Why Holkham’s Librarian is Getting Very Excited

April 27, 2018 | Events | 4 minute read

One of the great joys and privileges of being the Librarian at Holkham is having the chance to view volumes from the manuscript collection ‘in the flesh’. We do not disturb them unless the occasion demands, but when the occasion does demand…

Holkham has one of the great private collections of manuscripts and early printed books (known as incunabula) in this country. A large proportion of these gems were purchased by a young Thomas Coke whilst he was on his extensive grand tour.

We are lucky enough to have one of the leading experts on manuscripts and incunabula working here at Holkham as our Manuscript Curator. What is more, Dr. Laura Nuvoloni and I share an office and it is endlessly fascinating to find out what she is working on next and what her research is unearthing. Laura is in the process of completing the full cataloguing of Italian manuscripts at the moment and so all sorts of wonderful examples make their way down from the Manuscript library into our office for study.

Now, as part of our celebration of 300 years passing since the end of Thomas Coke’s grand tour (our Treasures and Trophies exhibition in the hall this year), Laura is going to explore three fascinating topics in three separate talks. What is more, these talks will be seeing these key volumes in all their glory – key purchases made by Thomas Coke while on his tour.

Laura is going to start by looking at Thomas Coke’s first and abiding passion: collecting books and manuscripts. Yet he did not collect without a plan. Advised by Dr. Hobart, his tour leader, he made major purchases in Lyon, Padua and Venice, for example, and we will hear the stories behind these events.

The depth and quality of our collection here at Holkham will be illustrated in the second talk. Laura will show how techniques and styles in book production changed from early manuscripts to early printed books. Not many private libraries could hope to illustrate this.

Laura’s final talk will look at Thomas Coke’s deep interest in the classics. But as we shall hear (and see!) this was not confined to Greek and Roman culture. Laura will tell the story of how Thomas was instrumental in the publication of an important 17th century study of Etruscan culture.

I, for one, am very excited that Laura is going to share some of her research findings with us. We will also get a rare chance to see some of the gems of the Holkham library collection at close quarters. At the same time I feel we will find out just a little bit more about what makes Holkham such a special place to work – and to visit.

If you would like more information on these forthcoming talks:

Friday 18th May: Thomas Coke’s purchases of Manuscripts and Early Printed Books
MS. 360, fol. 3r, Valerius Maximus, Facta et dicta memorabilia (or Memorable Deeds and Sayings, in 9 books), made in Naples, about 1370-1380, bought by Thomas Coke in Padua in 1717.

Friday 13th July: History of the Book and the development of its production.
MS. 6.i, fol. 1r, 12th-century Italian Giant Bible and MS. 225.iii, fol. 1r, Guglielmus Durandus, Speculum Iudiciale, (a mid-14th-century copy from Bologna of a compilation of civil, criminal and canonical procedure written in the late 13th century).

Friday 7th September: Thomas Coke’s antiquarian interests and inspiration from the Classical World.
MS. 344, fol. 140r, Livy, Ab urbe condita (History of Rome), produced about 1300 in Bologna, formerly owned by Pope Benedict XIII.

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