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Which types of books did George John the 2nd Earl Spencer collect?
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book collecting
A tutorial from the staff of the Folger Shakespeare Library on the safe handling of rare books, manuscripts, and prints.
George John, the 2nd Earl Spencer, was a prominent figure during the golden age of book collecting (1790ā1830). His library was renowned for its focus on early and significant historical works, specifically including:
- Bibles: An extraordinary collection of various editions.1
- Editiones principes: First editions of the classics.1
- Aldines: Works produced by the press founded by Aldus Manutius.1
- Early Printing: Significant works produced by other early and important printing presses.1
His collecting habits reflected the growing 19th-century antiquarian interest in incunabula and early printed material, a trend popularized by bibliographers like Thomas Frognall Dibdin.1