The Library of Henry and Alfred Henry Huth. Loose sheets of their collection in Peralada’s Palace Library.

Abstract

In Peralada’s Palace Library –created by the Majorcan noblemen the brothers D. Antonio and D. Tomás de Rocabertí Dameto in the last quarter of the 19th century and, from 1923 on, continued by the bibliophile D. Miguel Mateu Pla (1898-1972)–, are preserved copies that belonged to bibliophiles and collectors from different parts of Spain and Europe. On this occasion, are unveiled eight loose sheets from 17th first decade, acquired by Miguel Mateu; unique pieces with unknown whereabouts for some of them until today, which belonged to the extraordinary library formed by the English banker and collector, Henry Huth (1815-1878) and, on his death, preserved by his son Alfred Henry Huth (1850-1910). For a better knowledge of its origin, it is contextualized with a biographical synthesis of the protagonists, the study of their bookplates, the division of its bibliographic collections and, finally, current locations of relevant works from the paradigmatic library preserved in national and international institutions are provided.