Catalogue of Incunables in the Marlborough Library

Archive Unit
  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 133 Eng MS 66
  • Dates of Creation
      n.d. [1797 x 1810]
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
      English  and Latin
  • Physical Description
      330 x 200 mm. 1 volume (179 folios); Binding: half-bound in red morocco, marbled paper-covered boards, uniform with English MS 65; oval leather Bibliotheca Spenceriana book label inside front cover.

Scope and Content

Catalogue of pre-1500 books in the Library of the Dukes of Malborough. Entitled Catalogus Librorum Ante 1500 Duc: Marlbor., tooled in gilt on the spine. The catalogue is arranged alphabetically by author, and records the short title, date and place of printing, the name of the printer, and the size of each work. It is written in Latin predominantly, with occasional notes in English. The volume has the appearance of being a fair copy, perhaps taken from a much older exemplar.

Dating: the paper is watermarked 1797.

Administrative / Biographical History

Charles Spencer (1675-1722), 3rd Earl of Sunderland, formed a spectacular library of some 20,000 printed books and several notable manuscripts. It was housed at Sunderland House in London until 1749, when it was transferred to Blenheim Palace by Charles Spencer (1706-1758), 3rd Duke of Marlborough. It remained in the ownership of the Dukes of Marlborough until its dispersal in 1881-3. The Sunderland Library was never at Althorp, seat of the Earls Spencer, and was quite distinct from the Bibliotheca Spenceriana. For further information see English MS 62.

Related Material

The JRUL also holds a three-volume Catalogue of the Sunderland Library, formed by Charles Spencer (1675-1722), 3rd Earl of Sunderland (ref.: GB 133 Eng MS 62 ).