Shelfmark
MS 954
Author
Title
Nature notes written by Thomas Gray in four copies of The naturalist's journal. manuscript.
Publication, distribution, etc.
England, 1767-1771.
Physical description
1 volume (120 leaves) : paper ; 21 x 33 cm. (obl. 4to)
Note
Title devised by cataloguer.
Note
Place of production inferred from author's biography.
Note
Date range of production taken from dates in manuscript journal notes.
Note
Bound volume of nature notes written by Thomas Gray in four copies of The naturalist's journal, three in the edition issued by W. Sandby in 1767 (ESTC, T116020) and the fourth in the undated re-issue by Benjamin White ca. 1770 (ESTC, T131086).
Note
Letterpress is a memorandum book for weather and other records intended to be completed in manuscript; with written content on ca. 170 pages, dated between 1 January 1767 and 16 May 1771.
Note
Manuscript text in sepia ink, mostly in English but with numerous scientific passages in Latin.
Note
Includes occasional travel notes and records of natural occurrences e.g. earthquakes or floods in addition to the seasonal observations for which the journal was designed.
Note
Notes chiefly relate to observations in Cambridge but include Gray's excursions to Hertfordshire, London, the Peak District, Yorkshire, Durham, the Lake District, Kent, East Anglia, and the Welsh borders.
Note
Leaf of calculations and small plant sketch on grey paper laid down on recto of back free-endpaper.
Note
Extract from 1851 sale catalogue laid down inside front cover.
Note
Letterpress items have title: The naturalist's journal.
Note
First three copies of The naturalist's journal have imprint: London: printed for W. Sanby, in Fleet-Street. M.DCC.LXVII.
Note
Fourth copy of The naturalist's journal has imprint: London, printed for Benjamin White, at Horace's Head. in Fleet-Street.
Provenance
Sold by the heirs of Thomas Gray at auction, S. Leigh Sotheby & John Wilkinson, London, 28 August 1851, lot 97; sold at Christie's, New York, 12 February 1982, lot 89; sold at Bonhams, New York, 11 April 2016, lot 1.
Provenance
19th century bookplate with monogram "AM".
Binding
19th century green morocco with binder's stamp of Clarke & Bedford on verso of first free-endpaper; ornate gold-tooled border; gold-tooled edges and turn-ins; endpapers lined with marbled paper; gold-tooled spine; gilt text block edges.
Subject
Subject
Natural history Manuscripts.
Added entry--name
Sandby, William, ? - d. 1799 printer.
Added entry--name
Added entry--name
Clarke & Bedford bookbinder.
Added entry--place
England London.
Added entry--place
England Cambridge.
Language code
eng lat
Identifier
B50531