Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller Inc.


(AUCTION CATALOGUE: [HEATH]). Catalogue of Books, containing all the Rare, Useful, and Valuable Publications, in Every Department of Literature, from the First Invention of Printing to the Present Time; all of Which are in the Most Perfect Condition,   

and will be Sold without the Least Reserve, on Thursday, April 26th, 1810, and the Thirty-One Following Days...by Mr. Jeffery. 8 p.l., 66, 20, 123, [1] pp., 8 pp. of ads. 8vo, modern blue half-morocco & boards, spine gilt, by Sangorski & Sutcliffe (preliminary leaves somewhat dampstained, title well re-margined at outer edge, some minor worming towards end with loss of a few letters). London: 1810. A good copy of the special fine paper issue, ruled in red with prices in a contemporary hand. The anonymous sale catalogue of the library of Benjamin Heath (1704-66), classical scholar and book collector. “He was a collector of rare books from the age of thirteen, and in his lifetime distributed his library between two of his sons, but still left a large collection. There was printed in 1810 a ‘Catalogue’. Heath was the principal collector of this library, but it was augmented by his son, the Rev. Benjamin Heath.”–D.N.B., IX, pp. 339-40. The sale, which provoked Dibdin to paroxysms of enthusiasm (see his Bibliomania, 1811), realized 8,899 pounds. But its contents no longer belonged to Heath: he had sold it for 3,000 pounds to two booksellers, Cuthell and Martin, who then, at a huge profit, had them auctioned by Jeffrey. Heber was the chief buyer at this sale and the catalogue is of special value as the names of the binders are often given. With the two-leaf list, printed in red, of subscribers to special copies (large paper and hot-pressed) bound-in. 4786 lots. From the library of Eric H.L. Sexton, the noted collector of incunabula.

$US950

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