Pair of large libraries Samuel Pepys 1666

We are delighted to offer for sale this pair of large Samuel Pepys 1666 libraries, based on the original. These libraries are the foundation of the freestanding library as we know it today. In 2016, they celebrated their 350th anniversary. They are examples from the 20th century, handmade by a master craftsman, with each piece of wood cut by hand. I have never seen a pair in mahogany before or of such width, all others being significantly narrower. These pieces are historically important: the originals are located in the Samuel Pepys Library at Magdalene College, Oxford, and one at the Victoria and Albert Museum. They have been cleaned, waxed, and polished and are in sublime condition, with functional keys for most locks. The dimensions are Height 223 cm, Width 183 cm, Depth 41 cm, measurements taken at the widest point. These libraries represent a revolutionary invention of freely mobile book storage, designed by Pepys with the help of a master shipwright. The style is Georgian with craftsmanship in hardwood and glass. This type of furniture is considered the oldest of its kind with these features.