George Sandys 1578-1644

George SANDYS 1578-1644

Biographical Note

Born in York, son of Edwin Sandys, Archbishop of York. Admitted to St Mary Hall, Oxford 1589, and to the Middle Temple in 1596, but did not apparently graduate or qualify. Travelled around Europe and the near east 1610-12, described in A relation of a journey which he published in 1615. Became actively involved in the affairs of the Virginia Company; treasurer of the Company 1621, spent 1622-25 in Virginia, was a member of the council of the colony in the late 1620s and served on the royal commission on the state of the colony, 1631. Published a translation of Ovid (1621), of Grotius’s Latin verse drama Christus patiens (1640), and Biblical paraphrases in verse.

Books

Only a small handful of books from Sandys’s library can be traced today but the range of references in his published writings suggest that he must have had, or had access to, extensive collections. The fate of his books after his death is unknown (no will has been traced) and it seems likely that they were dispersed soon afterwards. Examples: BL C.128.f.6; Durham UL SB 0073.

Characteristic Markings

Typically inscribed his titlepages with his name and the motto Habere eripitur habuisse nunquam. Used an armorial stamp.

Sources

• British Armorial Bindings.
• Davis, R. Volumes from George Sandys’s library now in America, Virginia magazine of history and biography 65 (1957), 450-7.
• Ellison, James. "Sandys, George (1578–1644), writer and traveller." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
• Rogers, M. Books from the library of George Sandys, The Book Collector 23 (1974), 361-70.