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Royal House Antiques
Tel07850890032Please quote Antiques Atlas.
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Non UK callers :
+44 7850890032
Victorian Samuel Pepys Style Library Bookcase
We are delighted to offer for sale this highly collectable, restored, Victorian circa 1860-1880, Pine and oak very large Library Bookcase based on the original design by Samuel Pepys 1666 which is part of a huge suite
Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote, please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price.
Where to start! This bookcase is part of a large suite as mentioned, in total the suite measures exactly 10 meters wide, it is a very very substantial suite and won't be found again, this sale is for the piece listed above alone with the other three bookcases each being listed under my other items, I have in total a massive four bay quad bookcase which is glazed top and bottom, a very large two bay bookcase again glazed top and bottom, a matching size two bay bookcase but with a cupboard base which houses a campaign bank of drawers, and lastly a smaller two bay one piece bookcase with cupboard base
This style of bookcase was designed by Samuel Pepys in 1666 its basically the birthplace of the free-standing bookcase as we know it today, in 2016 they celebrated their 350th anniversary, these are mid 19th century examples hand made by a master craftsman, every single piece of wood has been hand cut, it is exquisite craftmanship that you rarely see in period pine and oak
I will include below the history of the pieces in their original form, these bookcases are historically important, the originals are in the Samuel Pepys Library in the Magdalene College of Oxford university, there is one in the Victorian and Albert Museum.
This piece has been restored to include a deep clean, hand condition wax and hand polish, there will be age and use related patina marks as you would expect from a piece this age, the shelves and glass all look to be original, I will have new keys made prior to dispatch which should work with all the locks
Purchasing a piece this size is a real investment, there is time work and cost involved but once that's completed, the new owner with be the steward of a very substantial and important antique that could easily house multiple personal library's
Dimensions
Height:- 287cm top to bottom, top section alone 210cm, base 77cm
Width:- 217cm at the very top, 217cm in the middle and 223.5cm at the base
Depth:- 46cm at the top, 46.5cm in the middle, 51cm at the very bottom
Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point, if you would like any additional or specific measurements please ask
Samuel Pepy
350th Anniversary year 2016 marks the 350th Anniversary of the Great Fire of London, which Pepys so famously recorded in his diary.
This year also marks the 350th birthday of Pepys’ first two bookcases, or ‘presses’ as he called them.
Pepys noted in July 1666 that he had lost the use of his books due to their being stacked up on chairs. Instead of emulating a library in an aristocratic house by fitting shelving to the walls in his modest lodgings on Seething Lane, Pepys decided upon a flexible (and affordable) approach to the storage of his books. He commissioned a ship’s Master Joiner, Thomas Simpson, to help create a radical new design. The freestanding ‘flat pack’ oak book presses, which can be dismantled and moved using the carrying handles fitted to the sides, indicate Pepys’ ambition to move into bigger and better accommodation. During Pepys’ lifetime, the presses were moved around as he changed his place of residence. However, the presses have never been moved from the Pepys Building since their arrival at Magdalene in 1724. During the Great Fire of London in September 1666, when the first two book presses were almost brand new, Pepys had them sent across the River Thames to Deptford for safe keeping. A few weeks after the fire, Thomas Simpson returned to help ‘set them up’ again in Seething Lane.
The book presses are a representation of Pepys’ understanding of book conservation and a reflection of his astuteness. By employing the services of a ship’s master joiner, Pepys used his naval connections to ensure a ‘good deal’ for the materials and workmanship, and the presses are reminiscent of ship’s furniture, for example the deep carving patterns in the wood. The wooden feet prevent damp and rodent damage, and the glazed fronts allow the books to be shown to their best advantage. This type of book storage was revolutionary, and the presses are now considered to be the oldest of their type with these particular features. Of course, books in the 17th century were still a symbol of status and the notion of books as aesthetically beautiful objects to enhance a room’s decoration was an important one. This idea, combined with Pepys’ love of order and organisation, leads to an obsession with achieving aesthetic perfection, and the overall look of the library was extremely important to him. The books are stored in order of height, going against contemporary practice of shelving books by subject matter. Although this seems a very illogical idea, we can be grateful to Pepys for his predilection for symmetry of form: by having books of the same size next to each other, the books are well supported and thus the bindings remain in a good condition to the present day.
Pepys repeatedly vowed to himself in his diary that he would not buy any books which he did not have room for in his presses, but throughout his lifetime and as his wealth increased, he commissioned more presses to be made in the same design to house his ever-growing book collection. Although at first glance the presses look identical, there are slight differences: the later presses do not have adjustable shelving, whilst the early ones do.
