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Copy Books and Commonplace Books
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Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]Bryn Mawr College Library, 101 N. Merion Avenue, Bryn Mawr 19010
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Bryn Mawr College. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Place
- Publisher
- Bryn Mawr College
- Finding Aid Author
- Cassandra Paul (BMC '18) and Marianne Hansen
- Finding Aid Date
- 2018 May 1
Collection Inventory
Collection of poetry written in ornate calligraphy. Some poems are ascribed; some are not. Passages illustrated with scraps and cut out images, some of which have been hand colored. Approximately half the book is unused. Many loose scraps with notes inserted into gutter of book. Graphite inscription on the last page" "Calligraphy by Alfred Dunsford, Surgeon of Clumstock, Devon." Two of the poems are dated 1844 and 1862, but it is not clear to what the date refers. Contains: poetry, scraps, detached scraps and cut outs.
Very decorative.
Physical Description1 volumes19 x 12 cm
Collection of poetry, prose excerpts, quotations of various authorship anecdotes, anagrams, etc. Apparently a copybook, although the scribe either uses more than one hand intermittently throughout or else more than one hand is present. The earliest pages mix a light, sharply slanted hand with more upright rounded scripts; the slanted hand predominated in the later pages. First page inscribed "Arabella Goodall/ July 10th:/ 1822." Paginated. Contains: Poetry, epigrams, extended texts. Four watercolors: a wreath, a basket of cherries, The Lesser Hummingbird", and a bouquet. Magic square (p.41).
Physical Description1 volumes23 x 19 cm
Copybook containing poetry, prose excerpts, and quotations. Titled Beautiful Passages Written by Elizabeth Moxon under the Instruction of Mr. Hodgson, Norwich. Author of each passage noted. Scribe's name appears on multiple pages. Last poem, dated 1804, may be original and includes a watercolor drawing, signed by Moxon. Many pages contain decorative ruling or small designs. Titles of excerpts, when present, are decorative as well. Poetry, prose, quotations.
Very beautiful calligraphy, fancy dividing lines, watercolor sketch of bird's next accompanying poem, The Vacant Nest.
Physical Description1 volumes20 x 17 cm
Collection of poetry, mostly religious. Passages illustrated with original pencil and ink drawings of high quality, signed and dated by Georgina Sitwell or "a.s." Several drawings and the frontispiece are influenced by medieval manuscripts and are colored. Contains: Poetry, watercolor and pne and ink sketches.
Very legible, beautiful handwriting and detailed original drawings very exhibitable.
Physical Description1 volumes23.5 x 19.5 cm
First 32pp. contain a list of books titled: "Catalogue of Books in the Library of James Crosby Esq. Nov. 20th 1848." Remainder is a collection of original poetry of unknown authorship, with descriptive notes about the circumstances of its conception. Catalog and poems are in different hands. Library catalog. Original poetry.
Original poetry - some humorous.
Physical Description1 volumes21 x 18 cm
Collection of verses, mostly of an uplifting or moral character. The verses are copied very neatly. Poets are identified; the first two selections I checked were wrongly attributed. . Alphabetical table of contents. Paginated. Contains poetry.
Physical Description1 volumes19 x 12 cm
Title page contains illuminated initial. First page has illuminated floral border. Last page of manuscript signed: "Written out and illuminated by Marian Lane, Washington, D.C., 1910." Title page with illuminated initial.
Physical Description1 volumes17.5 x 13.5 cm
Presumably a copy of theological work written by Heinrich Bullinger (1504-1575). Appears to be concerned with the history of the religious Reformation in Europe.
Physical Description1 volumes487 pages36 x 23 cm
Manuscript copy of a collection of poetry written by Thomas Campbell Esqr. Title page and some poems illustrated with ornate ink borders. A poem within the collection, entitled "Gertrude of Wyoming," is noteworthy as the first long poem with an American setting by a British author.
Physical Description1 volumes38.5 x 25 cm
Collection of copied verse excerpts from the poetry of Gongora. Includes an index.
Physical Description1 volumes20 x 14.5 cm
1 volumesParchment29 x 19 cm
Title page containing title and history of the text. Contains marginal notes in scribe's hand.
Physical Description1 volumes35.5 x 22 cm
Manuscript original translation of Homer's Hymn to Aphrodite. Contains a preface and glossary of ancient Greek mythological figures and places that appear in the Hymn. Incipit initial letter beginning each page hand painted and embellished with watercolor floral ornamentation. Parchment edge gilded.
Physical Description1 volumesParchment31 x 23 cm
Copied in black ink with watercolor incipit initials. Title page calligraphy colored. Margins embellished with decorative watercolor and gold medallions. Last page of manuscript signed and dated by copyist.
Physical Description1 volumes15.5 x 13 cm
Contains doodles on several pages in the beginning and end. Appears to be a copy of a work by Saint Gregorio Lopez.
Physical Description1 volumes22 x 15.5 cm
Collection of copied text excerpts from various authors. Excerpts from Cicero's "De Oficiis"; excerpts from "Histoire des Revolutions de la Republique Romaine" by L'Abbe Vertot.
Physical Description1 volumes30.5 x 19 cm
Two parts contained in single volume. Presumably a copy of Navagero's original Relazione of 1552 and 1574.
