale, and other material relating primarily to legal and financial matters, requests for social engagements and, to a lesser degree, bookish concerns. Nearly all documents originate from Great Britain and date mainly to the first half of the nineteenth century. Present are several judge's orders, signed by J. Heath or G. S. Holroyd [Sir George Sowley Holroyd, 1758-1831]. Also present are receipts from merchants and stationers, including four from the bookseller and stationer H. T. [Haygarth Taylor] Hodgson (d. 1832), father of Edmund Hodgson, early proprietor of the firm Hodgson and Co. One Hodgson receipt of 1812 is addressed to Sir John Callender, and three dating 1813-1814 are addressed to Lady Callender, who may perhaps be identified as Sir John Callender, 1st Baronet (Sept. 1739-Apr. 2, 1812) and his wife, Margaret Romer (1757-1815). A pen and ink sketch by British architect, Arthur William Hakewill, depicting an altarpiece and partial floorplan of St. Bride's Church, London, accompanies a letter dated Jan. 24, 1842 to Hakewilll from Charles F. Cheffin of the Office of Lithography. The drawing is signed and dated: A.W.H. Nov. 28 [18]41. In a letter of Mar. 16, 1837, British antiquarian, Joseph Hunter, thanks J. Thompson of 30 Torrington Square for allowing him to borrow an ancient manuscript. A letter dated Dec. 2[8?], 1828, from Philip Yorke, 3rd Earl of Hardwicke asks the recipient [illegible] to send him two copies of "Animadversions on Lord Bexley's Letter to the freeholders of the Co. of Kent" [by Baron Henry Richard Vassall Holland, 1773-1840] and another copy to his son-in-law, the Earl of Caledon [Du Pré Alexander, 2nd Earl of Caledon, 1777-1839].