Any questions please feel free to ask. Payments
We accept payment via Bitcoin, Bitcoin cash, Ethereum, Bacs, Chaps, PayPal or Card, we would kindly ask that all items are paid for within 48 hours and collected within 7 working days, we can hold all paid items for 14 days free of charge, there after a £20 a week storage fee will apply. We have long term storage which is very economically priced, we are happy to hold stock for as long as needed providing it is arranged prior to the purchase.
If sold items aren’t collected within three months and no arrangements have been made for long term storage you will forfeit the item and payment.
SellerRoyal House Antiques
View all stock from
Royal House Antiques
Private dealer, online
By appointment only
Wimbledon
London
Tel : 07850890032
Non UK callers : +44 7850890032
Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote, please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price.
Where to start! This bookcase is part of a large suite as mentioned, in total the suite measures exactly 10 meters wide, it is a very very substantial suite and won't be found again, this sale is for the piece listed above alone with the other three bookcases each being listed under my other items, I have in total a massive four bay quad bookcase which is glazed top and bottom, a very large two bay bookcase again glazed top and bottom, a matching size two bay bookcase but with a cupboard base which houses a campaign bank of drawers, and lastly a smaller two bay one piece bookcase with cupboard base
This style of bookcase was designed by Samuel Pepys in 1666 its basically the birthplace of the free-standing bookcase as we know it today, in 2016 they celebrated their 350th anniversary, these are mid 19th century examples hand made by a master craftsman, every single piece of wood has been hand cut, it is exquisite craftmanship that you rarely see in period pine and oak
I will include below the history of the pieces in their original form, these bookcases are historically important, the originals are in the Samuel Pepys Library in the Magdalene College of Oxford university, there is one in the Victorian and Albert Museum.
This piece has been restored to include a deep clean, hand condition wax and hand polish, there will be age and use related patina marks as you would expect from a piece this age, the shelves and glass all look to be original, I will have new keys made prior to dispatch which should work with all the locks
Purchasing a piece this size is a real investment, there is time work and cost involved but once that's completed, the new owner with be the steward of a very substantial and important antique that could easily house multiple personal library's
Dimensions
Height:- 287cm top to bottom, top section alone 210cm, base 77cm
Width:- 217cm at the very top, 217cm in the middle and 223.5cm at the base
Depth:- 46cm at the top, 46.5cm in the middle, 51cm at the very bottom
Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point, if you would like any additional or specific measurements please ask
Samuel Pepy
350th Anniversary year 2016 marks the 350th Anniversary of the Great Fire of London, which Pepys so famously recorded in his diary.
This year also marks the 350th birthday of Pepys’ first two bookcases, or ‘presses’ as he called them.
Pepys noted in July 1666 that he had lost the use of his books due to their being stacked up on chairs. Instead of emulating a library in an aristocratic house by fitting shelving to the walls in his modest lodgings on Seething Lane, Pepys decided upon a flexible (and affordable) approach to the storage of his books. He commissioned a ship’s Master Joiner, Thomas Simpson, to help create a radical new design. The freestanding ‘flat pack’ oak book presses, which can be dismantled and moved using the carrying handles fitted to the sides, indicate Pepys’ ambition to move into bigger and better accommodation. During Pepys’ lifetime, the presses were moved around as he changed his place of residence. However, the presses have never been moved from the Pepys Building since their arrival at Magdalene in 1724. During the Great Fire of London in September 1666, when the first two book presses were almost brand new, Pepys had them sent across the River Thames to Deptford for safe keeping. A few weeks after the fire, Thomas Simpson returned to help ‘set them up’ again in Seething Lane.
The book presses are a representation of Pepys’ understanding of book conservation and a reflection of his astuteness. By employing the services of a ship’s master joiner, Pepys used his naval connections to ensure a ‘good deal’ for the materials and workmanship, and the presses are reminiscent of ship’s furniture, for example the deep carving patterns in the wood. The wooden feet prevent damp and rodent damage, and the glazed fronts allow the books to be shown to their best advantage. This type of book storage was revolutionary, and the presses are now considered to be the oldest of their type with these particular features. Of course, books in the 17th century were still a symbol of status and the notion of books as aesthetically beautiful objects to enhance a room’s decoration was an important one. This idea, combined with Pepys’ love of order and organisation, leads to an obsession with achieving aesthetic perfection, and the overall look of the library was extremely important to him. The books are stored in order of height, going against contemporary practice of shelving books by subject matter. Although this seems a very illogical idea, we can be grateful to Pepys for his predilection for symmetry of form: by having books of the same size next to each other, the books are well supported and thus the bindings remain in a good condition to the present day.
