About the Work
The Nobleman is a book-auction catalogue, not a narrative text. It documents the sale of the combined libraries of a clergyman and a nobleman, both formerly resident in Ireland. The catalogue was issued for an auction conducted by the auctioneer Charles Sharpe at his Literary & General Sale Room in Anglesea-street, with the sale commencing on Saturday, October 4th, 1834, and continuing on subsequent days (excluding Sundays) at one o’clock each afternoon. The work is structured as a comprehensive listing of theological and miscellaneous books, encompassing Greek and Latin classics, works of history, general divinity, various versions of the Scriptures, liturgies, catechisms, breviaries, indices expurgatorii, and a substantial body of controversial literature between Roman Catholic and Protestant authors. The catalogue also includes works of Italian, French, German, and Oriental literature, books of prints, and rare volumes. The collection notably features a synagogue roll of the Hebrew Pentateuch in manuscript, written on parchment, alongside numerous works by Dr. M. Luther, Philip Melancthon, and other early Reformers, with replies by prominent Catholic divines, papal bulls, and other significant ecclesiastical documents. The catalogue is organized by format—folio, quarto, octavo, and smaller—and concludes with an index categorizing the contents by subject and page range.
“AMONG OTHER PRECIOUS WORKS WILL BE FOUND : —”
Context
The catalogue reflects the intellectual and religious milieu of early nineteenth-century Britain and Ireland, a period marked by intense theological debate and antiquarian interest. The combined libraries of a clergyman and a nobleman represent the convergence of two distinct but overlapping spheres of book collecting: the clerical scholar’s accumulation of patristic, biblical, and controversial theology, and the nobleman’s broader collection of history, literature, and classical texts. The presence of works by Luther, Melancthon, and other Reformers, alongside Catholic replies and papal bulls, indicates a collection shaped by the Reformation controversies that continued to resonate in the British Isles. The inclusion of a manuscript Hebrew Pentateuch on parchment suggests a serious interest in biblical textual criticism and Oriental studies. The auction itself, conducted by Charles Sharpe, was a standard commercial event of the period, with detailed conditions of sale governing bidding increments, deposits, and the removal of purchased lots. The catalogue’s publication in 1834 places it in the era of expanding print culture and the flourishing trade in second-hand and rare books, when the dispersal of private libraries was a common means of circulating scholarly and literary works.
Structure of the Book
The book is arranged as a formal auction catalogue, beginning with a title page announcing the sale and its conditions. The main body of the catalogue is divided into sections based on the format of the volumes, a common organizational principle in book auctions of the period. The first section lists folio works, the largest and often most valuable books, including multi-volume sets of the Church Fathers, biblical commentaries, and historical collections. The second section covers quarto works, which include theological treatises, controversial pamphlets, and classical editions. The third section, octavo and smaller works, encompasses a vast array of titles, from lexicons and sermons to literary classics and philosophical journals. Following the main listings, the catalogue provides a detailed set of Conditions of Sale, outlining the legal and procedural framework for bidding, payment, and delivery. The work concludes with an Index that categorizes the contents by subject and page ranges, facilitating navigation for potential buyers. The catalogue’s structure is thus practical and utilitarian, designed to serve the needs of bidders at the auction.
Detailed Section-by-Section Summary
Catalogue of the United Libraries of a Clergyman & a Nobleman
The catalogue opens with a title page announcing the sale of the united libraries of a clergyman and a nobleman, formerly resident in Ireland. It specifies the auctioneer, Charles Sharpe, the location of the sale at his Literary & General Sale Room in Anglesea-street, and the commencement date of Saturday, October 4th, 1834, with the sale continuing on following days at one o’clock. The opening description characterizes the collection as comprising theological and miscellaneous books, including Greek and Latin classics, history, general divinity, versions of the Scriptures, liturgies, catechisms, breviaries, indices expurgatorii, and works of controversy between Roman Catholic and Protestant authors. It highlights specific notable items, such as Father Parson’s “Three Controversies” in three volumes, “The Lives of the Cardinals” with portraits and autograph letters, and numerous works by Luther, Melancthon, and other early Reformers, along with replies by famous Catholic divines, papal bulls, and literature in Italian, French, German, and Oriental languages.
