Condorcet, Marquis de. / Casa, Marques de. Compendio de la obra inglesa intitulada riqueza de las naciones. Madrid: En la Imprenta real, 1792. JA 4191 This major purchase is the first appearance of Adam Smith s The Wealth of Nations in Spanish. It marks the first time that someone who only read Spanish was able to engage with one of the key documents of the Scottish Enlightenment and of economic thought in general. This book represents a key moment in the development of the influence of Scotland, and specifically Edinburgh University, on the rest of the world. The European context is particularly interesting 1792 marked the radicalisation of the French revolution and the whole continent was rapidly opening up to new ideas some originating from Scotland. The text is a translation by the Marques de Casa from the French summary by the Marquis de Condorcet. This copy is in a contemporary binding of tree calf. The binding is a little battered but completely unsophisticated; internally the condition is excellent. Smith, Adam. Essays on philosophical subjects. Basil: Printed for the editor of the Collection of English Classics, sold by James Decker, printer and bookseller, 1799. JA 4192 This is the first edition of Smith s Essays printed on the continent of Europe. During the later eighteenth century Basel in Switzerland became a centre for printing English language works: these could be available for English-speaking travellers or for students of English wishing to read important works in the original language. It marks a further development in the growing international influence of Adam Smith s writings. The English Short-Title Catalogue (ESTC) lists only three other copies of this work in UK public libraries. This is a handsome copy in a nineteenth-century binding. Alston, Charles. [Manuscript] A treatise of the Materia Medica in which the Virtues of all the Simples of the three Kingdoms are truly described [ ] by [ ] the learn d Dr. Charles Alston [ ] E2008.02 Charles Alston (1685-1760), doctor and botanist, was one of those who turned Edinburgh s medical school into one of the greatest in Europe. This manuscript of his lectures on materia medica (the raw materials for medicinal and experimental preparations) was probably written by a student during his lifetime. It is bound in contemporary full calf gilt with the armorial bookplate of North Vigor M.D. (d.1796). The manuscript is arranged neatly into sections covering metals, salts, sulphurs, earths, lime, semi-metals, stones, imperfect plants, roots, barks, leaves and fruits. Hope, Thomas Charles. Collection of accounts books, vellum certificates, and letters
E2008.03 Hope (1766-1844) was Professor of Chemistry and a leading figure in Edinburgh polite society. This small collection sheds light on the social side of his career. It includes a volume of detailed monthly expenses and a volume of names of gentlemen recommended to him and a list of suppers. (The article on Hope in the DNB notes that he was reputed to be capable of eating eight plates of turtle.) We have also acquired a vellum certificate relating to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a vellum certificate being a Musselburgh Burgess Ticket, two vellum certificates of the Royal Co. of Archers, and a certificate of the Societe Francaise. A selection of letters to Hope complements this small collection. Primrose, James. De vulgi in medicina erroribus. London: Pro H. Robinsonio, 1640. JA 4193 This is an unrecorded edition of the most popular work by James Primrose (1600-1659), who was born in France, the son of Gilbert Primrose, a Scottish minister in the French reformed church. James Primrose became a successful doctor in England and wrote this book as an attack on folk medicine and quackery; the first edition appeared in 1638. He also argued against Harvey s claims for the circulation of the blood. This is a very nice copy bound in contemporary vellum of a truly rare book. Graham, James. Hydatid Disease. SD 9472 James Graham won a gold medal for his M.D. thesis at the University of Edinburgh. This book, published while he was working in Australia, was based on his thesis. It inclues 34 plates, mainly in colour. The list of other publications by the Sidney firm of Pentland printed at the back of this volume shows that a great number of medical books published in Australia were by Scottish doctors. Walker, Archibald Stodart. [Anthology] A beggar s wallet containing contributions [ ] from certain workers in art and letters. Edinburgh and London: Dobson, Molle & Co., Ltd. 1905. SD 9511 In aid of the Royal Victoria Hospital for Consumption, Edinburgh, and sold/disposed of at the Great International Fair, Waverley Market, Edinburgh, November 1905, this work includes contributions from John Buchan, G. K. Chesterton, and Lady Margaret Sackville. Goldsmith, Oliver. The good-natured man: a comedy. Perth; R. Morison, Junior. 1792. SD 9510
