Add MS 75501-75510

Althorp Papers. Vols. cci-ccx. Diaries of Stephen Monteage (1681-1754); 1734-1752. Each volume consists of a copy of John Partridge's almanac, Merlinus Liberatus, interleaved with notes of Monteage's monthly expenses, followed by a copy of Parker's Ephemeris (in all but the first two volumes), and by a daily journal of Monteage's business and social activities, including his business for the York Buildings Water Company (for which see L. L. C. Survey of London, XVIII, pp.48-49 and P.G.M. Dickson, The Financial Revolution in England [1967], pp. 137, 155), and as deputy and accountant to his cousin Stephen Poyntz. There are occasional records of public events and theatrical performances, and detailed accounts of his walks about the environs of London. Each entry begins with a systematic account of the weather. The volumes for 1734, 1737 and 1748 contain preliminary notes, verses, etc. A further eight volumes of Monteage's diaries in the Guildhall Library fill some of the gaps in this series; see British Diaries, comp. William Matthews (Los Angeles, 1984), p. 72.

Ten volumes. Uniform contemporary leather bindings, with modern repairs; see I, pp. 312, 327 for the binding and interleaving of the almanac to Monteage's specifications by [S.?] Billingsley, probably the bookseller of Chancery Lane. All 160 x 110 mm.