Difference between revisions of "Charles Spencer 1675-1722"
(Created page with "__NOTITLE__ ===name::Charles name::SPENCER, 3rd personal title::Earl of Sunderland date of birth::1675-date of death::1722=== ====Biographical Note==== Se...") |
m (David moved page Charles Spencer to Charles Spencer 1675-1722 without leaving a redirect) |
||
| (4 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
__NOTITLE__ | __NOTITLE__ | ||
===[[name::Charles]] [[name::SPENCER]], 3rd [[personal title::Earl of Sunderland]] [[date of birth::1675]]-[[date of death::1722]]=== | ===[[name::Charles]] [[name::SPENCER]], 3rd [[personal title::Earl of Sunderland]] [[date of birth::1675]]-[[date of death::1722]]=== | ||
| − | + | [[file:CharlesSpencer.jpg|thumb|One of Spencer's armorial stamps (British Armorial Bindings)]] | |
====Biographical Note==== | ====Biographical Note==== | ||
Second son of [[family::Robert Spencer]], 2nd Earl of Sunderland; he was educated largely through private tutorship but also at the [[education::University of Leiden]], and became heir to the title when his elder brother died in 1688. In 1695, the year in which he married [[family::Arabella Cavendish]] the daughter of [[family::Henry Cavendish]], 2nd Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, he became [[occupation::MP]] for [[location::Tiverton]], and began a political career which developed into his becoming one of the senior statesmen of his time after he succeeded his father as Earl in 1702, and moved to the [[organisations::House of Lords]]. As a leading Whig politician, he was variously in and out of office during the following decades; he was [[occupation::Secretary of State]] in 1706-10, and [[occupation::First Lord of the Treasury]] 1718-21, but the South Sea Bubble (in which he was heavily involved) led to his political ruin. He had many enemies but has also been admired for his astuteness, shrewdness and intelligence. | Second son of [[family::Robert Spencer]], 2nd Earl of Sunderland; he was educated largely through private tutorship but also at the [[education::University of Leiden]], and became heir to the title when his elder brother died in 1688. In 1695, the year in which he married [[family::Arabella Cavendish]] the daughter of [[family::Henry Cavendish]], 2nd Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, he became [[occupation::MP]] for [[location::Tiverton]], and began a political career which developed into his becoming one of the senior statesmen of his time after he succeeded his father as Earl in 1702, and moved to the [[organisations::House of Lords]]. As a leading Whig politician, he was variously in and out of office during the following decades; he was [[occupation::Secretary of State]] in 1706-10, and [[occupation::First Lord of the Treasury]] 1718-21, but the South Sea Bubble (in which he was heavily involved) led to his political ruin. He had many enemies but has also been admired for his astuteness, shrewdness and intelligence. | ||
| − | + | [[file:P1120397(4).JPG|thumb|Spencer's bookplate (British Museum Franks Collection *40)]] | |
====Books==== | ====Books==== | ||
| − | Spencer has long been recognised as one of the leading figures in the evolution of connoisseur book collecting around the turn of the 18th century. He became keenly interested in building a great library of early printed books, and was less interested in [[format::manuscripts]] than the man who is generally seen as his main book-collecting rival, [[associates::Edward Harley]]. He began acquiring books in his later teenage years and in 1693 he bought the library of the classical scholar [[associates::Hadrian Beverland]] (1650-1716); he purchased a number of other libraries en bloc, or partly so, thereafter, including many books of [[crossreference::Charles Scarburgh]] in 1695. He particularly sought early editions of [[subject::classics|classical]] authors, and helped to create interest in collecting incunabula. His books were largely kept at his London home, Sunderland House, where by the time of his death he had over 20,000 volumes spread over more than 5 rooms, but he also kept a significant part of his library at [[location::Althorp House]]. He was noted for his extravagance, and willingness to pay high prices for books, to beat off competition. | + | Spencer has long been recognised as one of the leading figures in the evolution of connoisseur book collecting around the turn of the 18th century. He became keenly interested in building a great library of early printed books, and was less interested in [[format::manuscripts]] than the man who is generally seen as his main book-collecting rival, [[associates::Edward Harley]]. He began acquiring books in his later teenage years and in 1693 he bought the library of the classical scholar [[associates::Hadrian Beverland]] (1650-1716); he purchased a number of other libraries en bloc, or partly so, thereafter, including many books of [[crossreference::Sir Charles Scarburgh]] in 1695. He particularly sought early editions of [[subject::classics|classical]] authors, and helped to create interest in collecting incunabula. His books were largely kept at his London home, Sunderland House, where by the time of his death he had over 20,000 volumes spread over more than 5 rooms, but he also kept a significant part of his library at [[location::Althorp House]]. He was noted for his extravagance, and willingness to pay high prices for books, to beat off competition. |
