SOTHEBY'S
Press Release
SOTHEBY'S TO SELL The Library of
the Earl of Macclesfield
removed from Shirburn Castle -
--- The greatest scientific library offered at auction in modern times ---
--- Largely untouched since the 18th century ---
--- Sale includes the newly discovered 14th century
Macclesfield Psalter, est: £800,000-1,200,000 ---
Sotheby's is delighted to announce the sale of the Library of the Earl of
Macclesfield, removed from Shirburn Castle, Oxfordshire.
This spectacular and immense library, formed by the first and second earls
of Macclesfield before 1750, is undoubtedly one of the greatest to have
appeared at auction in modern times. Containing tens of thousands of
volumes, it will be sold in a series of sales beginning in 2004. It is
estimated that the first group of sales will realise £10m or more.
The 9th Earl of Macclesfield is leaving Shirburn Castle and, although
retaining a portion of the collection, is unable to manage such a vast
library and has consigned it to Sotheby's. Sotheby's will publish a lavish,
illustrated catalogue in many volumes, which will illuminate and elucidate
the collection. Four sales are planned for this year. The first will focus
on Natural History and will be held on Thursday, March 16. Followed by:
2. Science part I: June 10, 2004
3. Western Manuscripts, including the recently discovered Macclesfield
Psalter: June 22, 2004
4. Science part II: November 4, 2004
The main focus of the library is science and the history of ideas, but the
range is enormous, from algebra and architecture, via astronomy,
cartography, cosmology, law, mathematics, music, natural history,
ornithology to zoology, among others. The library contains a wealth of
material and the possibility of great discoveries which Sotheby's will
announce in due course as their experts work slowly and carefully through
the volumes in the coming months and years. Paul Quarrie has already made
the remarkable discovery of the Macclesfield Psalter, described below.
Other highlights include:
Copernicus' De revolutionibus (1543):
A magnificent first edition and one of a number of books in the library
copiously annotated by the 17th-century Oxford mathematician, traveller and
Arabist John Greaves (est: £700,000-£800,000).
Thomas Salusbury's Mathematical Collections (1661):
This fabled Macclesfield copy is the one of the library's greatest treasures
and is estimated to fetch £30,000-£40,000. It is an English compilation of
translations of works by Galileo and others. Mostly destroyed in the Fire of
London the only complete copy of volume II is this legendary copy which
belonged to John Collins and William Jones.
Galileo's Sidereus Nuncius (1610):
A fine copy in which Galileo announces his discovery of the moons of
Jupiter, which he named the Medicean Stars in honour of his patron, is
estimated to fetch £250,000-£300,000.
Linnaeus' Systema natura (1735):
It is the first ever publication of Linnaean taxonomy and contains a plate
by Ehret, known only to be present in three other copies of the book, of
which two are held in the British Library. It is estimated to fetch
£150,000-£200,000.
Besler's Hortus eystettensis (1613):
Estimated to fetch £150,000-£200,000, this beautifully illustrated catalogue
of plants in the garden of the bishop of Eichstätt is the most famous 17th
century flower book.
Macclesfield Psalter (circa 1325):
Undoubtedly an exceptional discovery, this 14th century illuminated Psalter
is estimated at £800,000-£1,200,000. Entirely unknown to scholars and hidden
from sight for hundreds of years, it comprises 252 leaves and is illustrated
with two full-page miniatures, a half-page miniature, 11 historiated
initials, and thousands of exquisite miniatures in the margins throughout
the volume. Almost every page contains scenes of animals, birds, people,
monsters, grotesques, fables and vignettes of daily life. It appears, in
fact, to have been illuminated by the actual artist of the Douai Psalter.
Since the Douai manuscript was almost completely destroyed in the First
World War and is known mostly from old photographs, the Macclesfield Psalter
is now by far the most important record of the work of one of the very great
medieval East Anglican artists.
Lord Macclesfield said: "It is of course very sad to have to break up the
library which is a valuable resource for scholars and of great interest to
us. However, it is not practical to contemplate moving all the books to any
new home we might move to and many of them ought to be in academic
institutions which have facilities to care for them in the long term".
First sale of books on Natural History will be on view in London from:
Thursday, March 11 - Monday, March 15
Highlights of the library will be on view in New York from:
Tuesday, April 6 - Monday, April 12
Specialists in charge:
Paul Quarrie, Senior Books Expert & Stephen Roe, Head of Books Europe.
Images available via Email
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Enquiries: Press Office London:
Helen Griffith and Simon Warren +44 20 7293 6000
Diana Ridderikhoff
Press Office & Marketing
Sotheby's Amsterdam
De Boelelaan 30, 1083 HJ Amsterdam
T +31 20-550 2205 F +31 20-550 2310
E: diana.ridderikhoff@sothebys.com
