25th Jan, 2023 10:30 GMT/BST
The David Stather Library
183
Trelawney (Sir Jonathan, 3rd Bart., Bishop of Bristol, 1650-1721)
Autograph Letter Signed, to Captain Kelly of Liskeard, Cornwall, 20th June [16]87, as well as discussing financial difficulties, the Bishop refers to King James II's anger at his refusal to sign the address of thanks for a Declaration of Indulgence for tolerance towards Catholics, 'ye king being very angry with me for not signing ?an addresse wch shall never have my hand tho ... refusal of it would not only cutt off my hand [or hair] but my head also ...
Two pages on large folded sheet, address and red wax seal verso, several lines underlined, paper worn and frayed, splitting at folds, strengthened along longest fold, later dockets verso.
[Trelawney was one of seven bishops arrested by James II for petitioning against the Declaration. They were acquitted of a charge of seditious libel on the 30th June, 1688 at Westminster Hall - see also lot 194]
Sold for £420
Estimated at £200 - £300
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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