Cato and Laelius: or, Essays on Old-Age and Friendship: by Marcus Tullius Cicero. With Remarks by William Melmoth, Esq. A new edition. (Redmond Barry’s copy)

London : J. Dodsley, 1795. Two volumes, octavo (210 mm), original half-calf (worn) over marbled boards (heavily rubbed), joints weak, spines with contrasting leather title pieces (both present) and volume labels (one lacking), pp [viii] (including separate title page for Vol. 1 with engraved portrait of Cato), 318 ; [viii] (including separate title page for Vol. 2 with engraved portrait of Scipio), 344; light foxing to endpapers and preliminaries in both volumes, else contents very clean; a good set with wide margins. From the library of Victorian Supreme Court judge and cultural patron Sir Redmond Barry, his armorial bookplate to pastedown of each volume, with later ownership labels of F. W. Scrivenor below; ownership inscription in pencil of Dott Barry to title page of Volume 2.

Supreme Court Justice Sir Redmond Barry (1813-1880) – best known as the man who sentenced to death Ned Kelly – was instrumental in the founding of the University of Melbourne (1853), and served as its Chancellor until his death. He is also recognised as the father of the Melbourne Public Library (now the State Library of Victoria), founded in 1856. He was to remain President of the Trustees until his death.