Katherine Swift, who studied the Sunderland library in detail, identified 3 phases of its formation: a first to 1711, when most of the books were acquired in [[location::London]] via the trade and auction sales; a second of ca.1711-18, when extensive purchases were made in [[location::Holland]] and [[location::France]], partly through the agency of [[associates::Isaac Vaillant]]; and a final phase from ca.1718, when books were actively sought out from further afield in [[location::Europe]]. A number of booksellers and others were commissioned by, or worked closely with, Spencer to help accumulate the library. | Katherine Swift, who studied the Sunderland library in detail, identified 3 phases of its formation: a first to 1711, when most of the books were acquired in [[location::London]] via the trade and auction sales; a second of ca.1711-18, when extensive purchases were made in [[location::Holland]] and [[location::France]], partly through the agency of [[associates::Isaac Vaillant]]; and a final phase from ca.1718, when books were actively sought out from further afield in [[location::Europe]]. A number of booksellers and others were commissioned by, or worked closely with, Spencer to help accumulate the library. | ||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
====Characteristic Markings==== | ====Characteristic Markings==== | ||
| − | Two armorial stamps used by Spencer are recorded in the Armorials Database. His bindings are noted as being more commonly in calfskin than goatskin. | + | Two armorial stamps used by Spencer are recorded in the Armorials Database; he also used an engraved armorial bookplate (Franks *40). His bindings are noted as being more commonly in calfskin than goatskin. |
====Sources==== | ====Sources==== | ||
| Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
*[https://armorial.library.utoronto.ca/stamp-owners/SPE002 British Armorial Bindings]. | *[https://armorial.library.utoronto.ca/stamp-owners/SPE002 British Armorial Bindings]. | ||
*De Ricci, S., ''English collectors of books and manuscripts'', Cambridge, 1930, 38-40. | *De Ricci, S., ''English collectors of books and manuscripts'', Cambridge, 1930, 38-40. | ||
| + | *Gambier Howe, E. R. J. ''Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum''. London, 1903. | ||
*Simmons, Clare, Charles Spencer, 3rd earl of Sunderland, in Baker, W. and Womack, K. (eds), ''British pre-nineteenth century British book collectors and bibliographers'', Detroit, 1999, 321-7. | *Simmons, Clare, Charles Spencer, 3rd earl of Sunderland, in Baker, W. and Womack, K. (eds), ''British pre-nineteenth century British book collectors and bibliographers'', Detroit, 1999, 321-7. | ||
*Snyder, Henry L. [https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/26117 "Spencer, Charles, third earl of Sunderland (1675–1722), politician."] Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. | *Snyder, Henry L. [https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/26117 "Spencer, Charles, third earl of Sunderland (1675–1722), politician."] Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. | ||
| Line 24: | Line 25: | ||
*Swift, K., ''The formation of the library of Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland'', University of Oxford D.Phil. thesis, 1897. | *Swift, K., ''The formation of the library of Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland'', University of Oxford D.Phil. thesis, 1897. | ||
*[https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/8a1d95ac-75e8-3bc4-bfc5-f64ef3660fa7 Catalogue of the Sunderland Library, 1728]. | *[https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/8a1d95ac-75e8-3bc4-bfc5-f64ef3660fa7 Catalogue of the Sunderland Library, 1728]. | ||
| + | *[https://data.cerl.org/owners/00014393 Charles Spencer, CERL/MEI]. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Latest revision as of 22:33, 1 May 2021
Charles SPENCER, 3rd Earl of Sunderland 1675-1722
Biographical Note
Second son of Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland; he was educated largely through private tutorship but also at the University of Leiden, and became heir to the title when his elder brother died in 1688. In 1695, the year in which he married Arabella Cavendish the daughter of Henry Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, he became MP for Tiverton, and began a political career which developed into his becoming one of the senior statesmen of his time after he succeeded his father as Earl in 1702, and moved to the House of Lords. As a leading Whig politician, he was variously in and out of office during the following decades; he was Secretary of State in 1706-10, and First Lord of the Treasury 1718-21, but the South Sea Bubble (in which he was heavily involved) led to his political ruin. He had many enemies but has also been admired for his astuteness, shrewdness and intelligence.
