Harold Bowden Collection of Cornish Book
114 Lot Collection
The Harold Bowden Collection of Cornish Books comprising over 100 Cornish books, including some rare and scarce volumes.
Philip Rashleigh's Specimens of Cornish Minerals from the Harold Bowden Collection of Cornish Books
The Harold Bowden Collection of Cornish Books totals over 100 lots and includes some rare and scarce volumes. The collection, which includes most of the high points as far as Cornish Books are concerned (ie: Carew, Norden, Borlase, Gilbert and Rashleigh) was amassed from auctions and shops over many years.
One of the highlights of the collection is the wonderful copy of Philip Rashleigh's Specimens of British Minerals (two volumes in one), which is an excellent copy of this early and scarce volume on mineralogy.
Harold Bowden was born in Gunnislake and raised in Callington, Cornwall. Bowden moved to Paignton in the early 1960s to run two family gift shops.
In the mid 1970s, Bowden returned to Looe and it was at this time that he started his 50 year passion that resulted in a substantial library of Cornish books.
It is not known what started Harold Bowden's fascination with Cornish books, but he was very proud of being Cornish and had worked the family tree back to 1750, using only Somerset House, the National Censuses and Kelly’s Directory.
The collection, which includes most of the 'high points' (ie: Carew (first edition), Norden, Borlase, Gilbert, etc) was amassed from auctions and shops, both in the UK and America.
Two of Bowden's uncles emigrated to America to work in the mines and during his retirement, Harold visited them, spending a great deal of time in Michigan.
Bowden remained an avid Cornish book collector until his death in 2009.
Lots from the Collection
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BARNES, RW - The Last Three Sermons, Preached in the Church of Looe, Cornwall original wrappers, 8vo, Truro, 1850; with a book of psalms, and one by John Wesley.
Estimate: £30 - £50
Realised: £60
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BARTON, DB - A History of Tin Mining and Smelting in Cornwall - illustrated, cloth in d/w, 8vo, 1967; with 19 others on Cornish mining.
Estimate: £80 - £120
Realised: £130
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BARTON, DB - The Cornish Beam Engine illustrated, cloth in d/w, 8vo, 1965; with 9 others relating to the industrial history of Cornwall.
Estimate: £40 - £60
Realised: £40
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BARTON, RM (edit) - Life in Cornwall in the ... Nineteenth Century 4 vol set, illustrated, cloth in d/ws, 8vo, Bradford Barton Ltd, 1970-74; with other (modern) books on Cornish life. (box).
Estimate: £40 - £60
Realised: £60
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BISHOP, George - A Pictorial View of Linkinhorne illustrated, original card covers, 4to, Lithiack Press, 1987; with other parish histories in the same series, and several in the Halsgrove town histories series, etc, (mainly East Cornwall). (box).
Estimate: £50 - £75
Realised: £50
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BLIGHT, JT - A Week at the Land's End fold map, illustrated, original cloth worn, 8vo, first ed, 1861; with 6 others relating to West Cornwall.
Estimate: £20 - £30
Realised: £45
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BLIGHT, JT - Ancient Crosses and other Antiquities, in the West of Cornwall & Ancient Crosses, and other Antiquities in the East of Cornwall, illustrated by the author, matching half calf, marbled boards, 4to, FT Vilbert, Penzance, first editions, 1856 & 1858.
Estimate: £100 - £150
Realised: £220
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BOASE, George Clement - Collectanea Cornubiensis a collection of biographical and topographical notes relating to the county of Cornwall - magnificently rebound in half calf marbled boards, stout 4to, printed for the author (one hundred and thirty copies), Truro, 1890.
Estimate: £400 - £600
Realised: £400
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BOASE, George Clement & COURTNEY, William Prideaux - Bibliotheca Cornubiensis 3 vols, original cloth re-backed, 4to, 1874-82.
Estimate: £250 - £350
Realised: £200
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BOND, Thomas - Topographical and Historical Sketches of the Boroughs of East and West Looe map, 5 lithograph plates, rebound in full calf, 8vo, 1823.
Estimate: £220 - £300
Realised: £240
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