Pepys repeatedly vowed to himself in his diary that he would not buy any books which he did not have room for in his presses, but throughout his lifetime and as his wealth increased, he commissioned more presses to be made in the same design to house his ever-growing book collection. Although at first glance the presses look identical, there are slight differences: the later presses do not have adjustable shelving, whilst the early ones do.
Any questions please feel free to ask. Payments
We accept payment via Bitcoin, Bitcoin cash, Ethereum, Bacs, Chaps, PayPal or Card, we would kindly ask that all items are paid for within 48 hours and collected within 7 working days, we can hold all paid items for 14 days free of charge, there after a £20 a week storage fee will apply. We have long term storage which is very economically priced, we are happy to hold stock for as long as needed providing it is arranged prior to the purchase.
If sold items aren’t collected within three months and no arrangements have been made for long term storage you will forfeit the item and payment.
Price
Arrange a final price and delivery details directly with the dealer
Click here to message the seller
The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 2/DEC/2024. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
Category Antique Furniture
Date 1860-80
Mid Victorian Antiques Material Pine
Origin English
Item code as968a2792
Status For Sale
£10000.00 
$12629.00
€12062.00
$12629.00
€12062.00
Looking to Buy?
Payment with PayPal is availableArrange a final price and delivery details directly with the dealer
Click here to message the seller
Conversion rates as of 2/DEC/2024. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
Shipping information
DELIVERY AND COLLECTION
For an accurate delivery quote please contact us with your postcode and be sure to include which item you would like to buy as the price is determined on size and distance. If you would like more than one piece of furniture we offer a substantial discount on the second and third item.
For international shipping please contact us with your full address for an accurate delivery quote and be sure to include which item you would like to buy as the price is determined on the size on location.
COURIER (LARGE ITEMS ONLY THAT CAN’T BE POSTED)
We prefer collection on all items from Wimbledon SW19-3BE, If you have your own courier or wish to book the collection in yourself we are happy to accommodate you.
We can arrange delivery nationwide, please confirm the delivery amount before you buy and not after.
Whoever delivers will usually require some help on the larger items to unload, if this is not possible please let us know as it will affect the price to send a two man team.
Delivery is to the ground floor only, again if you need help upstairs or in flats etc that's absolutely not a problem, the couriers charge £10 per flight per man per item, if you have a working elevator then naturally there’s no additional fee.
I’m happy to accommodate your own courier after a cleared payment has been received, they need to book in a collection time with at least 24 hours notice, all collections must be made within 7 working days of the close of the auction unless agreed by prior arrangement.
For an accurate delivery quote please contact us with your postcode and be sure to include which item you would like to buy as the price is determined on size and distance. If you would like more than one piece of furniture we offer a substantial discount on the second and third item.
For international shipping please contact us with your full address for an accurate delivery quote and be sure to include which item you would like to buy as the price is determined on the size on location.
COURIER (LARGE ITEMS ONLY THAT CAN’T BE POSTED)
We prefer collection on all items from Wimbledon SW19-3BE, If you have your own courier or wish to book the collection in yourself we are happy to accommodate you.
We can arrange delivery nationwide, please confirm the delivery amount before you buy and not after.
Whoever delivers will usually require some help on the larger items to unload, if this is not possible please let us know as it will affect the price to send a two man team.
Delivery is to the ground floor only, again if you need help upstairs or in flats etc that's absolutely not a problem, the couriers charge £10 per flight per man per item, if you have a working elevator then naturally there’s no additional fee.
I’m happy to accommodate your own courier after a cleared payment has been received, they need to book in a collection time with at least 24 hours notice, all collections must be made within 7 working days of the close of the auction unless agreed by prior arrangement.
Terms and conditions
CONDITION
Please view the very detailed pictures as they form part of the description around condition
Please also ask any questions before you buy and not after, all of our items are sold as seen and as listed.
Please view the very detailed pictures as they form part of the description around condition
Please also ask any questions before you buy and not after, all of our items are sold as seen and as listed.
View all stock from
Royal House Antiques
Private dealer, onlineBy appointment only
Wimbledon
London
Tel : 07850890032
Non UK callers : +44 7850890032
You may also be interested in
Rare 18thc Mahogany Pedestal Waterfall Bookcase
Georgian Revival Mahogany Glazed Bookcase.
Victorian Bamboo Bookcase
19th Century French Mahogany Bookcase
Good Arts & Crafts Oak Adjustable Bookcase Heart
Pair of Regency 1815 dwarf waterfall bookcases
Large Mid-Victorian Three-Section Open Bookcase
Georgian Mahogany Open Bookcase
Early Victorian Mahogany Breakfront Open Bookcase
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