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Which types of books did George John the 2nd Earl Spencer collect?

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George John, the 2nd Earl Spencer, was a prominent figure during the golden age of book collecting (1790–1830). 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