Beckford (William).- [Sale Catalogue] The Valuable Library of Books in Fonthill Abbey (The). A Catalogue of the Magnificent, Rare, and Valuable Library (of 20,000 Volumes)..., [including] The Unique and Splendid Effects of Fonthill Abbey [&] The Pictures and Miniatures at Fonthill Abbey...Which will be Sold by Auction, by Mr.Phillips, together all bound in 1 vol., presentation copy inscribed "with Mr.Phillips' complts to Mr Andrews" in ink at head of first title, engraved frontispiece (foxed), pencil markings and occasional note to book catalogues, the rest ruled in red with prices to the first 143 lots of pictures supplied in manuscript, modern half blue calf, cloth boards a little faded, Phillips, 1823 § Hamilton Palace Libraries (The). [Sale Catalogue] Catalogue of the First [- Fourth] Portion of the Beckford Library, 4 parts in 1 vol., with printed lists of prices and buyers' names bound at end of each part, contemporary half morocco, by J.Leighton, t.e.g., original upper wrappers bound in, Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 1882-83 § Clements (H.J.B.) [Sale Catalogue] Catalogue of a Selected Portion of the Well Known Library from Killadoon, Co.Kildare...[including Collection of Books from the Library of William Beckford, of Fonthill], 2 parts in 1 vol., plates, modern half blue calf, original wrappers bound in, Sotheby & Co., 1966, all a little rubbed, 8vo (3)

⁂ The Beckford sale was one of the most famous of the nineteenth century. Beckford's financial resources had diminished and he was forced to sell Fonthill and much of his collection. The sale was entrusted to Christie's and catalogued but before it took place John Farquhar, a Scottish gunpowder-manufacturer, bought the whole estate together with its contents. He then put the contents up for sale at auction with Phillips the following year. Choice items from Beckford's library and art collection had already been removed to his new residence in Lansdowne Terrace, Bath, and were inherited by his son-in-law the 10th Duke of Hamilton, later sold as part of the Hamilton Palace sales from 1882-83 for £86,000.
The first item comprises the entire contents of Fonthill offered at auction over thirty-seven days from 23rd September to 29th October, comprising the library, furniture, pictures and prints, with the catalogues bound in order of subject matter rather than chronological order.