A very good example of Goldsmith s work, published here in Scotland, in Perth. Chelkowski, Peter J. The scholar and the saint. Albany, New York University Press. 1975. SD 9523 Based on a conference at Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near East Studies, 1974, focussed on Islamic thinkers and humanists, Biruni and Rumi, and at a time of crucial engagement with the Middle East the oil crisis - this surprisingly scarce edited volume was framed round the need for mutual understanding between both worlds. Biruni had written on science, comparative religion and history, while Rumi was renowned as a poet of the Islamic mystical tradition. Relevant to EUL is the paper by Priscilla P. Soucek, An illustrated manuscript of al-biruni s chronology of ancient nations, which provides a detailed description of the paintings in the EUL manuscript treasure, Or.MS.161. Eutropius. Eutropii historiae romanae breviarium. Edinburgh: Bell & Bradfute, 1794. SD 9541 This volume is a school prize book presented to one George Tait in 1794. It has contemporary full tree calf gilt arms of Edinburgh s Royal High School on the front and rear boards. Kinloch, G. E. Collectanea Scotica. E2008.08 This compilation written by G. E. Kinloch includes copies of letters by Gray of Foulis, Sir George Mackenzie, and the Duke of Lauderdale. It has the bookplate of collector J. L. Weir. Moulin, Jeanine. Christine de Pisan. Paris, 1962. SD 9542 The author, Jeanine Moulin (1912-1998), was a renowned poet and literary critic, particularly of the female French poets; indeed she defined the term poésie feminine. Born in Brussels of Russian parents she lived much of her life in Belgium and it was probably here that at dinner one day she met the surrealist artist René Magritte. This meeting is recorded in the fine presentation inscription from Moulin to Magritte on the half-title. This book was purchased in 1987 by a bookdealer at the Sotheby s auction of the remaining contents of the studio of René Magritte (the property of the late Georgette Berger, Magritte s widow). It comes to us from that same dealer.
This purchase complements our collection of material on Christine de Pizan and relates to the ongoing AHRC-funded research project Christine de Pizan: the making of the Queen s manuscript involving Special Collections and the French programme of the School of Literatures Languages and Cultures. Ross, Thomas. A compendious system of geography, as connected with astronomy. Edinburgh, 1804. SD 9544 This is a substantial 780 pages contribution to the geographical sciences by a minister of the Scottish church in Rotterdam. Ross attempts to give an overview of the whole universe, beginning with the stars and descending to details of individual countries, towns and rivers; he also gives details about the history, religion and customs of different areas. This ambitious undertaking includes 9 leaves of plates. It was formerly owned by the leading Arbuthnot family of Peterhead. University of Edinburgh, Moral Philosophy Class List 1823 and 1824. UEA This is a useful addition to the University Archives, listing students who distinguished themselves in these years. Buckingham, James Silk. The coming era of practical reform, not looming in the distance, but nigh at hand. London, 1853. SD 9599 Buckingham believed he had things of importance to say on every conceivable subject and this is a scarce volume of four tracts intended to extend to eight. EUL has many other Buckingham titles listed on the Catalogue. [Report]. Report of the speeches at the constitutional meeting in the George Street Assembly Room, Edinburgh [ ] 1831. Edinburgh, 1831. SD 9549 A scarce edition. This was a pro-government meeting showing Scottish disapproval of political societies. Robertson, Dyonisius. Pferd-Arzneykunst. Frankfurt und Leipzig, 1759. SD 9593 Robertson originally came from Scotland and served with a Scottish Cavalry regiment in Flanders and Germany. The volume, which is a detailed handbook of veterinary
medicine, is a scarce second edition and provides a complete instruction on the treatment of horses.