Mirjam Foot selects a number of prime examples of 18th-century bindings collected by bibliophile Benjamin Guinness, the ownership of whose library was recently transferred to Marsh’s Library, Dublin
In 1999 the Guinness family sold Farmleigh, their splendid house in Phoenix Park, Dublin to the Irish Government. The library came with it, but on loan. Benjamin Guinness, 3rd Earl of Iveagh (1937-92), who inherited a collection of mainly Irish literature, enhanced and extended the library and built up the most important and most extensive collection of fine decorated Irish bookbindings anywhere, whether in public ownership or in private hands. He had an excellent eye for quality, obtained good advice, both from scholars and from reputable book dealers, had a great interest in his chosen field and above all, a love and enthusiasm for his books, generously shared with like-minded spirits. He also collected first editions, mainly those of Irish authors, and owned first editions of Swift’s works and the complete first editions of Somerville and Ross.
