18th century account book belonging to Dr Richard Rawlinson, topographer and bishop to non-jurors (1690-1755), recording income and expenditure relating to the expenses incurred in the sale of his brother's (Thomas Rawlinson, 1681-1725, book collector) library, in several auctions over the period 1727-1739. For a full account of the circumstances surrounding this sale, one of the most important in the 18th century – comprising around 200,00 volumes, and transcriptions of considerable portions of this manuscript, see Brian Enright's 'The later auction sales of Thomas Rawlinson's library, 1727-34' in The Library , 5th series, vol. 11, nos 1-2 (1956).
1. Fols 2v-36r: Rawlinson, Richard. Account book recording income and expenditure, much relating to the expenses incurred in the sale of his brother's library, beginning 2nd February, 1727 and ending 23rd July 1739. English. Single 18th c. hand in black ink (Rawlinson's). Accounts with ca. 31-34 lines to a page. Double-entered, with receipts on versos (fols 2v-6v) and expenses on rectos (fols 3r-36r). Divided into five unequal vertical columns with red-inked rules. [Fols 36v-84v blank except for ruling.]
Inserted leaves (loose)
- 1. Inside front cover, 1 fragment of a leaf (105 x 167 mm) bearing the text "..zantinæ;" in large serif script (as a title or heading?), re-used as a receipt dated 24 July 1731 in Rawlinson's hand, and signed by Joseph [Greenop?].
- 2. Inside rear cover, 3 leaves (ca. 290 x 185 mm) of blotting paper, one with several rough calculations.