CHETHAM (Humphry). The Last Will of Humphry Chetham, of Clayton, in the County of Lancaster, Esq; Dated December 16, 1651; Whereby he founded and endowed an Hospital and Library in Manchester. Also the Charter of King Charles II. Dated November 10, 1665. For making the Trustees under Mr. Chetham's Will a Body-Corporate.1759

Manchester: Printed by J. Harrop, First Edition, 4to, [ii], 65pp., printed on thick paper, title within ornamental border, bookplate of E. Crawshaw, full vellum, brown morocco title label to spine, lettered in gilt, a nice copy. The first printing of these important documents relating to the greatest of all the early town libraries. Humphrey Chetham (1580-1653), wealthy Manchester textile merchant, under the terms of his will, the bulk of Chetham's fortune was to be used to establish a hospital for the maintenance and education of forty poor boys, and the first free public library in the world. ESTC locates 7 copies in the UK and 2 in North America.