Otto Nicholson d.1622

From Book Owners Online

Otto or Otho NICHOLSON or NICHOLLSONE d.1622

Armorial stamp of Otto Nicholson (British Armorial Bindings).

Biographical Note

Son of Thomas Nicholson, whose profession Otto followed as examiner in the court of chancery. Otto was also receiver of fines, a post created by James I, from which he made his fortune.

Books

Nicholson's detailed will seemingly makes no mention of his library, and it may be understood that his books are counted among the residue of all his "Goods, Chattel, Lands, Credits, and Debts not formerlye devised or disposed of", which he left wholly to be disposed of by his executors for charitable causes. The number of books featuring his binding in Christ Church, Oxford, is explained by a donation of £100 made for the purchase of books in 1614. Despite having no apparent connections with the college, he also seems to have funded the library's donor's register, which features multiple impressions of his armorial binding stamp, contains his painted crest at the front and back of the book, and lists his donation as the first within its pages. Examples: Christ Church Oxford, St Paul's Cathedral Library, and the Foyle Special Collections Library King’s College London, among others.

Characteristic Markings

Two stamps are connected to Nicholson by the British Armorial Bindings database, both feature arms with two bars ermine in chief three suns, crest out of a ducal coronet a lion's head, and the motto "Meliora Spero". It is unclear whether these were solely used for books bought with his donation to Christ Church, or whether any survive from his own private library.

Sources