The catalogue then proceeds to list folio works in detail. This section includes major patristic editions: S. Ambrosii Opera in five volumes bound as two, S. Athanasii Opera in four volumes bound as one, S. Augustini Opera in eleven volumes bound as nine, and S. Anselmi Opera. It also lists Barbosa’s Opera in eight volumes, the Bibliotheca Fratrum Polonorum in eight volumes, the Biblia Gregoriana, Bellarmine de Controversiis in four volumes, and the Bullarium Magnum Romanum in five volumes bound as three. Biblical scholarship is represented by Calmet’s Commentary on the Old and New Testament in nine volumes and the Nov. Test. Syr. et Arab. in two volumes. Historical and ecclesiastical works include Colgani Acta Sanct. Hib., the Historia Soc. Jesu in four volumes, Eusebii Historia Ecclesiastica, the Concilium Tridentinum, and Hincmari Opera in two volumes. Other notable folios include S. Cyrilii de Adorat. in Spiritu, Hugonis de S. Charo Opera in eight volumes bound as four, the Imago primi saeculi Soc. Jesu, S. Irenaei Adversus Valentini, the Index Lib. Prohibitorum in two volumes, the Missale Romanum, the Nov. Test. Erasmi, Whiston’s Josephus, Willoughby’s Family Bible, Moreri’s Dictionnaire in ten volumes, Bayle’s Dictionnaire in eight volumes, the Monarquia de Espana in three volumes, Ware’s Antiquities of Ireland, Laporte’s Killarney Views, and Boydell’s Heads of Illustrious Persons.
The quarto section lists a range of theological and controversial works. It includes the Bulla Apostolica contra errores Lutheri from 1520, Hoochstratus de Purgatorio libellus contra Lutherum, Cochlaei Philippica sexta contra Melancthonem, and Collius de Sanguine Christi and Collius de Animabus Paganorum. A notable item is Henrici VIII adv. Lutherum Assertio Sept. Sacramentorum, the Editio Princeps of 1521. The section also includes Vitringae Dissertationes Sacrae, Fabricii Bibliotheca Graeca in twelve volumes, the Antiquites d’Herculaneum in three volumes, Clement Bibliotheques Curieuses in nine volumes, and Aminta di Tasso printed by Bodoni. Biographical and historical works include the Life of Luther, the Life of Philip Melancthon, Phelps’s Captivity, King Charles’s Book of Sports, Sir Walter Raleigh’s Ghost, and a curious item titled The Bake of ye Chess.
The octavo and smaller section is extensive, beginning with Schleusneri Lexicon in Nov. Test. in eight volumes and Parr’s Works in eight volumes. It includes Blondellus de Joanne Papissa, the Histoire de Papes, the Catechisme de Montpelier in two volumes, Bourdaloue Sermons in twelve volumes, the Catechismes des Jesuites, and Holbein’s Dance of Death from 1564. The section lists large collections of Greek and Latin Classics in three hundred volumes, Hebrew and Oriental Books in fifty volumes, and French, Italian, Spanish, German, and Dutch Works in seven hundred volumes. It also includes Johnson’s Works in twelve volumes, Tilloch’s Philosophical Magazine in forty-eight volumes, the Edinburgh Review, Granger’s and Noble’s Biographical History of England in seven volumes, Martin’s Hebrides and St. Kilda, Mitford’s Greece in eight volumes, Puigblanch’s Inquisition Unmasked in two volumes, and a section of Bibliography in thirty-six volumes.
The Conditions of Sale are then laid out in seven numbered clauses. The first states that the highest bidder is the buyer, and disputed lots are put up again. The second specifies the minimum bidding increments: threepence up to ten shillings, sixpence after ten shillings, one shilling after one pound, and proportionally thereafter. The third requires purchasers to pay five shillings in the pound as earnest, with small articles paid at the time of purchase. The fourth states that books are presumed perfect unless stated otherwise, but if collating at the sale place reveals an imperfection, the purchaser may take or reject the book, but not after delivery. The fifth requires books to be removed at the buyer’s expense within one day after the sale, with the remaining money paid on or before delivery. The sixth stipulates that lots left unsold due to non-performance are re-sold, with the deposit lost. The seventh states that the King’s Duty is paid by the purchaser, and the auctioneer is not responsible for purchases not taken away per the conditions. The catalogue concludes with a note that commissions are executed by Charles Sharpe at 33, Anglesea-street.
The Index categorizes the contents by subject and page ranges, including English Divinity and Ecclesiastical History on pages 1-9, Libri Latini Theologici on pages 9-19, Theologia Latina et Historia Ecclesiastica on pages 19-26, Patres Evangelici, Historia Ecclesiastica, &c. on pages 27-35, Libri Latini Classici et Miscellanei on pages 35-43, and Auctores Classici Gr. et Lat. Translations.
