[ASKEW, Anthony]
Bibliotheca Askeviana
London, n.p., [1775]£2,250.00
Small 4to, pp. (vi), 149, (i). Roman letter, some Italic, a little Greek. Very good copy. Ornamental woodcut borders between each day’s listing. Outer margins ruled in red with prices in contemporary ink for all lots, including ‘Libri Omissi’ (p.149). Contemporary red morocco, gilt, edges and spine rubbed, marbled endpapers. Slight marginal staining, light age yellowing. Armorial bookplate of celebrated bibliographer Anthony Hobson on ffep verso.
A very nice and comprehensively marked up copy of this important sale catalogue. Askew (1722-1774) was a renowned bibliophile: ‘as a book-collector, he is said to have attempted to secure a complete series of all the Greek classics ever published’, De Ricci, p.52. The auction of Askew’s library, conducted by Baker and Leigh, commenced on the 13th of February 1775 and went on for twenty days. The catalogue comprises 3572 lots, of which the final two are antique marbles. The sale ‘was a great success and was attended by the Paris bookseller De Bure, who bought for the Duc de La Vallière and other French collectors (including the King of France).’ De Ricci, p.52.
Brunet I, 922