Folger-specific note
From dealer's description: "167. WARNER, John. A Collection of 157 Manuscript Bills, Receipts, Promisory Notes, and Orders for Delivery, by or to the goldsmith banker John Warner of the Golden Anchor, near Temple Bar. 157 ms. bills, &c., all approx. 20 x 10cm; all at one point sewn together, thin strengthening strip on verso, sewing, & a few leaves, loose, some damp marking very occasionally affecting sense. [94368] An interesting and coherent collection of early 18th century bills relating to the goldsmith banker John Warner of the Golden Anchor, near Temple Hall. Warner, d. 1721, was the son of John Warner Senior, Sheriff of London (1640) and Lord Mayor of London (1648). His son was the botanist and Classical and Shakespearean scholar Richard Warner, [c.1711-13] - 1775. Goldsmith Bankers emerged in the 17th century when London goldsmiths gradually expanded their services to include storage of wealth, loans, transferring money and providing bills of exchange. Warner was established as early as 1663 and later worked together with John Paltock and Thomas Snow (later of Messrs. Snow & Paltock) both of whom are noted, individually and as Snow & Paltock, in a small number of documents here. These documents are indicative of the wide variety of financial services offered by the goldsmith bankers. Many confirm or request payments, others are payments for dividends, purchase of stock or lottery tickets, and the safe keeping of jewellery and plate. They also include payments for claret, books and fish. Two of the biggest transactions relate to the South Sea Stock and the East India Company. In May 1716 there is a bill for ‘£116.10 for £100 of South Sea Stock’ and in 1719, ‘Rec’d £45 for my South Sea dividend of £1500 due at Mid SW last past [Signed] William Merrick’. In December 1719 there is a payment of £4203 ‘for Forty East India Bonds’. A note, signed ‘Grace Hortescue’, states that ‘I desire you to deliver those Jewels Mr Hortescue left with you (I think it was earrings, a ring, buckle & watch) to Mr Sherwood for Mr Hortescue’s use’. Another document, 1711, lists the plate ‘left in Mr Warner’s keeping for me’. These bills also document an interesting cast list of Warner’s clients. Included are Clement Cottrell, English courtier and antiquary, Hugh Chamberlen, Royal physician and writer on finance, John Colbatch, Churchman and Professor of Moral Philosophy at Cambridge, Robert Shippen, Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Principal of Brasenose College, together with William Manners (and Lucy Rutland), Robert Henleys, Brigg Fountaine, Edward Hyde, William Herd, Savile Cust, Anne Meux, Elizabeth Rous and the Bishop of Chester, amongst numerous others. 1706-1726." Ordered from: Jarndyce Antiquarian Booksellers, D9543, 2021-11-01, STOCK LIST LONDON’S RARE BOOK FAIR 2021, OCTOBER 21st - 24th BOOTH D20, item #167.