Catalogue Entries (Part 3)
This section continues the catalogue with numbered entries, each providing the author, title, place of publication, and date. The entries include item 423, Practice Cancellarie Romane, published in Rome in 1493, a work on Roman chancery practice. Item 424 is Junilius, De Partibus Legis Divinae, published in Basel in 1545, a treatise on the parts of the divine law. Item 425 is Menagii (Matthaei) Vita, published in Paris in 1692, a life of Matthaeus Menagius. Item 426 is Brixia, de Oratoriis Domesticis Dissertatio, published in Brescia in 1757, a dissertation on domestic oratories. Item 427 is Dodwell, de Nupero Schismate Anglicano, published in London in 1704, concerning the recent English schism. Item 428 is Liber Precum, published in Oxford in 1726, a book of prayers. Item 429 is Alexandrinae Dissertatio, published in Paris in 1682, a dissertation concerning Alexandria. Item 430 is Julii Vitalis Epitaphium, edited by Dodwell and published in Exeter in 1710. Item 431 is Nova Disquisitio de Symbolo Athanasiano, published in Paris in 1693, a new inquiry into the Athanasian Creed. Item 432 is Eusebii Philadelphi Dialogus, published in Edinburgh in 1574. Item 433 is Daubuz, pro Testimonio Josephi de Jesu Christo, published in London in 1706, on the testimony of Josephus concerning Jesus Christ. Item 434 is Smithi Opuscula Ecclesiastica, published in Rotterdam in 1706. Item 435 is Defensio S. Augustini adversus Phereponum, published in Canterbury in 1707. Item 436 is Novum Testamentum Erasmi, printed in Venice by Peter Schoeffer of Mainz in 1520, with a note that this book was printed by a son of one of the three most famous inventors of printing. Item 437 is Angliae Suspira et Lachrymae, published in London in 1646, the sighs and tears of England. Item 438 is Index Librorum Prohibitorum, published in Rome in 1664. Item 439 is S. Andreas Corsinus Carmelita Celebratus, published in Brussels in 1633. Item 440 is Martyrologium Romanum from 1571. Item 441 is Explicatio Gentilitiae Henrici IV. Regis Galliarum, published in Leiden in 1592, an explanation of the genealogy of Henry IV of France. Item 442 is a bundle of theological theses from Leipzig, undated. Item 443 is Assertio Septem Sacramentorum adversus Martinum Lutherum, published in London by Pynson in 1521, described as a fine copy of the first edition of Henry VIII’s celebrated Defence of the Seven Sacraments against Luther, with the lower margin injured by worm holes but the text perfect throughout. Item 444 is Canones Apostolorum, cum Commentariis Zanarae, published in Paris in 1558. Item 445 is Herbst, de Pentateuchi Quatuor Librorum Posteriorum Auctore et Editore, undated, on the author and editor of the four later books of the Pentateuch. Item 446 is Acta et Scripta Synodalia Dordracena, published by Herder in 1620, the acts and writings of the Synod of Dordrecht. Item 447 is Authoritates Sacr. Scripturae in Summa Christianae Doctrinae Petri Canisii citatae, published in Venice by Aldus in 1571. Item 448 is Gulielmi Alani Angli lib. III. de Sacramentis, published in Antwerp in 1586, three books of the Englishman William Allen on the sacraments. Item 449 is Barth. Latomus, de Docta Simplicitate Primae Ecclesiae, et de Usu Calicis in Synaxi et de Eucharistico Sacrificio, published in Cologne in 1559, on the learned simplicity of the early church, the use of the cup in the synaxis, and the eucharistic sacrifice. Item 450 is Hirtii (Frid.) Varia Sacra, published in Wittenberg in 1776. Item 451 is Psalterium ex Hebreo diligentissime ad Verbum fere translatum from 1515, a Psalter translated from the Hebrew almost word for word. Item 452 is Fuxii (Joan.) Joel Propheta elegiaco carmine redditus from 1555, the prophet Joel rendered in elegiac verse. Item 453 is Tamburinus (Th.) de Bulla Cruciatae, published in Venice in 1665, on the Bull of the Crusade. Item 454 is Aureum Sacrorum Hymnorum Opus from 1547, a golden work of sacred hymns. Item 455 is Constitutiones Lunen., published in Sarzana in 1582, constitutions of Luni. Item 456 begins the Confutatio Abbrevi… but the entry is cut off.
