A Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Baker

Thomas Baker (1656–1740) occupied an important position in the world of antiquarian and historical learning in the first forty years of the eighteenth century. He was a well-informed historical scholar at home in theology, law, science and philosophy, whose scholarship extended to the history of the book and the book trade. His voluminous correspondence was almost entirely about books, and he emerges from it as a bibliographer and book-collector of note. This catalogue attempts a reconstruction of Baker's library of some 4300 titles. The library reflects the man, particularly his absorption in and love of St John's College, Cambridge, which retained the cream of his collection, and the University. Dr Korsten provides a biographical sketch, an account of Baker as book-collector and bibliographer, and a general survey and assessment of his library.