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O'CONOR, Charles (1764--1828)
Bibliotheca MS. Stowensis. A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the Stowe library. Vol. I (II). By the Rev. Charles O'Conor, D.D.
Buckingham (Place), printed by J. Seeley,, 1818--19.
2 vols [in 3] ; 29.6 cm. (4º)
I: [2], xvi, 421, [1] p.
II: v, [1], 604, [2] p.
[III]: [2], 80 p.

Volume II dated 1819. The 'Appendix To Vol. I. - Press II.' (described above as vol. [III]) was issued in a separate volume, with half-title reading 'Appendix to Vol. I. of the Catalogue Of Manuscripts in Stowe Library. ...' dated 1819. The collection, formed by George Temple-Nugent- Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham, from various sources (Thomas Astle's collection, Charles O'Conor's Irish manuscripts, the Essex papers and manuscripts) was extended by Richard, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. The author of the catalogue, Charles O'Conor (grandson of the collector), was librarian at Stowe, where Soane was commissioned in 1805 to build the gothic library for the Anglo-Saxon manuscripts, having previously worked for the family at Wotton and elsewhere. See Ptolemy Dean, Sir John Soane and the country estate (Aldershot 1999), p. 191. In September 1833 Soane bought three illuminated manuscripts (SM Vols 137, 141 and 143) from the 1st Duke of Buckingham and Chandos for £735 as a means of assisting him financially, but none had yet been added to the library at Stowe when the present catalogue was printed. The collection was eventually sold in 1849 by Richard, the 2nd Duke to Bertram, Earl of Ashburnham, and purchased in 1883 from the estate of the latter by the British Museum, the Irish manuscripts being transferred to the library of the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. A catalogue of the collection was issued by the British Museum in 1895--96.

Copy Notes Uncut edges. Some marks of emphasis in pencil in vol. [III], pp. 57, 59--60, 71--72.

Binding Original C19th grey paper boards, publisher's paper spine-labels reading 'Bibliotheca MS. Stowensis. Vol. I (II).' and 'Bib. MS. Stow. Vol. I. Appendix'.

Reference Number 703

Additional Names Grenville, Richard, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Chandos (1776--1839) - Collections; Buckingham and Chandos, Richard Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos Grenville, 1st Duke of (1776--1839); Buckingham and Chandos, Richard Plantagenet Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos, Grenville, 2nd Duke of (1797--1861); Stowe Library; Grenville, George Nugent Temple, Marquis of Buckingham - Collections; Buckingham, George Nugent Temple Grenville, Marquis of (1753--1813) - Collections; Grenville, Richard Plantagent Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos, Duke of Buckingham (1776--1839); Buckingham and Chandos, Richard Plantagenet Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos, Grenville, 2nd Duke of (1797--1861); Grenville family - Collections


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