James West FRS (1703–1772) An Important Commonplace Manuscri...

James West FRS (1703–1772) An Important Commonplace Manuscript Journal on Bibliography, Printing and Book History &c. &c. Small 8vo, pp.182, plus 38 blanks; an initial sequence numbered p.1 to p.45, otherwise unpaginated; opening diary written in a neat copperplate hand; illustrated with pen drawings, diagrams and heraldic sketches; full calf with blind-ruled borders, rubbed with some loss, boards remaining firm; sporadic spotting and ink spots, otherwise internally very good; Unsigned, but most definitely James West. A substantial notebook recording West's bibliographical researches, examination of private collections and antiquarian travels, including an extensive sequence of bibliographical and antiquarian notes, material headed as extracts from Bagford's collections; encompassing the history of printing, bookselling, libraries and collecting, with numerous references to particular books, manuscripts, printers, engravers and collectors. A sequence of 47 pages is predominantly bibliographical; further related material occurs throughout the volume; the contents combine historical anecdotes, publication details, commercial transactions and observations on the physical construction and decoration of books. Attention is given to early printers and their premises; John Jaggard, "dwelling in Fleetstreet", at the sign of the Hand and Star, "betwene the two Temple gates"; John Gough at "the signe of the Mermaid"; Rowland Hall at "the sign of 3 arrows"; further entries concerning Caxton, Wynkyn de Worde, Pynson, Julian Notary, Grafton, Whitchurch, Day, Seres, Tottell and Cawood; royal printing appointments, patents and privileges; Bibles, law books, music and proclamations; the succession of printers to established businesses; printing at Aberdeen, Glasgow and Dublin; continental presses including Blaeu, Elzevir, Plantin and Moretus. The formation, sale and dispersal of libraries; "Librarys that have been sold by Auction", recording owners and sale dates from 1676 into the 1680s, beginning with Dr Lazarus Seaman, "Oct. 31. 1676"; subsequent entries including Thomas Manton, Benjamin Worsley and John Godolphin. Richard Smith's library "was begun by Humphry Dyson"; another memorandum records an "unlimited Commission" to obtain books. A particularly striking entry reads "May 9. 1706. Bagford sold to Mr Clavell 300 Charters of Abbys &c in Yorkshire"; these are described as "all saved out of St Marys Tower in York". Named encounters with important collections include "March. 8. Ld Oxford shewed me Burtons Leicestershire with many MS Notes"; the annotations described as transcribed from the author's original book in Jesus College Library, Cambridge. "Lord Oxford also shewed me a most Beautiful MS. March. 25. 1730"; followed by the title of John Norden's description of the Honour of Windsor, encompassing "Castles", "Forrestes", "Walks", "Parkes", "Lodges", "Townes", "Parishes", "Hamletts", "Houses of Note", woods, rivers, bridges and highways; "Taken and Performed by the Perambulation view and delineation of John Norden. … Anno 1607". Further Oxford memoranda include "H. 7. Donation book to Westminster Abbey"; "Liber aureus"; a large seal matrix. Sir Richard Ellys "shewed me a book in 2 vols. folio", Robert Dudley's Arcano del Mare, Florence, 1661; elsewhere a collector is credited with "a great Collection of Caxtons Books and Old pieces of English History". The appearance and manufacture of books are closely observed; Henry VII's document for Westminster Abbey described as "A folio Book clasped with silver"; bearing "the arms of H. 7"; "bound in Crimson Velvet"; with "five seales in Green wax", each enclosed "in a silver Box". Illuminations include "The first the prior & convent receiving ye book from ye King"; the entry gives the date "July 16. 1508". Further notes concern paper, manuscript illumination, woodcuts and bindings; including the assertion "Bookbinding with pasteboards & boards begun in England in Queen Eliz. time". Early printed books and textual transmission receive numerous entries; The Arte of English Poesy; Rastell's chronicles; Fabyan; Holinshed; early editions of classical authors; English grammars associated with Stanbridge, Whittington, Lily and Linacre. "The first Grammar that was printed" is identified as "Lac puerorum by John Holt"; its dedication to John Morton, Archbishop of Canterbury, and the date 1497 recorded. An account of Wolsey's suppression of chronicles states "because he discovered ye Enormitys of ye Clergy". Illustration, engraving and cartography form closely connected subjects; woodcut pictures; engraved portraits; Hollar; the beginnings of copperplate engraving; "Engraving on Copper Plates probably begun by Maso Finiguerra"; Saxton, Norden, Hondius and Ogilby; royal processions, civic entertainments and Armada illustrations; writing masters and shorthand, including "Shortwriting" and "The newest Shorthand by Edw. Cocker". A note on Hollar's final residence and death cites the register of St Margaret's, Westminster; "Buried 28. March 1677". George Vertue is explicitly cited on paintings and prints; "Mr George Vertue says there are still Three original Pictures of Sr Thomas More and his family"; examples and dates listed, followed by "Mr