Class Catalogue of Books at Althorp

Archive Unit
  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 133 Eng MS 65
  • Dates of Creation
      1792
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
      English
  • Physical Description
      320 x 200 mm. 4 volumes (188 folios each); original pagination: vol. 1, pp. 1-372, vol. 2: pp. 373-746, vol. 3: pp. 747-1120, vol. 4: pp. 1121-1494. Binding: half-bound in red morocco, marbled paper-covered boards; oval leather Bibliotheca Spenceriana book label inside each front cover.

Scope and Content

Catalogue of books at Althorp in 1792, written in the hand of George John, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758-1834), and arranged into seven classes:

  • 1. Theology (volume 1);
  • 2. Jurisprudence and Politics (volume 1);
  • 3. Arts and Sciences (volume 2);
  • 4. Literary History (volume 2);
  • 5. Polygraphy (miscellaneous writers, encyclopaedias) (volume 2);
  • 6. Belles Lettres (volume 3);
  • 7. History (volume 4).
Each class is divided into several divisions, many of which are subdivided into sections. Within each section or division, works are arranged alphabetically by author. The arrangement of the volumes was planned in advance, with space being allocated for each letter of the alphabet within every section or division. There are therefore many pages that remain blank.