Anthony Askew

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Anthony Askew (fl. 1699-1774), physician and book collector, was born in Kendal. His early education was at Sedbergh School and The Royal Free Grammar School in Newcastle upon Tyne, where by all accounts he was terrified of the formidable Head Master, Richard Dawes.

Professionally, Askew was a physician at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London; but he is best known as a classical scholar and bibliophile.

Askew assembled one of the greatest private collections of books and manuscripts of his time, the Bibliotheca Askeviana.

De Ricci says Askew "attempted to secure a complete series of all the Greek classics ever published; he purchased privately R. Mead's Greek manuscripts, the papers of Dr. Taylor and some fine early classical codices from the library of the Maffei family".

Besson says "rare manuscripts and choice editions in exquisite bindings abounded in his library, and Askew has been credited with having made bibliomania fashionable. . . . After the death of Askew, the library was sold at an auction which lasted from 13 February to 7 March 1775. The catalogue of the collection was sold at one shilling and sixpence, with a few copies on royal paper at four shillings . . . ."

The purchasers of Askew's books at the auction included the anatomist William Hunter, the British Museum and the kings of England and France.

Askew's extensive collection of transcribed inscriptions is on show in the British Museum.