HERBERT, THOMAS, EIGHTH EARL OF PEMBROKE

[HERBERT, THOMAS, EIGHTH EARL OF PEMBROKE (1656/7-1733). Numismata antiqua in tres partes divisa collegit olim et aeri incidi vivens curavit Thomas Pembrochiae et Montis Gomerici Comes. London, 1746 (but earlier, see footnote)] -- 5 parts in one volume, 4to (310 x 235mm.), 5 identical engraved contents/explanatory leaves with "N. Haym" at foot, 308 engraved plates (plates numbered in manuscript - part 3 without plate no.112, part 4 with plate 36 in 2 states), 8pp. printed index at end ("An index to the Pembrokian coins and medals, by Joseph Ames"), 2 related documents bound in at end, twentieth-century calf-backed boards (occasional soiling, lower cover detached)

Earl of Pembroke's trustees (see footnote); Richard Gregory of Coole [and] Admiral Walcott [and] Hon. Sydney Herbert, manuscript inscriptions; P.A. Milne-Henderson, bookplate

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Occasional soiling, lower cover detached.
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This printing of "Numismata antiqua" appears to predate the official publication of the work (published in 1746) by many years and shows considerable differences. It is accompanied by two documents concerning the terms of the bequest of the collection by the eighth earl of Pembroke. 

The two documents bound at the end of this work are dated 31 May 1733 and 28 June 1733 and relate to the recently deceased eighth earl of Pembroke's wish that his collection of works of art and medals and coins be held in trust by John and George Sawyer for the purpose of furnishing his house at Wilton "to the end that his house at Wilton might not be found naked, to the great expense of any following Earl of Pembroke". The second document is from the ninth earl acknowledging receipt of the "the collection of medalls of sundry sorts & mettalls" from John and George Sawyer "in trust for the use of me and the succeeding Earls of Pembroke".

For an inventory of the contents of the collection the first document refers to "all the medalls & coins collected by him [the eighth earl], which were described in a Book published by Mr Nicholas Haym in five parts", and the second to receiving "the collection... as Described in this Book, containing a Catalogue of them made by Mr Nich. Haym".

Whilst Haym had published in 1719-1720 "Del tesoro britannico. Overo il museo numario ove si contengono le medaglie greche et latine in ogni metallo e forma" (with just 30 plates) the much more comprehensive "Numismata antiqua", based on his researches, was not published until 1746 (see lot 48). It seems therefore that this copy predates the official published work and was printed some time before 1733. It bears many differences to the 1746 edition including being divided into 5 rather than 4 parts, each with an additional contents/explanatory leaf with Haym's name at the foot (noted above), considerable additional explanatory text in English on a number of plates, and all the plates appear to be in different states. There is no general title page.

Although the plates and documents are in a modern binding, they have clearly been together for a considerable time as Richard Gregory, a former owner (d.1839), has written at the front "This curious and fine copy of Earl Pembroke's Medals and Coins appears to have belonged to one of Earl Pembroke's Trustees, from a Manuscript Decree of the Court of Exchequer and Earl Pembroke's (the successor's) Receipt, with his autograph at the end of this book". Indeed they have probably always been together.

For a book in a typical Pembroke library binding, see lot 68.