.JPG)
Books
Spencer has long been recognised as one of the leading figures in the evolution of connoisseur book collecting around the turn of the 18th century. He became keenly interested in building a great library of early printed books, and was less interested in manuscripts than the man who is generally seen as his main book-collecting rival, Edward Harley. He began acquiring books in his later teenage years and in 1693 he bought the library of the classical scholar Hadrian Beverland (1650-1716); he purchased a number of other libraries en bloc, or partly so, thereafter, including many books of Sir Charles Scarburgh in 1695. He particularly sought early editions of classical authors, and helped to create interest in collecting incunabula. His books were largely kept at his London home, Sunderland House, where by the time of his death he had over 20,000 volumes spread over more than 5 rooms, but he also kept a significant part of his library at Althorp House. He was noted for his extravagance, and willingness to pay high prices for books, to beat off competition.
Katherine Swift, who studied the Sunderland library in detail, identified 3 phases of its formation: a first to 1711, when most of the books were acquired in London via the trade and auction sales; a second of ca.1711-18, when extensive purchases were made in Holland and France, partly through the agency of Isaac Vaillant; and a final phase from ca.1718, when books were actively sought out from further afield in Europe. A number of booksellers and others were commissioned by, or worked closely with, Spencer to help accumulate the library.
A 3-volume manuscript catalogue of the Sunderland House library was made in 1728, and survives in the John Rylands Library. The books were inherited by Spencer's son Robert, 4th Earl, who sold the manuscripts to King John V of Portugal. The 4th Earl died soon afterwards, in 1729, after which the library was divided between two branches of the family, at Blenheim Palace and Althorp House. The former part was inherited and augmented by the Dukes of Marlborough, and was largely sold at Sotheby's in the 1880s; the latter became part of the Spencer library at Althorp which became the foundation collection of the John Rylands Library in 1892.
Characteristic Markings
Two armorial stamps used by Spencer are recorded in the Armorials Database; he also used an engraved armorial bookplate (Franks *40). His bindings are noted as being more commonly in calfskin than goatskin.
Sources
- British Armorial Bindings.
- De Ricci, S., English collectors of books and manuscripts, Cambridge, 1930, 38-40.
- Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903.
- Simmons, Clare, Charles Spencer, 3rd earl of Sunderland, in Baker, W. and Womack, K. (eds), British pre-nineteenth century British book collectors and bibliographers, Detroit, 1999, 321-7.
- Snyder, Henry L. "Spencer, Charles, third earl of Sunderland (1675–1722), politician." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
- Swift, K., Bibliotheca Sunderlandiana: the making of an eighteenth-century library, in Myers, R. and Harris, M. (eds), Bibliophily, Cambridge, 1986, 63-89.
- Swift, K., The formation of the library of Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland, University of Oxford D.Phil. thesis, 1897.
- Catalogue of the Sunderland Library, 1728.
- Charles Spencer, CERL/MEI.