Beckford (William).- [Sale Catalogue] 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, engraved frontispiece (foxed at edges) modern half morocco, original paper label preserved on upper cover, spine faded, [Lugt 10510 & 10519], Phillips, 1823 § Hamilton Palace Collection (The). Illustrated Priced Catalogue, title in red & black with decorative border, illustrations, hinges weak, Paris & London, 1882, 8vo & 4to (2)

⁂ 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, and later sold as part of the Hamilton sales in 1882 and 1884.

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, but with the catalogues bound in chronological order according to the day's sale not according to subject matter.