Catalogue Entries (Part 11)
This section continues the bibliography, organized by subject, with item numbers, authors, titles, publication places, and dates. The first subsection covers Scotland and England. It begins with a narrative of an incursion (“Introde”) made by the Scots into England during the reign of Richard II, as recorded by Froissart, published in London in 1746. It then lists Lord Swinton’s work on the uniformity of weights and measures in Scotland, published in Edinburgh in 1779. Next is the “Secret History of Colonel Hooke’s Negotiations in Scotland in favor of the Pretender in 1707,” published in London in 1760. This is followed by Churchyard’s “Chips concerning Scotland,” edited by Chalmers, published in 1817. The list continues with Buchanan’s “History of Scotland,” with an appendix, published in 1721, and another copy of the same. It also includes Campbell’s “Life of the Duke of Argyle” from 1744, Martin’s “Voyage to St. Kilda” from 1698, Martin’s “Description of the Western Isles of Scotland” from 1703, and Nicholson’s “Scottish Historical Library” from 1702.
The bibliography then covers France, Sweden, Russia, and other nations. For France, it lists a “History of France from the Origin of that Nation to the year 1702,” abridged in two volumes with portraits, and a “History of Lewis XI” by Duclos in two volumes from 1746. For Sweden, it lists Puffendorf’s “History of Sweden” from 1702, Vertot’s “History of the Revolutions in Sweden” in two volumes from 1696, another copy from 1723, an “Account of Sweden” from 1694, “Letters on Sweden” by Mary Wollstoncraft from 1796, and a “History of the Wars of Charles XII” from 1715. For Russia, it lists Mottley’s “History of Russia under the Empress Catherine I” in two volumes from 1744, and Mirabeau’s “Secret History of the Court of Berlin” from 1789. Other entries include Hind’s “History of Greece” from 1707, Mitford’s “History of Greece” in eight volumes from 1814, a “History of the Buccaneers of America” from 1699, Stuart’s “View of Society in Europe” from 1778, Raleigh’s “History of the World” abridged from 1698, the “Present State of Germany” from 1690, Schomberg’s “Historical and Chronological Review of the Roman Law” from 1785, Hernandez on the gold and silver mines in Peru from 1755, and “Memoirs of Denmark” in two volumes from 1715.
A section on biographies lists the “Life of Earl of Clarendon” in three volumes from 1759-69, and lives of Oliver Cromwell by Harris, Pope by Owen Ruffhead, Wolf by John C., Count Bonneval by Sparrow, Milton’s “Defence of his Life,” Thomas Gent (Printer of York), Duncan Campbell, and Emperor Theodosius by Manning. It also includes the “Life of Nicholas Ferrar” by Dr. Peckard from 1790, a life of the Duke de la Rochefoucault from 1683, and Warden’s “Letters from St. Helena” from 1816.
The catalog lists numerous other works, including “Intercepted Letters and Dispatches from Paris to Dresden” from 1814, “Letters from the Cape of Good Hope” from 1817, Tudor’s “Letters on the Eastern States” from 1821, Leckie on the “Balance of Power in Europe” from 1807, and Ward on the “Law of Nations” in two volumes from 1795. It also includes Lister’s “Journey to Paris,” Thornton’s “Present State of Turkey” in two volumes from 1809, Puigblanch’s “Inquisition Unmasked” in two volumes from 1816, Ray’s “Travels in the Low Countries” from 1738, and “Miscellanea Curiosa” from 1708. Further entries cover Midgley’s “History of the War in Cyprus” from 1687, a “Military History of Great Britain for 1756,” “Hints on Emigration to Swan and Canning Rivers” from 1829, a work on the “Partition of the Spanish Monarchy” from 1702, Gomez’s “Memoirs of the Court of Persia” from 1725, Astry’s “Royal Politician” from 1700, Browne’s “Thoughts on Civil Liberty” from 1765, and a “Summary of the Roman Law” from 1772.
The list includes Stevens’s “Spanish Rule of Trade to the West Indies” from 1702, Arlington’s “Letters to Sir William Temple” from 1701, Father Paul’s “Letters” from 1693, “Letters to a Young Nobleman” from 1762, and “Letters of the Antients” from 1703. It also lists Wafer’s “Voyage to the Isthmus of America” from 1699, Dr. Johnson’s “Works” in twelve volumes from 1792, Staehlin’s “Account of the New Northern Archipelago,” an “Account of Switzerland in 1714,” and two works on the judicial authority of the Master of the Rolls.
