Recusant Books at St. Mary's Oscott; Part I: 1518-1687 / Part II: 1641-1830
New Oscott, Warwickshire: St. Mary's Seminary, 1964-1966. Three volumes. Quarto (9 1/2 inches tall), original cream wrappers, titled in black, with a central design in red,-blue, and gilt. Slight wear to upper corners. A nearly fine set. Item #1565
"TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF THE LIFE, THOUGHT AND DEVOTION OF CATHOLIC ENGLAND"
Handsome catalogue of the extensive collection of Recusant Books held by the Old Library at St. Mary's Seminary, Oscott—in two volumes with a Dedication in Latin: Ad Martyres Confessoresque Aevi Nostri ("To the Martyrs and Confessors of Our Age"). The main volumes are illustrated with splendid wrapper vignette of Our Lady and each volume includes an illustrated insert of photographed title pages, conveying a wealth of visual data. An indispensable aid to charting the Mind of the English Recusants.
Oscott College played an important part in the Catholic Revival of the mid-nineteenth century. "The high prestige which St. Mary's College enjoyed for so long a time is due to the number of distinguished families of England, Ireland, and other countries, whose sons were educated within its walls, and to the solid piety and fine courteous tone by which Oscotians were recognised. Oscott counts among its alumni one cardinal and twenty bishops, many member of Parliament, and others distinguished in the diplomatic and military services" (Catholic Encyclopedia). Oscott's prominence brought valuable rare books and manuscripts to the library from a variety of sources, both local and Continental. "The greater part of the Recusant collection was described by G.F. Pullen in three printed catalogues, published between 1964 and 1971. A number of items there listed are represented in the UK by fewer than four copies" (Oscott.net). Pullen's short Preface notes Oscott's "buildings go back to 1838, and they are dear to Catholics throughout England, and indeed all parts of the world, enshrining both the memory and the record of the work of the Church in the English midlands for two centuries and a half."
Both volumes are preceded with a Notice to Readers (Researchers) regarding the limited access to the collections, advising researchers to "apply in writing to the Father Librarian, who will submit the application to His Grace the Archbishop for approval." The entries, arranged alphabetically, describe over 3000 books, pamphlets, and manuscripts. Part I: 1518-1687, consists of 1002 numbered items preceded by a Select Bibliography acknowledging gaps in the collection, solicits donations "We would like more devotional works of every description, particularly Jesu's Psalter; more books by Stapleton and Worthington, more Fitzherberts, and more of the old Catholic lawbooks." Part I is supplemented with a separate Short-Title Index containing 10 pages. Part II: 1641-1830, numbered 1003 - 3344, is bound with a Short-Title Index to Anonyma and Pseudonyma and includes another brief Preface: "Two hundred years of eventful history, the life, thought and devotion of Catholic England, may be studied in these pages" (G.F. Pullen, October 1966). See http://oscott.net/about-us/history/recusant-library.
Price: $65.00