STANLEY (Thomas, Colonel). Bibliotheca Stanleiana. A Splendid Selection of Rare and Fine Books, from the Distinguished Library of Colonel Stanley. The Selection Contains all his Rare Italian and Spanish Poetry, Novels and Romances; An Extraordinary Collection of Voyages and Travels, Including an Unique Copy of De Bray's Voyages... with a Matchless Copy of Holinshed Upon Large Paper... Sold by Auction, by R. H. Evans... on Friday the 30th April, and Seven Following Days... [London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co.], 1813. [6], 71, [1]pp., title page heavily spotted, ruled in red, prices supplied in a cont. hand, 1136 lots. Bound with:] GARDINER (William) 1811. Part I. Of a Catalogue of Antient and Modern Books, Containing many of the Most Valuable and Rare Works in English Literature, for Sale at W. Gardiner's, 48, Pall-Mall...1811

London: J. Barker, [2], 80pp., some heavy browning and spotting throughout, 1062 items described with printed prices. 2 works bound in one, 8vo (225 x 140 mm), later quarter calf, spine lettered in gilt "Catalogues = Gardnier, Stanley, Goldsmid, Devonshire", alas, without the Goldsmid and Devonshire catalogues. Stanley wrote his own notes for this catalogue which was strong in early Italian and Spanish books. "One of the most magnificent collections ever brought to the Hammer." - Horne, p. 674. William Nelson Gardiner was born at Dublin, June 11, 1766, of poor parents. He possessed considerable knowledge of books, and was a very spirited engraver. Accumulated misery, both bodily and mental, led him to take his own life. The evening before his death he addressed a letter to the editor of the 'Morning Chronicle', who had shown him repeated kindness, enclosing a "Brief memoir of himself." In this letter he declared that his sun was set for ever—that his business had nearly declined—his catalogue failed—his body covered with disease—and he had determined to seek that asylum "were the weary are at rest." He also states "I turned bookseller, for the last 13 years have struggled in vain to establish myself. The same ill fortune which has followed me through life, has not here forsaken me. I have seen men on every side of me, greatly my inferiors in every respect, towering above me; while the most contemptible amongst them, without education, without a knowledge of their profession, and without idea, have been received into Palaces, and into the bosom of the great, while I have been forsaken and neglected, and my business reduced to nothing. It is therefore, high time for me to be gone." De Ricci, p.88. Quaritch, p.271.