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The New Testament in Greek, 1550 (Fonthill Library) 055
Sherborne School Archives, Sherborne School, Abbey Road, Sherborne, Dorset, UK, DT9 3AP oldshirburnian.org.uk/school-archives/
Title page of Nouum IESV Christi D.N. Testamentum. Ex Bibliotheca Regia. (New Testament in Greek). Paris: Robert Stephen, 1550.
Inscriptions:
‘The Fonthill copy: on back of title. See R.C. Hoare’s 'Modern Wiltshire', Dunworth, p.27’.
‘De hac edition magnificantisima, vide Marchium in Bibliotheca Longiana, I. 209-214.’
‘Textius Receptus presented by R. Stephens Pari 1550. This copy belonged to William Beckford, Fonthill Abbey.’
‘John Hyde. Fort William in Bengal. Oc. 22nd 1774.’
‘Bought at Mr Hydes auction & given to J. Farquhar by J. Fleming.’
Produced by the famed scholar/printer Robert Stephanus (Estienne). It was the first Greek Testament printed with a critical apparatus providing variant readings along with symbols to indicate the manuscript evidence. The text relied heavily upon the Complutensian Polyglot. This Testament is known as the Editio Regia because the beautiful Greek font, designed by Claude Garamond, was commissioned and paid for by the king of France. The authoritative text that resulted from the manuscript collation laid the foundation for the textus receptus.’
William Thomas Beckford (1760-1844) inherited Fonthill in 1770 on the death of his father. Throughout his later years he ordered numerous books for examination and kept only those few that pleased him. On his death he bequeathed 10,0000 books to his daughter Susan. In 1822 he sold the estate to John Farquhar for £330,000 and eventually settled in Lansdown Crescent in Bath.
John Hyde (c.1737-1796) was a Puisne Judge on the Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William in Bengal (Calcutta) from 1774 until his death in 1796. His youngest daughter Caroline Francis married Robert Walpole. This volume was bought at ‘Mr Hydes auction’, possibly in Bengal/Calcutta following his death in 1796, and given to John Farquhar by J. Fleming.
John Farquhar (1751-1826) was selected by Lord Cornwallis, governor-general of Bengal, to conduct researches into gunpower manufacture and he ultimately became sole contractor to the government. He amassed a fortune and in 1814 returned to England. In 1822 he purchased Fonthill Abbey from William Beckford and he occasionally lived there until the fall of the tower in December 1825, shortly after which he sold the estate. Besides having a special knowledge of chemistry Farquhar was an accomplished classical scholar. His religious beliefs were modified by his strong admiration of the moral system of the Brahmans.
It would therefore appear that this book was in 1774 in the possession of John Hyde in Bengal/Calcutta. At some point it was sold at auction and purchased by J. Fleming who gave it to John Farquhar, possibly while he was owner of Fonthill Abbey (1822-c.1825). It does not appear that this book was ever the property of William Beckford.
If you have any additional information about this image or if you would like to use one of our images then we would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or contact us via the Sherborne School Archives website: oldshirburnian.org.uk/school-archives/contact-the-school-...
The New Testament in Greek, 1550 (Fonthill Library) 055
Sherborne School Archives, Sherborne School, Abbey Road, Sherborne, Dorset, UK, DT9 3AP oldshirburnian.org.uk/school-archives/
Title page of Nouum IESV Christi D.N. Testamentum. Ex Bibliotheca Regia. (New Testament in Greek). Paris: Robert Stephen, 1550.
Inscriptions:
‘The Fonthill copy: on back of title. See R.C. Hoare’s 'Modern Wiltshire', Dunworth, p.27’.
‘De hac edition magnificantisima, vide Marchium in Bibliotheca Longiana, I. 209-214.’
‘Textius Receptus presented by R. Stephens Pari 1550. This copy belonged to William Beckford, Fonthill Abbey.’
‘John Hyde. Fort William in Bengal. Oc. 22nd 1774.’
‘Bought at Mr Hydes auction & given to J. Farquhar by J. Fleming.’
Produced by the famed scholar/printer Robert Stephanus (Estienne). It was the first Greek Testament printed with a critical apparatus providing variant readings along with symbols to indicate the manuscript evidence. The text relied heavily upon the Complutensian Polyglot. This Testament is known as the Editio Regia because the beautiful Greek font, designed by Claude Garamond, was commissioned and paid for by the king of France. The authoritative text that resulted from the manuscript collation laid the foundation for the textus receptus.’
William Thomas Beckford (1760-1844) inherited Fonthill in 1770 on the death of his father. Throughout his later years he ordered numerous books for examination and kept only those few that pleased him. On his death he bequeathed 10,0000 books to his daughter Susan. In 1822 he sold the estate to John Farquhar for £330,000 and eventually settled in Lansdown Crescent in Bath.
John Hyde (c.1737-1796) was a Puisne Judge on the Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William in Bengal (Calcutta) from 1774 until his death in 1796. His youngest daughter Caroline Francis married Robert Walpole. This volume was bought at ‘Mr Hydes auction’, possibly in Bengal/Calcutta following his death in 1796, and given to John Farquhar by J. Fleming.
John Farquhar (1751-1826) was selected by Lord Cornwallis, governor-general of Bengal, to conduct researches into gunpower manufacture and he ultimately became sole contractor to the government. He amassed a fortune and in 1814 returned to England. In 1822 he purchased Fonthill Abbey from William Beckford and he occasionally lived there until the fall of the tower in December 1825, shortly after which he sold the estate. Besides having a special knowledge of chemistry Farquhar was an accomplished classical scholar. His religious beliefs were modified by his strong admiration of the moral system of the Brahmans.
It would therefore appear that this book was in 1774 in the possession of John Hyde in Bengal/Calcutta. At some point it was sold at auction and purchased by J. Fleming who gave it to John Farquhar, possibly while he was owner of Fonthill Abbey (1822-c.1825). It does not appear that this book was ever the property of William Beckford.
If you have any additional information about this image or if you would like to use one of our images then we would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or contact us via the Sherborne School Archives website: oldshirburnian.org.uk/school-archives/contact-the-school-...