An exciting new acquisition has arrived at the Bodleian Library thanks to a FNL grant that covered over half the cost.
Thomas Lupton's 'A thousand notable things of sundrie sorts' (London, 1631) offers advice on a whole range of matters. The book was owned by Frances Wolfreston (1607-1677) and bears her ownership inscription, as well as other family notes of interest.
Wolfreston is a rare example of a non-aristocratic female book-owner from the early seventeenth century. Her library contained hundreds of books of literature and popular works in English, each marked with her characteristic inscription “frances wolfreston her bouk”, and was left for the enjoyment of her family and descendants.
The Bodleian Library holds several books that belonged to Wolfreston, including the unique copy of the 1593 edition of Shakespeare’s 'Venus and Adonis', and a volume of almanacs in which she recorded family events and notes relating to her books.