Physical Description1 volumesVellum19.5 x 13 cm
This manuscript is not in the author's hand but is a copy of her original manuscript or of an early edition of the text. Three pages of notes at the end. Front flyleaf contains sentiment. Title page with quote from Childe Harold.
Physical Description1 volumes27 x 18 cm
Appears to be a dictionary of Spanish-Guarani (of the Guarani Indians, Paraguay). May be related to Jesuit missionaries of the 17th century who worked to convert the Indian population of Paraguay into Christians. Gold bookbinder's stamp on inner front cover.
Physical Description1 volumes32.5 x 22 cm
Contains several works bound in single volume: "Of Proxies of the Lords of Parliament;" " Privileges of Offenses Not Capital;" etc. Marginal annotation in scribe's hand. First page inscription: "This Manuscript collection was done by Mr. John Selden the greate antiquary or others."
Physical Description1 volumes31 x 23 cm
Victorian illuminated manuscript. Collection of translations of poetry, mostly from Italian Renaissance poets (i.e. Michaelangelo, Boccaccio, Petrarch, etc.). Manuscript illustrated with elaborate original illuminated watercolors on vellum. The illuminations and border decorations are executed in pseudo-medieval and renaissance style. Ornately decorated manuscript produced by Louisa Strange for her daughter, Anne. Manuscript bound in elaborate needlework binding; may have been modeled after the medieval Books of Hours.
Very elaborate binding. Illuminated manuscript very ornate; very exhibitable.
Physical Description1 volumesVellum23 x 18.5 cm
Manuscript collection of copied epitaphs. Most entries are labeled with the name and dates of deceased. Written in two hands. Contains index.
Physical Description1 volumes20.5 x 16.5 cm
Manuscript copy of collection of poetry by various famous authors. Each poem written within ornate decorative borders; some borders hand painted in color. Dedication page "To Mrs. Fletcher of Great Marlbro Street London. From George Mackay."
Physical Description1 volumes20.5 x 12.5 cm
Manuscript written in Latin. Copy of original work. Notes of first page, front and back.
Physical Description1 volumes24.5 x 17 cm
Very nice manuscript with a few illustrations and fancy binding; title page has become detached from the binding of the book.
"Counterfeit copy of Amerigo Vespucci's Mundus Novus (Paris 1503). The original of this work was so eagerly sought by collectors that a forger (M. Peyre de la Grave?) created this pen facsimile on "aged" sheets of vellum. The engraved portions of the original title-page are reproduced photographically and then further embellished with the illuminated arms of King Louis XII." Contains a marginal image of a porcupine with a crown on its back.
Physical Description1 volumes20.5 x 15.5 cm
Holograph codex. Widman's chronicle was never published and exists only in a very few manuscript copies. The volume contains numerous original watercolors of coats-of-arms in addition to a full 2-page watercolor drawing of the cloister church at Comburg. Nonfiction.
Physical Description1 volumes28 x 19 cm
Hand traced collection of stamp ownership marks of print and drawing collectors and connoisseurs. Ownership marks have been hand drawn on tracing paper, pasted on blank pages in book. Ownership marks arranged alphabetically. Front section of book contains a numbered list (corresponding to the numbered ownership marks in back section of book) of full names of collectors, including birth and death dates, occupations, and degrees and titles held by collectors. Some entries contain brief notes describing the collection from which the ownership marks have been copied. Entries commonly denote color of stamp of owner's mark.
Physical Description1 volumes21.5 x 14.5 cm
Collection of original hand painted drawings of the conical ducal hats and the heraldry of the Doges of Venice from 697 to 1791. Individual coats-of-arms labeled with name of Doge and dates of rule. Includes index.
Physical Description1 volumes22 x 16.5 cm
Collection of original drawings and watercolors of the emblem of the lion of Saint Mark based on actual examples in Venice. Includes index, identification, and brief descriptions of each drawing. "Numbers 60, 61, 63, and 64 are from late sixteenth-century medals, while the other are taken from sixteenth-century miniatures in the Museo Civico."
Physical Description1 volumes22 x 16.5 cm
Family record book containing dated entries of births, marriages, and deaths. Early entries written in German, later entries written in English. Contains loose scraps of paper with additional dated records. Severalmembers of German family came to America and settled in Pennsylvania.
Physical Description1 volumes12 x 18 cm
Scrapbook containing memorabilia on Associate Supreme Court Justice William Strong (1808-1880), who served from 1870 to 1880. Memorabilia includes newspaper scraps, photographs, sermon pamphlets.
Physical Description1 volumes30.5 x 23.5 cm
Collection of original, hand-painted drawings of the heraldry coats of arms of the colleges within the University of Cambridge. Each shield is labeled with na,e of college, founding date, and founder.
Physical Description1 volumes16.5 x 12 cm
Collection of short quotations from famous authors, entitled Drops of Honey Culled from Many a Flower.
Physical Description1 volumes19 x 12.5 cm
Portion of a copybook written on paper. It refers to the passions of a young man, discussing the misfortunes that may befall him when these misdirected. It attempts to suggest the best educational means to lead the writer to wisdom.
Physical DescriptionBlue book cloth. Soft cover binding.