Call Number:

Ms. Codex 2258

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

1 volume(s)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Nelson Matcham library catalog, 1848-1885, Ms. Codex 2258, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1848-1885 (inclusive)

Creator:

Matcham, Nelson, 1811-1886

Form:

Library catalogs

Abstract:

Nelson Matcham (1811-1886) was a London-based lawyer from Slaugham, West Sussex. This library catalog dates from 1848 through 1885 and contains the entries from Matcham's personal library including literary works and books on topics mostly including history, poetry, art, travel, and religion.

The creator of this volume, Nelson Matcham, was probably Nelson Matcham born to George Matcham and Catherine Nelson Matcham in Slaugham, West Sussex in 1811. He was the nephew of Admiral Lord Nelson, who was his mother's older brother.

Matcham was a Barrister at Law, having earned a Bachelor's of Civil Law from Trinity Hall of Cambridge University in 1835. He appeared to have practiced law in London. He never married or had children, as evidenced by an obituary stating, "the deceased gentleman was a bachelor."

He died in London on April 1, 1886 and is buried in St. Mary's Churchyard in Slaugham.

Sources: The Hampshire Advertiser, April 7, 1886, page 4. The Morning Post, London, England, December 5, 1835, page 3.

This library catalog dates from 1848 through 1885 and contains the entries from Matcham's personal library including literary works and books on topics mostly including history, poetry, art, travel, and religion.

The volume is missing both the front and back cover and has ruled pages. The latter portion of the volume is blank (p. 26-78). The title page reads "Catalogue of the library of Nelson Matcham Esq. L.L.D. of Cam, Barrister at Law" (p. i).

The earliest work in this catalog is Scripture Doctrine of the Trinity, published in 1719 and the latest, Dictionary of National Biography and Story of Mazeppa, were published in 1885, just a year before Matcham's death.

Examples of books in this catalog that demonstrate the varied topics present in Matcham's library include, History of the Jewish Monarchy, London, 1847 (p. 11); Cowpus poems, 2 vol., London, 1787 (p. 9); Hogarth's Works, 2 vol., London, 1833; Murray's Handbook for France, 1844; Murray's Handbook for Northern Italy, 1842; Murray's Handbook for Switzerland, 1842; Murray's Handbook for the East, 1845 (p. 2); Arnold's Christian Life Sermons, London, 1845 (p. 15); Austen's (Jane) Works, 5 vol., London, 1833 (p. 5); Story of the Earth and Mars, London, 1829 (p. 1874); and Simplicity of Health, London, 1829 (p. 19).

There are few, if any, entries for books dealing with the law or legal studies.