Sir Thomas Phillipps: Catalogue of his Manuscripts

Sir Thomas Phillipps (1792-1872), antiquary and bibliophile, was born at Manchester on 2 July 1792, and attended Rugby and University College, Oxford. Over the course of his life Phillipps developed an extensive collection of books and manuscripts, including old Welsh poetry and oriental manuscripts. Around 1822 he established a private printing press, and thereafter printed cartularies, genealogies, visitations, extracts from registers, and catalogues of manuscripts held in libraries. He was created a baronet in 1821. Phillipps died at Cheltenham on 6 February 1872.

A list of the manuscripts of Sir Thomas Phillipps, arranged by subject, 86 folios. Fos 1-7, which have been inserted later and deal with manuscripts of English medieval law, are in the hand of F.W. Maitland. Part of fo. 44, as well as fos 45 and 82-85, are in the hand of Francis Jenkinson. Fos 54-81 are in the hand of Alfred Rogers. On fo. 86 is a note by J. Armytage Robinson, initialled and dated 10 May 1890. The lists give the number in the Phillipps catalogue, the author or subject and the date. The versos are mostly blank.

Please cite as Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, Sir Thomas Phillipps: Catalogue of his Manuscripts, MS Add.4339