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13920
13920_113920_2

CATALOGUE OF THE FIRST FREE LIBRARY

Radcliffe, John – Editor

Bibliotheca Chethamensis: sive Bibliothecae publicae Mancuniensis Ab Humfredo Chetham Armigero fundatae Catalogus exhibens Libros in Varias Classes pro Varietate Argumenti Distributos.

Published
Mancunii. Excudebat J.Harrop & Henricus Smith

Description
First edition, 3 vols., 8vo., engraved portrait, very fine set, handsomely bound in full early 19th Century polished calf, gilt line border by J.Winstanley of Manchester with his ticket, some light rubbing.

£500.00

SKU: 13920

Product Description

The Chetham Library founded in 1653 by Humphrey Chetham was the first established Free Library with access to all and with it’s own Librarian. In 1791 John Radcliffe , the Librarian compiled and published in two volumes this Catalogue of the 6723 items in the Library. The third volume published in 1826 and compiled by the Bibliographer William Parr Greswell extended the listing to 8029 items and also included an index to all three volumes. A further three volumes were added later in the 19th Century.