Catalogue of the Extraordinary Collection of Splendid Manuscripts, Chiefly Upon Vellum, in Various Languages of Europe and the East, Formed By M. Guglielmo Libri de Libri, M. Guglielmo - 1859

London: J. Davy and Sons, 1859. Maroon cloth. Very good/not issued. 10" x 7", pp. xlvii, [1], 1-200, 32 pp. of facsimilie, 3 fold-out facsimilies; followed by an original copy of catalog bound; followed by original cover from Sotheby "Catalogue of A Magnificent Collection of Manuscripts, Formed by A Gentlemen of Consummate Taste and Judgement, 1876; followed by original cover from Sotheby "Catalogue of Manuscripts on Vellum Chiefly from The Famous Hamilton Collection, 1889. This is a privately published book, aggregating three renown auctions for manuscripts on Vellum. Includes an introduction by Libri in English and mirrored on the opposing page in French. The Libri acution is annotated in hand with the price sold and the purchaser identified. Bound in catalog covers have typical age wear, toning and foxing, light wear along along uncut edges. Facsimilies and fold-out pages are all in near fine condition, with only occaisional foxing. Book plate of Edward Sandford Burgess on front end paper. Burgess was a professor of Botany at Hunter College, chronicler of more than 70 species of Asters and an ardent collector of early manuscripts.<br /> <br /> Guglielmo Libri (1803 - 1869) was an Italian count and mathematician, who became known for his love and subsequent theft of ancient and precious manuscripts. Appointed the Inspector of Libraries in France, Libri began stealing the books he was responsible for, fleeing to England when the theft was discovered, along with 30,000 books and manuscripts inside 18 trunks. He was sentenced in France to 10 years in jail in absentia; some of the stolen works were returned when he died, but many remained missing. He earned millions of francs from this sale and another in 1861. "The Eminent Collector, who is obliged to leave London in consequence of ill health, and for that reason to dispose of his Literary Teasure" (Title Page).