A Catalogue of the Entire and Very Valuable Library of the Late Edward King, Author of the 'Munimenta Antiqua,' 'Morsels of Criticism,' 'Hymns to the Supreme Being,' and Many Other Literary Works. Forming a Very Splendid Collection of Books in Every Department of Literature, Particularly in Natural History, the Arts, English History, and Topography. Elegant Copies of the Under Mentioned: Hortus Malabaricus, Merian's Insects, etc. etc. His Few Fine Missals, also the Large and Elegant Bookcases, all to be Sold by Auction by Leigh and S. Sotheby, Booksellers at their House, No. 145, Strand, Opposite Catherine Street, on Monday, February 1st, 1808, and Seven Following Days at 12 o'clock
[Edward King, Esq. F.R.S. and A.S. et Soc. Antiq. Cassel Sod. Honorar] Edward King (1735?-1807)
(Book #ID 78067)
Printed 1808. 1808.
Hard back binding in original half leather, gilt title lettering to the spine, marble paper covered boards. 8vo. 8½'' x 5½''. Contains [vi] [60] [vi] 169 page printed catalogue. We think that this copy was used as the ledger by Leith and Sotheby's as each leaf has neatly drawn lines in the margins with the sale price of each Lot and the buyer's name to the opposite margin. Two clippings adhered opposite the title page. Rubbing to the spine edges, the last leaf has been repaired to the top corner. Edward King, miscellaneous writer, born about 1735, was the only son of Edward King of Norwich. He studied for a time at Clare Hall, Cambridge, as a fellow-commoner. On 18 Sept. 1758 he was admitted a member of Lincoln's Inn, and was called to the bar in Michaelmas term 1763 (Lincoln's Inn Register and Bar Book). An ample fortune bequeathed to him by his uncle, Mr. Brown, a wholesale linendraper of Exeter, rendered him independent of his profession, but he regularly attended the Norfolk circuit for some years, and was appointed recorder of King's Lynn. In his attendance on the circuit he defended a lady from a faithless lover, and afterwards married her. King was elected F.R.S. on 14 May 1767 (Thomson, Hist. of Roy. Soc. Append. iv. p. lii) and F.S.A. on 3 May 1770 (Gough, Chronological List of Soc. Antiq. 1798, p. 23). He contributed several papers to the 'Archæologia,' among which were 'Remarks on the Abbey Church of Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk', reprinted separately in 1774, 'Observations on Antient Castles,' with four plates (iv. 364–413), and 'A Sequel to Observations,' with thirty-one plates (vi. 231–375), also issued separately in 1782. On the death of Jeremiah Milles in February 1784, King was elected his successor in the presidency of the Society of Antiquaries on the understanding that Lord De Ferrars (afterwards Earl of Leicester) would assume the office on the ensuing 23 April. King, however, sought to obtain re-election, and that by the employment of ungenerous tactics, but was defeated by an overwhelming majority. His speech on quitting the chair was printed, and he subsequently printed a letter in vindication of his conduct and reflecting upon the earl, and thenceforward ceased to make any communications to the Society. [Gordon Goodwin]. Member of the P.B.F.A.
Click here to select books from the
BOOKS (Binding, Collecting, Printing, Paper)
Category