The David Stather Library, a remarkable private collection put together over a lifetime, is to be sold in a single-owner sale at Tennants Auctioneers, North Yorkshire on 25th January. The books have been lovingly preserved by Stather and the auction provides a rare opportunity to purchase books from a very focused collection.
The library reflects David Stather’s overriding interests, history and law, and comprises a large collection of early books, pamphlets and manuscripts with the majority dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. A central theme of the collection is English history, with a focus on the English Civil War, the ‘Popish Plot’, the Monmouth Rebellion and the Glorious Revolution. Interestingly, many are books that contributed to English history rather than just reported on it, for example the collection includes books reporting the Popish Plot, which were written specifically to create social division through what is now known as ‘fake news’. Other subjects covered in the Library include early Parliament and the Monarchy of that period, the development of English law, the Reformation, early bibles and prayer books, and intriguingly some very early books on witchcraft.
One of the highlights of the sale is a mid-16th century copy of ‘The Workes of Sir Thomas More’, which belonged to the Roper family (estimate: £8,000-12,000 plus buyer’s premium). William Roper, or Rooper (1496-1578) was Thomas More’s son-in-law, who had lived in More’s household for 16 years having married his daughter Margaret. The title page is inscribed ‘William Rooper, the only true owner of’. Roper, originally from Kent, was a lawyer and member of Parliament and wrote a highly regarded biography of More. The book was passed down through the Roper family.
Further notable volumes in the sale include ‘The Great Bible’ by Edwarde Whitchurche ‘at the Signe of the Sunn’ in Fleetstreet, London in 1549 (estimate: £4,000-5,000), and Reginald Scot’s 1665 ‘The Discovery of Witchcraft: Proving That the Compacts and Contracts of Witches with Devils and all Infernal Spirits or Familiars, are but Erroneous Novelties and imaginary Conceptions…’ (estimate: £3,000-5,000).
The earliest item in the sale dates from 1285 and is a charter for a three year lease made by Sir Henry de Lacy of Dukesworth to Mark Red, relating to property in Scarning and Gressenhall, Norfolk (estimate: £300-500).
David Stather 1940-2022: A Biography
At the age of seven David Stather lost his father, a survivor of D-Day, in a railway accident. His widowed mother sent him to Pocklington School in 1949. There he embarked, with fellow-pupil Geoffrey Cox, on writing and publishing ‘A History of the Parish of Market Weighton and District’ in 1957. David’s voyage into the world of books had been nurtured by his discovery of Spelman’s, an antiquarian book shop in Micklegate, York; he recalled, as a schoolboy, being advised by Ken Spelman as to the respective merits of two copies of an ‘Everyman’, priced at a shilling and at one and sixpence.
Leaving school at 17 David embarked on a career in the Law. He qualified as a solicitor in August 1964 and spent the next six years in private practice in Epsom, York and Wolverhampton. From 1970 to 1988 he was employed by the Law Society in legal aid administration based in Newcastle where, till 1996, he served as senior solicitor with the Legal Aid Board.
During his retirement years in Wilberfoss, near York, he was able to devote much time to local historical research and to his antiquarian books. His profound interest in and admiration for the Law, its literature and distinguished practitioners, permeated his life and shaped his thoughts. This reverence for the traditions, values and safeguards of the common law is reflected throughout his collection. He also delved deep into the history of his old school, producing many far-reaching studies, as well as researching the Ripon charter of 1604.
He rescued many worthy books in a forlorn state and had them bound in befitting style by Ralph and Paul Dodge of Syston Bindery. He took great pleasure in ensuring the continued survival of numerous books for a further two or three centuries. He was dogged in his pursuit of the Wynkyn de Worde incunable now on offer in this sale, and his persistence was rewarded. No one handled books with greater care than David, a bibliophile to the end of his days.
Biography kindly supplied by Keith Walls, a friend of David Stather.
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