[George Strickland] - Lord's Supper - 1765

GEORGE STRICKLAND OF SIZERGH HOUSE – DEVOTIONS FOR THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER – MANUSCRIPT IN ENGLISH – 1765
Refined English manuscript of 1765, consisting of 113 pages entirely handwritten in elegant eighteenth-century cursive. The text is devoted to spiritual preparation and reception of the Eucharist and includes prayers, meditations, psalms, religious reflections, thematic classifications and tables. Of particular interest is the provenance: the manuscript bears the inscription “The Gift of George Strickland Esq. of Sizergh House to Anthony Yeates.” On the verso the heraldic bookplate of Anthony Yeates is preserved, while a subsequent label documents provenance to Paul Wallraf. An interesting example of private handwritten devotion from Georgian England, enriched by the provenance from Sizergh House and the fine contemporaneous full red morocco binding decorated in gold.

MARKET VALUE
€800 – €1,200. The valuation takes into account the nature of an original eighteenth-century manuscript, the 113 handwritten pages, the Strickland/Sizergh House provenance, the bookplates, and the prestigious contemporaneous binding. The presence of detached plates and wear to the binding negatively impact the value. Market value recommended: €1,000.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
113 handwritten pages, numbered, written in English with an orderly eighteenth-century cursive script. Handwritten title page in red and black ink. Rubrics, prayers, meditations, psalms, classifications and tables are present, all handwritten. Contemporary full red morocco binding, with elaborate borders and gold-pressed lines on the covers; spine with raised bands and decorative tooling. Front and back pastedowns lined with multicolored marbled paper. Detached covers, with wear, abrasions and losses mainly along the edges, hinges and spine. Small rectangular clipping removed from the title page, below the title and above the date. Internally the manuscript presents as overall well preserved, with clear text and fully usable. Heraldic bookplate of Anthony Yeates on the front pastedown and Paul Wallraf label on the flyleaf. In old books, with a centuries-long history, occasional imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description. This listing contains AI Visuals. The images are an integral part of the description.

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Devotions for the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Original manuscript in English.
1765. The manuscript carries a provenance note indicating it was donated by George Strickland Esq. of Sizergh House to Anthony Yeates.
George Strickland.

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
The volume belongs to the tradition of private devotional manuals of the eighteenth century, compiled to accompany personal preparation for Communion and daily practice of religious piety. The presence of a large section devoted to the Psalms, organized according to different spiritual themes and life circumstances, shows that this is not merely a collection of prayers, but a true personal compendium of religious practice. The provenance from Sizergh House, the ancient residence of the Strickland family, is particularly significant. The donor inscription to Anthony Yeates also makes the volume a material document of the personal and religious relationships of eighteenth-century England.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
George Strickland belonged to the historic Strickland family, long connected with Sizergh House in Westmorland, one of the most important historic houses in northwestern England. In this manuscript his name appears mainly in relation to provenance and the gift to Anthony Yeates. As there is not sufficient evidence to establish with certainty that Strickland is the actual author or compiler of the entire text, it is bibliographically prudent to place him in brackets as donor/provenance rather than attribute authorship outright.

PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
Unique manuscript copy – not printed. There is therefore no typographical edition. The volume was produced as a private devotional manuscript and presents the characteristics of a singular item, with text entirely handwritten. This individuality clearly distinguishes the volume from common printed devotional manuals circulating in eighteenth-century England.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
Original manuscript, 1765.
Internal references within the item: handwritten title page; indication of donation from George Strickland Esq. of Sizergh House to Anthony Yeates; heraldic bookplate of Anthony Yeates; provenance label Paul Wallraf.
Given the manuscript’s nature as a unique item, it does not have a standard editorial or typographical identification in bibliographic catalogs intended for printed books.