Volume 1

A summary catalogue of Western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford.

  • Bodleian Library
Date:
1895-1953
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A summary catalogue of Western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    C. [EXTRACT FROM STATEMENT OF W. D. MACRAY] I venture, in conclusion, to illustrate the two methods of cataloguing by examples from MSS. which I have myself described at full length within the last two months. Rawlinson D. 788: ‘Paper, fob Household expenses 1648-59, 1684-9.’ This would be the kind of entry in a short summary catalogue: for no names are mentioned in the volume. But careful examination proved that the earlier entries were made by the wife of Richard Keble, Com- missioner of the Great Seal under Cromwell, and the later by one of his sons. The short entry, with index-slip, would have taken about a quarter of an hour; my description occupied half a day. Rawlinson D. 775-785: ‘Paper, fob Eleven vols. of the pay-books of the King’s Surveyor of Works, 1532-43.’ This short entry, involving examination of dates, would probably have occupied one hour. My description gives 79 entries of the various places repaired, or prepared for visits of the King, Queen, or Princess. And the careful examination, leaf by leaf, brought to light a fragment of a leaf which I found to have nothing to do with these volumes, but to belong to Gough MS. Kent 25, where the remainder of the leaf was preserved. These eleven volumes, with their many index-slips, occupied six days. Rawb D. 787: ‘Paper, fob A volume of miscellaneous theological and historical collections by Rev. John Lewis of Margate.’ An entry like this would give no idea of the varied contents of any one of Lewis’ numerous volumes. In this volume there are 26 distinct articles, some of which are of great interest, which, with the index- slips, occupied 2 J days. And one result was that Lewis was found to be the author of an anonymous printed tract, of which hitherto the author- ship had remained unknown, and which was entered under the heading of its subject in our catalogue of printed books.