Items Similar to 2.8 X 2.2 METER ANTIQUE SAMUEL PEPYS 1666 STYLE LIBRARY BOOKCASE PART OF SUiTE
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 21
2.8 X 2.2 METER ANTIQUE SAMUEL PEPYS 1666 STYLE LIBRARY BOOKCASE PART OF SUiTE
About the Item
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is 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 before you bid.
Condition
Please view the very detailed pictures as they form part of the description around condition
Please note vintage period and original items such as leather seating will always have natural patina in the form of cracking creasing and wear, we recommend regular waxing to ensure no moisture is lost, also hand dyed leather is not recommended to sit in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time as it will dry out and fade.
- Dimensions:Height: 113 in (287 cm)Width: 88 in (223.5 cm)Depth: 20.08 in (51 cm)
- Style:High Victorian (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1860-80
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
- Seller Location:GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2823337767702
About the Seller
4.6
Platinum Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are 1stDibs' most experienced sellers and are rated highest by our customers.
Established in 2012
1stDibs seller since 2017
1,711 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- 2.8 X 2.2 METER SAMUEL PEPYS 1666 STYLE LIBRARY BOOKCASE DRAWERS PART OF SUiTELocated in GBRoyal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this highly collectable, restored, Victorian circa 1860-1880, Pine and oak very large Library Bookcase with ...Category
Antique 1860s English High Victorian Bookcases
MaterialsGlass, Oak, Pine
- 2.8 X 1.6 METER ANTIQUE SAMUEL PEPYS 1666 STYLE LIBRARY BOOKCASE PART OF SUiTELocated in GBRoyal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this highly collectable, restored, Victorian circa 1860-1880, Pine and oak large Library Bookcase based on t...Category
Antique 1860s English High Victorian Bookcases
MaterialsGlass, Oak, Pine
- 2.8 X 3.9 METER ANTIQUE SAMUEL PEPYS 1666 STYLE LIBRARY BOOKCASE PART OF SUiTELocated in GBRoyal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this highly collectable, restored, Victorian circa 1860-1880, Pine and oak huge Library Bookcase based on th...Category
Antique 1860s English High Victorian Bookcases
MaterialsGlass, Oak, Pine
- Very Important Antique Samuel Pepys 1666 Large Library Bookcase After OriginalLocated in GBWe are delighted to offer this highly collectable, fully restored, Victorian circa 1860, Pitch Pine Library Bookcase based on the original Samuel Pepys 16...Category
Antique 1860s English High Victorian Bookcases
MaterialsGlass, Pine
- Pair of Very Important Samuel Pepys 1666 Large Library Bookcases After OriginalLocated in GBWe are delighted to offer for sale this pair of Samuel Pepys 1666 large library bookcases after the original. These bookcases are basically the birthpla...Category
20th Century English Georgian Bookcases
MaterialsGlass, Hardwood
- Lovely 2 Piece Flamed Hardwood Open Library Bookcase Part of a Paired SuiteLocated in GBWe are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage flamed mahogany and hardwood open corner library bookcase which splits into two easy to transport...Category
20th Century English Victorian Bookcases
MaterialsHardwood
You May Also Like
- Antique Black Forest Bookcase or China Cabinet, Swiss, Late 1800's Part of SuiteLocated in Chicago, ILBlack Forest bookcase, that was part of a major collection of Black Forest items sold by a Chateau outside of Marseille, France. There is a total of (42) antique Black Forest items that we have imported from the chateau and all will be listed on 1stdibs as soon as they can be photographed. Old Plank has been collecting and selling Black Forest furniture and Black Forest accessories for over 30-years and never have we witnessed a collection of Black Forest of this magnitude. Our 19th century Black Forest bookcase still retains its original wavy glass. Black Forest history began in Switzerland during the 1800’s and expanded with the increasing popular tourist trade. By the late 1800’s, the small animal carvings...Category
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Bookcases
MaterialsMarble
- Large Antique Oak Library Bookcase in Neoclassical StyleLocated in Baambrugge, NLThe cornice ornamented by a carved vase above four doors with wire-mesh paneling, retaining gilt brass door fittings of fine quality, the inside with an ...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Neoclassical Bookcases
MaterialsOak
- Antique Victorian Quality Figured Mahogany Library BookcaseLocated in Suffolk, GBAntique Victorian quality figured mahogany library bookcase having a quality moulded shaped cornice above a pair of figured mahogany glazed moulded doors opening to reveal three adju...Category
Antique 1850s English Victorian Bookcases
MaterialsOther
- Library BookcaseLocated in Paris, FRBookcase library with solid walnut wood structure, with modular shelves and sides system according to furnishing needs. With 2 drawers module on the left side, with 2 doors modul...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Bookcases
MaterialsWalnut
- English Breakfront Library BookcaseLocated in Leamington Spa, WarwickshireGood English painted breakfront library bookcase. All adjustable shelving. 1840. Dimensions 122 inches (310 cms) Wide 18.5 inches (47 ...Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Bookcases
MaterialsOak
- Pair of Baker Architectural Neoclassical Style Painted Library BookcasesBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in Rio Vista, CAGrand pair of architectural painted library bookcases or display cabinets hand-crafted by Baker. Each large cabinet has an arched opening surmounted by a corniced top. The cases have...Category
20th Century American Neoclassical Bookcases
MaterialsBrass
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Made To Order Bookcases
Mid Century Free Standing Shelving
Record Drawers
19th Century Swedish Bookcase
Gothic Oak Bookcase
Modular Desk Bookcases
Bookcases 30 High
Baker Large Breakfront
Bookcases Small Sliding Glass Doors
Library Items
Antique Mahogany Chippendale Style Breakfront Bookcase
Bibliotheque 8 Doors
Blonde Bookshelf
Douglas Fir Cabinet
Kurt Ostervig Bookcase
Mac Gee Bookshelf
Macey Co. On Sale
Max Coini