A brief introduction to our Historical Reference Collection
The Historical Reference Collection is B&NES Libraries’ largest reference collection, with approximately 21,000 books. The collection spans a multitude of genres, with subjects ranging from Victorian Travel to 19th Century French Literature, and Fashion to Japanese Wasōbon. The collection has been created through a series of donations and purchases across several decades. It is now a closed collection and no longer added to.
Here a just a few of the wonderful books in our Historical Reference Collection.
Sentiments and Similes of William Shakespeare by Henry Noel Humphreys
This book was published during industrial revolution, which was a period when bookbinding was in decline, being replaced by industry mass production.
It was published by the British illustrator Henry Noel Humphreys. This book and others produced by Humphreys was his response to what he saw missing from the mass produced books of the era.
Humphrey’s books were made in the Gothic Revival style. Medieval Gothic – Two features of this style in bookbinding were illuminated manuscripts and carved wooden boards.
Victorian Gothic Revival brought back these two features with Chromolithography and Papier-Mache bindings. The paste down was coloured to contrast the dark binding. His intention was to make the binding itself an ornament.
Ormonde M. Dalton Bequest
The Ormonde M. Dalton (British Art Historian and Classical Scholar, British museum curator and archaeologist) bequest of 1945 was a fairly substantial bequest – 128 volumes donated in June of 1945 of which about 10 or so are first edition Dickens.
1844 – Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens
First Edition. Half Leather Binding, which offers a blend of durability and aesthetics, protecting the most vulnerable areas of the book while also allowing for a more cost-effective and visually appealing design.
1857 – Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens
Originally published in serial form between 1855-57 in monthly instalments
Little Dorrit was published in 19 monthly instalments, each consisting of 32 pages with two illustrations by Hablot Knight Browne whose pen name was Phiz. Each instalment cost a shilling except for the last, a double issue which cost two shillings. The novel was then issued as a book by Bradbury and Evans in 1857.
1870 – The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens
Originally published in 1870 but only 6 of a planned 12 instalments were published before Dickens’ death. It was left unfinished, with no plan for the remaining instalments and so no way to know who the murderer was.
Alexandre Dumas
Alexandre Dumas is one of France’s most widely read authors. A novelist and playwright who wrote romanticism and historical fiction. He is also well known for the Count of Monte Cristo.
1845 – Les Trois Mousquetaires by Alexandre Dumas
The Three Musketeers. Originally published in serial form in the newspaper le Siecle (sie-cler) in 1844. First in the trilogy ‘The Musketeers’.
1848 – Le Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas
The Viscount of Bragelonne. Published between 1847-1850 in serial form in the newspaper le Siecle. Continuation from ‘Twenty Years After’, third in the Musketeers trilogy. It’s publication was interrupted by third French Revolution in Feb 1848.
Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving
First Edition. Arthur Rackham was a leading illustrator from the ‘golden age’ (1890-1919) of British book illustration. It was this 1905 Heinemann publication, and Rackham’s use of full colour plates that really brought him into public attention. Rackham’s Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens illustrations are some of his most well-known. Our first edition copy of Rackham’s Peter Pan is kept in our Juvenilia Collection
Our Historical Reference Collection can be viewed on request.
If you’d like to know more, please email stock_team@bathnes.gov.uk for a chat.