25th Jan, 2023 10:30 GMT/BST
The David Stather Library
29
Carlisle Siege - English Civil War
Glemham (Sir Thomas, c.1594-1649), One page autograph letter signed, from Glemham, a Royalist soldier and Commander-in-Chief of the four northernmost counties, to 'your Highnesse' (believed to be Prince Rupert), dated October 28th, 1644. An interesting letter written from Carlisle during the Covenanters' siege, giving a description of the siege (' I have attempted two or three times to beate up the enimys guards which were near the towne .... one of them at Stannicke .... where were killed of the enimy some fifty & some ten prisoners taken'), how local gentry had taken the covenant, the difficulties in raising money for the subsistence of the Garrison and the lack of provisions. He reports on the success of the Lord of Montrose in Scotland and the breaking news of the fall of Newcastle.
Manuscript on paper, approx 18cm x 19.5cm, top corner worn with slight loss, several folds, one worn with some loss, glazed front and rear with typescript description below and typed transcript verso.
Sold for £2,000
Estimated at £500 - £800
Auction: The David Stather Library, 25th Jan, 2023
A single-owner sale of the Library of David Stather (1940-2022)
The library comprises a large collection of early books, pamphlets and manuscripts on English history, focusing on the English Civil War, the ‘Popish Plot’, the Monmouth Rebellion and the Glorious Revolution, early Parliament and the Monarchy of that period, the development of English law, the Reformation, early bibles and prayer books, chronicles of English history and some very early books on witchcraft.
The earliest manuscript dates from 1285, and the earliest book is an incunable from 1486, however the majority date from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Interestingly, many are books that contribute to English history rather than just reporting on it, for example the collection includes books reporting the Popish Plot, which were written specifically to create social division through what is now known as ‘fake news’.
The books have been lovingly preserved by David Stather and the auction provides a rare opportunity to purchase books from a very focused collection built up over his lifetime.
Please submit any enquiries for the sale to books@tennants-ltd.co.uk
Viewing
Tuesday 24th January 10am-5pm and the morning of the sale from 8am
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