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THE KENNETH TOMKINSON COLLECTION OF EARLY PRINTED BOOKS Ken Tomkinson (1918-1985) came from a rich heritage of book collectors. His grandfather was Michael Tomkinson (1841-1921), of Franche Hall, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, who established Tomkinson Carpets in Kidderminster in 1869. Michael was a major collector of books and Japanese antiquities. When Michael died his set of the four Shakespeare Folios was sold privately, while the remainder of his collection formed two sales at Sotheby’s (3 April and 3 July 1922). However, some books were retained by the family and some bought back at the auction. Michael’s son Geoffrey (1881-1963) continued the book collecting passion instilled in him by his father with an emphasis on private press books, producing his own noted book, A Select Bibliography of the Principal Modern Presses Public and Private in Great Britain and Ireland (1928). In turn, Geoffrey’s son Ken continued to add to two generations of Tomkinson family books and many of the books here bear the bookplate of one or more Tomkinson collectors. Upon his death the collection was inherited by Kenneth’s son Robert and his three sisters who have now decided to sell the early printed books, the private press books having been sold in these rooms in July this year.
357 Anselm (Saint). Opera et tractatus, Nuremberg: Caspar Hochfeder, 27 March 1491, 182 leaves, double column, gothic letter, 45 lines, blank foremargins at the beginning a little defective or weakened by damp, tear in folio 74, a little worming, a few scattered marginal ink notes [possibly by Melancthon], bookplate of Ken Tomkinson detached from front endpaper, contemporary quarter pigskin over oak boards, some edge wear to upper board, lacks clasp, folio (272 x 190mm) First edition of this first book printed by Hochfeder. Provenance: Sotheby’s, New York, 7 February 1967, lot 312. Goff A-759; GW 2032; Hain *1134. (1) £1000-1500
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