Randolph Knipe d.1759

Randolph KNIPE d.1759

Knipe's bookplate (British Museum Franks Collection 17332)

Biographical Note

Younger son of Sir Randolph Knipe, a wealthy Turkey merchant in London, who was an alderman and sheriff of the City; he had an estate at Hookfield, Epsom which was inherited by his eldest son Edward. Randolph's will does not refer to landed property but he was clearly living in or around London, in affluent circumstances.

Books

Knipe used an engraved armorial bookplate (Franks 17332), which includes the cadency mark of a crescent, indicating a second son. The extent of his library is not known; in his will, he bequeathed his "books and book case maps etc" (together with his silver repeating watch) to his nephew Edward.

Sources

• Will of Randolph Knipe, the National Archives PROB 11/847/364.
• Hookfield - Epsom and Ewell History Explorer.
• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903.