Verger

1841 · A42106 — Historical Society of Science 1841. xix 124 2 9 . . HB. 8vo orig. cloth blind-stamped acanthus scroll frame to boards with central gilt symbol to front board corners lightly bumped. Bookplate of Yatton Court Herefordshire. From the library of K.G.V. Smith 1929-2017 British dipterist at the Natural History Museum London and book collector. Enclosed is a post card from Paul Latcham scholar and collector of bookplates and former editor of the Bookplate Journal. He suggests that the bookplate is probably that of J.G. Rodney Ward resident at Yatton Court from the late 1860s to 1880s. An attached pencil note to Ken Smith in a different hand states that Latcham was pleased to see a previously unknown County bookplate Herefordshire. First edition. Includes 83 letters by among others Thomas Digges Tycho Brache John Dee Thomas Lydyat Charles Cavendish John Pell. 'The contents of the present volume are so very miscellaneous that it would be a difficult task to give a satisfactory analysis of them within the limits of a few pages. Perhaps it may be sufficient to state that the Editor has endevoured to form such a collection of early letters on scientific subjects as would be likely to assist any future author of a critical history of English science.' - Preface. The central design to the front board of this book is the 'Monas Hieroglyphica' an esoteric symbol invented and designed by John Dee the Court Astrologer to Elizabeth I; it is also the title of the 1564 book in which Dee expounds the meaning of his symbol. One of the letters included in this published collection is from John Dee. James Orchard Halliwell 1820-1889 was an antiquarian literary scholar and collector of English nursery rhymes. He published many books including 'Nursery Rhymes of England' 1842 and the 'Life of Shakespeare' 1848. He was accused of stealing manuscripts from Trinity College Cambridge and eloped with and married the daughter of the the famous bibliomaniac Sir Thomas Phillipps. Historical Society of Science hardcover