(Frances Mary Richardson, book collector, of Eshton Hall, near Gargrave, West Riding of Yorkshire, 1785-1861).- Paver (William, genealogist, 1802-71) Genealogical Abstracts of Wills now in the Ecclesiastical Courts at York [c. 1401-1629], 2 vol., autograph manuscript, with an A.L.s. from Paver to Currer sending her the manuscript, titles and 777pp., vol. I ink inscription on fly-leaf: "20£ the 2 vols. 1835", slightly browned, bookplate of Frances Currer on front pastedown and a later bookplate of John Holden on front free endpaper, original half brown morocco, hinges a little rubbed, gilt spines, in good condition, folio, [1835]. *** Commissioned by Frances Currer from William Paver. Letter from Paver to Currer: "Clementhorpe at York, 6th July 1835, Madam, I have sent the Abstracts which I trust will be to your entire satisfaction - indeed they are capable of exhibiting wonders in Yorkshire Genealogy. I shall be obliged if you will send your Dugdale by return of Coach as I have a few apparently unoccupied days before me in which I may do much towards enhancing the value of that interesting Manuscript. I will wait its arrival at the Coach Office myself and will immediately acknowledge the receipt. I need scarcely add that I pledge my word to return it as free from blemishes as it is at present... Wm Paver To Miss Currer." Paver, "an assiduous collector of genealogical material. In 1867 he acted as registrar of births and deaths at 4, Rougier Street, York. He also issued part 1 of Original genealogical abstracts of the wills of individuals of noble and ancient families now or formerly resident in the County of York... (1830)... . In 1874 Paver's extensive collections relating to Yorkshire were acquired by the trustees of the British Museum, where they are catalogued as Add. MSS 29644 - 29703." - Oxford DNB. Currer, book collector. "T.F. Dibdin considered that Currer's collection placed her 'at the head of all female collectors in Europe' (Reminiscences, 2.949) and that her country house library was, in its day, surpassed only by those of Earl Spencer, the duke of Devonshire, and the duke of Buckingham. Seymour de Ricci wrote that she was 'England's first female bibliophile' (De Ricci, 141). Frances Currer was shy, and her deafness, which increased with age, explains her somewhat secluded life at Eshton Hall. But she was not a recluse, being 'renowned for her generosity to all kinds of charity' (Barker, 105), which included the Keighley Mechanics' Insitution and the new school at Cowan Bridge, attended by the Brontë sisters. It is probable that she was the 'wealthy lady in the West Riding of Yorkshire' who gave £50 in 1821 to help pay the debts of the newly widowed Patrick Brontë' (Barker, 105). Charlotte Brontë used her name for her pseudonym, Currer Bell." - Oxford DNB.
(Frances Mary Richardson, book collector, of Eshton Hall, near Gargrave, West Riding of Yorkshire, 1785-1861).- Paver (William, genealogist, 1802-71) Genealogical Abstracts of Wills now in the Ecclesiastical Courts at York [c. 1401-1629], 2 vol., autograph manuscript, with an A.L.s. from Paver to Currer sending her the manuscript, titles and 777pp., vol. I ink inscription on fly-leaf: "20£ the 2 vols. 1835", slightly browned, bookplate of Frances Currer on front pastedown and a later bookplate of John Holden on front free endpaper, original half brown morocco, hinges a little rubbed, gilt spines, in good condition, folio, [1835]. *** Commissioned by Frances Currer from William Paver. Letter from Paver to Currer: "Clementhorpe at York, 6th July 1835, Madam, I have sent the Abstracts which I trust will be to your entire satisfaction - indeed they are capable of exhibiting wonders in Yorkshire Genealogy. I shall be obliged if you will send your Dugdale by return of Coach as I have a few apparently unoccupied days before me in which I may do much towards enhancing the value of that interesting Manuscript. I will wait its arrival at the Coach Office myself and will immediately acknowledge the receipt. I need scarcely add that I pledge my word to return it as free from blemishes as it is at present... Wm Paver To Miss Currer." Paver, "an assiduous collector of genealogical material. In 1867 he acted as registrar of births and deaths at 4, Rougier Street, York. He also issued part 1 of Original genealogical abstracts of the wills of individuals of noble and ancient families now or formerly resident in the County of York... (1830)... . In 1874 Paver's extensive collections relating to Yorkshire were acquired by the trustees of the British Museum, where they are catalogued as Add. MSS 29644 - 29703." - Oxford DNB. Currer, book collector. "T.F. Dibdin considered that Currer's collection placed her 'at the head of all female collectors in Europe' (Reminiscences, 2.949) and that her country house library was, in its day, surpassed only by those of Earl Spencer, the duke of Devonshire, and the duke of Buckingham. Seymour de Ricci wrote that she was 'England's first female bibliophile' (De Ricci, 141). Frances Currer was shy, and her deafness, which increased with age, explains her somewhat secluded life at Eshton Hall. But she was not a recluse, being 'renowned for her generosity to all kinds of charity' (Barker, 105), which included the Keighley Mechanics' Insitution and the new school at Cowan Bridge, attended by the Brontë sisters. It is probable that she was the 'wealthy lady in the West Riding of Yorkshire' who gave £50 in 1821 to help pay the debts of the newly widowed Patrick Brontë' (Barker, 105). Charlotte Brontë used her name for her pseudonym, Currer Bell." - Oxford DNB.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