Vertue imagines some of H. Holbeins Scholars might finish Ropers Picture". Another entry describes Thomas Hogenberg's engraved portrait of Archbishop Parker, prefixed to his life printed at Lambeth in 1572; "wch Mr G. Vertue saith is ye first English Print". The same book is said to mention "one Lilly curious in Copying antient Deeds", employed by Archbishop Parker. Mention of the regulation of print, "Presidents of Unlicensed Books & Libels ordered to be burnt"; prosecutions, fines, imprisonment and the pillory; "Ben Harris" recorded as "fined 500£ & stand in ye Pillory"; a judicial opinion concerning the prohibition of "News papers & Pamphletts" by proclamation; printing monopolies and Roger L'Estrange's privileges. A bibliographical entry records "The answer of the Corporation of Moniers at the Mint in the Tower of London against 2 scandalous libells"; including "The Representation of Peter Blondeau"; "Printed for the Corporation of Moniers 1653". Projected antiquarian publications and the preservation of research collections occur repeatedly; Aubrey's Monumenta Britannica; county histories and manuscript compilations; proposals, subscriptions and publishing expenses; notes identifying collections and their owners. A copied warrant dated Fulham House, 28 July 1637, concerns the recovery of monastic coucher books for St Mary's Tower, York; advocating "a Publick office of Record where Every Man might have free access"; describing the volumes as "the Kings Records & Evidences & not of any private Subjects"; a source note stating "Transcribed from a MS book now in the possession of the office of the Treasury". The practical circumstances of collecting are particularly apparent in the Essex and Suffolk journey beginning "Dec. 31. 1731. From London thro' Cambridge to Linton"; visiting "my friend Slater Bacon"; subsequently examining the late Holman's collections for the antiquities of Essex. The asking price appears to be £600; "I bid him one third I thought … their full worth"; their contents chiefly "Sepulchral Monuments" and extracts from records, together with "many original letters" from antiquaries including John Anstis, Thomas Hearne, Peter Le Neve, Thomas Baker, Bishop Tanner and Browne Willis. At Colchester, Charles Gray possesses Roman coins, "many of them found here"; "a beautiful Roll being an original Survey of the Lands belonging to Glastonbury Abbey"; and original deeds associated with St Mary's, York. Two coin collections acquired for the Earl of Oxford are recorded as costing £100 and £55; "Nothing Curious in the two Booksellers Shopps"; an apothecary's collection includes pictures attributed to Van Dyck, Roman antiquities, a portrait of Mary Queen of Scots and a large town plan. Mr Powell "shewed me the Antiquitys of the Town"; St John's Abbey described as having "nothing remaining but a most beautiful Gatehouse". Country house notes include Lord Townshend's Raynham; "A Fine Picture of Belisarius by Andrea del Sarto"; officers of Sir Horace Vere's regiment attributed to Van Dyck. "Houghton Hall"; "Erasmus by H. Holbein"; "4 Marketts by Rubens & Snyders"; a brass Laocoön "Big as the Life". At Sir Andrew Fountaine's Narford; royal portraits on the staircase; "A fine Room of China"; "another of Earthen Ware"; "Many Bust's of Marble". The library notes list portrait subjects including Inigo Jones, Palladio, Rubens, Prince Rupert, Sir Kenelm Digby, Waller, Cowley, Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Tillotson, Wallis, Mead and Radcliffe; provision for coins and manuscripts; closets "filled with small Antiquitys & Curiositys". The illustrated travel journal of December 1730 follows the road from London towards Bath; Colebrook, Maidenhead, Reading, Newbury, Hungerford, Marlborough, Avebury, Calne and Lacock; churches, monuments, stained glass, charitable foundations, houses and archaeological remains; drawings of Maidenhead's timber bridge, buildings, crosses, a font, heraldry and road layouts. A coach accident prompts the observation "We received no Damage but escaped very narrowly"; a gatepost passing within inches of the window. Further observations concern Surrey and Wallingford, the latter headed "May 4. 1736"; copied inscriptions, monumental brasses, effigies and an alabaster monument. Additional contents include "Excerpts from a Memorandum Book of Peter Le Neve Norroy. begun Aug. 1717"; benefactions, deaths and royal events; coin engravers, medals and Mint records; medieval Latin grants; political and satirical verse; civic names headed "Banbury", including James West; and miscellaneous research reminders, such as "to ask Sr Windham Knatchbull for MSS relating to Barking Abby". Profuse in bibliographical detail, this notebook offers substantial insight into the interests and methods of James West, President of the Royal Society and one of the original trustees of the British Museum (see lot 31); his library was dispersed over twenty-four auction days in 1773, catalogued by Samuel Paterson as Bibliotheca Westiana: A Catalogue of the Curious and Truly Valuable Library of the Late James West (London: Messrs Langford, 1773). The contents extend considerably beyond this description; personal inspection and further study are strongly recommended.

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