Catalogue of [Parts III and IV] the Valuable Library of Benjamin Heywood Bright

 BIBLIOGRAPHY. - Samuel Leigh SOTHEBY & Co. Auctioneers.

Catalogue of [Parts III and IV] the Valuable Library of Benjamin Heywood Bright, Esq. containing a most extensive collection of valuable, rare, and curious books... Which will be sold by auction by Messrs. S. Leigh Sotheby & Co.

[London:] Compton and Ritchie, printers, [ 1845]. Octavo (8 7/8 x 5 5/8in; 226 x 144mm). Text listing 6197, occasional marginal notes of prices and/or buyer's names.

Contents condition: light marginal toning, otherwise excellent.

Original thin card wrappers

Condition of binding: toned, bumped, small tears to backstrip.

An acceptable copy of the auction catalogue of the two main parts of the collection of this 'omnivorous bibliophile' (Seymour de Ricci. English Collectors, p.107). Includes a substantial selection of works by or on Shakespeare (lots 5067-5207), amongst which are a 'first folio' and, to modern eyes, an astonishing number of the individual 4to works.  Seymour de Ricci also notes that the 3-vol. bound collection known as the 'Roxburghe Ballads' (lot 296) were bought at this sale for the British Library (there is a note in this copy that they sold for £535, to 'Rodd (who was presumably the Library's agent ).

ref: 17.035e