James West FRS (1703–1772) Five (partial) notebooks and diar...

James West FRS (1703–1772) Five (partial) notebooks and diaries Small 8vo, manuscript in ink with occasional pencil entries, interspersed with numerous blanks; contemporary vellum over thin, stiff boards, with blind ruled borders, a shaped overlapping wallet flap and fastening tabs; marbled paper lining and an empty rear pocket; covers rubbed, spotted and stained; occasional internal spotting and ink blots, minor marginal wear and wear at the inner hinges. Unsigned, but most certainly James West. An antiquarian commonplace book and travel notebook, c.1735–1740; notes on Bath Abbey, Bristol churches and Bury St Edmunds, including monuments, inscriptions, buildings and charitable benefactions; a short itinerary beginning "Saturday March 8. 1739 I set out from London"; bibliographical memoranda concerning early printing by Pynson, Wynkyn de Worde and John Waley; a description of Archibald Dickson's illustrated manuscript history of Pontefract and associated voyage journals; lists of scarce coins in collections belonging to Dr Mead, Lord Pembroke, Lord Coleraine, Folkes, Sainthill and others; tables of mint marks from Elizabeth I to the Commonwealth; miscellaneous collecting reminders, including "Mr Wyat in Holles Street for Pictures". With four other partially filled manuscript notebooks; three in marbled wrappers and one in limp vellum; recording places visited and antiquities encountered, c.1732–1733. (5)

Estimate:$264.26

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