Main Arguments
As a book-auction catalogue, The Nobleman does not advance a continuous argument in the manner of a treatise or essay. Its primary purpose is descriptive and commercial, to present a collection of books for sale. However, the selection and arrangement of the catalogue implicitly makes several claims. First, the catalogue asserts the value and significance of the collection, emphasizing rare and notable items such as the Editio Princeps of Henry VIII’s Assertio Septem Sacramentorum and the manuscript Hebrew Pentateuch. Second, the catalogue reflects a particular intellectual framework, one in which theological controversy, patristic scholarship, and classical learning are held in high esteem. The inclusion of both Protestant and Catholic controversial works suggests a collection that values comprehensive coverage of religious debate rather than partisan advocacy. Third, the catalogue’s organization by format and subject implies a systematic approach to book collecting, one that values both the physical attributes of books (size, edition, condition) and their intellectual content. The detailed Conditions of Sale further underscore the commercial and legal dimensions of the book trade, establishing the rules by which the collection will be dispersed.
Key Concepts
The key concepts embedded in the catalogue include the organization of knowledge by format and subject, the value of rare and first editions, the significance of patristic and biblical scholarship, the history of religious controversy, and the mechanics of the auction trade. The catalogue’s division into folio, quarto, and octavo sections reflects a bibliographic hierarchy based on size and presumed value. The emphasis on specific editions, such as the Bodoni printing of Aminta di Tasso and the Pynson printing of Henry VIII’s work, highlights the importance of typography and printing history. The inclusion of indices expurgatorii and the Index Librorum Prohibitorum points to the history of censorship and the regulation of reading. The presence of works by Luther, Melancthon, and their Catholic opponents illustrates the enduring significance of the Reformation as a subject of scholarly inquiry. The Conditions of Sale articulate the legal and economic principles governing the auction, including bidding increments, deposits, and the responsibilities of buyers and the auctioneer.
Themes
The catalogue’s contents reveal several themes that can be interpreted as reflecting the intellectual and cultural interests of its owners. The heavy representation of theological works, including the Church Fathers, biblical commentaries, and controversial literature, suggests a deep engagement with religious questions, characteristic of a clerical collector. The presence of works on the Reformation, including both Protestant and Catholic perspectives, indicates an interest in the history of the Church and its divisions. The inclusion of classical texts, both Greek and Latin, points to a humanist education and an appreciation for the foundations of Western literature and thought. The collection of historical works, covering Scotland, England, France, Sweden, Russia, Greece, and other nations, reflects a broad curiosity about the political and social development of Europe and beyond. The presence of travel literature, such as Martin’s Voyage to St. Kilda and Wafer’s Voyage to the Isthmus of America, suggests an interest in exploration and the wider world. The catalogue can be read as a document of the intellectual world of the early nineteenth-century British gentry and clergy, a world in which religious learning, classical erudition, and historical knowledge were central values. The nobleman’s portion of the library, with its emphasis on history, biography, and political works, may reflect the concerns of a landowning class interested in governance, law, and the management of estates, while the clergyman’s portion emphasizes divinity, patristics, and ecclesiastical history.
The Author’s Conclusions
As a catalogue, The Nobleman does not present conclusions in the traditional sense. Its purpose is to facilitate the sale of a library, not to argue a thesis. The catalogue’s implicit conclusion is that the collection it describes is worthy of attention and purchase, that it contains items of sufficient rarity and value to attract bidders. The detailed descriptions of notable works, such as the fine copy of Henry VIII’s Assertio Septem Sacramentorum, serve to advertise the collection’s merits. The Conditions of Sale establish the framework for the transaction, ensuring that the auction proceeds in an orderly and legally sound manner. The catalogue thus concludes with the practical arrangements for the dispersal of the library, signaling the end of the collection as a unified entity and its redistribution among new owners.
Significance
The significance of The Nobleman lies in its value as a historical document of the book trade and of private library formation in early nineteenth-century Britain and Ireland. It provides a detailed snapshot of the kinds of books that were collected by a clergyman and a nobleman, revealing the intellectual priorities and cultural interests of these social groups. The catalogue documents the circulation of rare and important works, including first editions and manuscripts, and illustrates the mechanisms by which such works were bought and sold. It also sheds light on the history of theological controversy, as the collection includes both Protestant and Catholic works, reflecting the ongoing religious debates of the period. For scholars of book history, the catalogue offers insights into the organization of libraries, the valuation of books, and the practices of auction houses. For historians of religion, it provides evidence of the continued importance of patristic and Reformation studies in the nineteenth century. The catalogue’s detailed entries, with their place and date of publication, also serve as a bibliographic resource, documenting the existence and provenance of specific editions. Ultimately, The Nobleman is a valuable primary source for understanding the intellectual and commercial life of the early nineteenth century, preserving a record of a private library at the moment of its dissolution and offering a window into the world of books and their collectors.
