{"product_id":"bibliotheca-spenceriana-a-descriptive-catalogue-of-the-books-printed-in-the-fifteenth-century-and-of-many-valuable-first-editions-in-the-library-of-george-john-earl-spencer-paperback-9781108051095","title":"Bibliotheca Spenceriana; A Descriptive Catalogue of the Books Printed in the Fifteenth Century and of Many Valuable First Editions in the Library of George John Earl Spencer (Paperback \/ softback) 9781108051095","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eBibliotheca Spenceriana\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eA Descriptive Catalogue of the Books Printed in the Fifteenth Century and of Many Valuable First Editions in the Library of George John Earl Spencer\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA catalogue, published in 1814–15, of the oldest and rarest printed books in the greatest private library in Europe.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eThomas Frognall Dibdin (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781108051095, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 28 June 2012\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e524 pages, 96 b\/w illus.\u003cbr\u003e25.4 x 17.8 x 2.7 cm, 0.9 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eAt his death, George Spencer (1758–1834) had created the greatest private library in Europe. At the time, many aristocrats were spending huge sums acquiring rare printed books. With monastic and aristocratic libraries in Europe being dissolved, collectors had access to thousands of examples. The Second Earl Spencer's interests were in English 'black-letter' printing, especially the works of Caxton, and continental incunables, particularly first editions of Greek and Latin classics. Thomas Dibdin (1776–1847) was employed as Spencer's librarian and visited Europe searching for new acquisitions. Published in 1814–15, this catalogue is of the earliest and rarest items in the collection. Each is described in detail, with reproductions of woodcuts and engravings, making this a fascinating record of one man's commitment to collecting the earliest examples of this revolutionary invention. Volume 3 continues to catalogue the classics, along with early editions of Aquinas, St Augustine and Thomas à Kempis.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eCollections of classics\u003cbr\u003e Grammar and lexicography\u003cbr\u003e Miscellaneous authors.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Literary studies: general [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Literary studies: general\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Literary%20studies:%20general%20%5BDSB%5D%22\"\u003eDSB\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46266095010072,"sku":"9781108051095","price":42.39,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9781108051095i_dbd49342-865b-487a-812a-f730585bae1a.jpg?v=1696747037","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/bibliotheca-spenceriana-a-descriptive-catalogue-of-the-books-printed-in-the-fifteenth-century-and-of-many-valuable-first-editions-in-the-library-of-george-john-earl-spencer-paperback-9781108051095","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}