Westcountry Studies. Issue 26, July 2022

 

Westcountry Studies a bibliographical newsletter on Devon and its region Issue 26  July 2022

Astounding Inventions - Heritage open days, September 2022. 

As with Ukraine in the last issue of this newsletter, a current event has driven me to the keyboard, but this time something more positive. A recent email tells us that the 2022 Heritage Open Days are fast approaching. The dates are the 9-18 September and the theme is Astounding Inventions, with participants having to register by 1 August. 

At first this may appear to have little to do with libraries, but at the core of library activities is one of the most astounding of inventions, printing. And, thinking a little further, there are several others: the alphabet (which made printing with moveable types a practical possibility), the codex book (which could contain much more information than the scroll), paper (a support for printing that was cheaper and greener than vellum), lithography (which provided new opportunities for illustrations, music, maps, and the multiplication of texts throughout the Islamic world) and finally, late in the day, digital technology. The range could be extended with audiovisual technology to involve the Bill Douglas Museum. Might it be possible for libraries across Exeter to mount a small display of key works within their collections that highlight these themes, perhaps linked by a trail? My own literary trail could be adapted for this and I will probably rebadge and register it. 

A possible example of a small display for Exeter Library occurs to me. Joseph Moxon (1627-1691), printer and "hydrographer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty" published "at the sign of Atlas on Ludgate-Hill" the first English printer's manual as part of Mechanick exercises. Or, the doctrine of handy-works. Illustrated by plates, it was an early example of a publication in monthly numbered parts. Number 1 appeared on "Jan. 1. 1677" [actually 1678] and it appeared regularly until no. 6 (June 1-July 1, 1678). After that the parts appeared less and less frequently, numbers 7-9 being dated 1679 and numbers 10-14  1680. Despite the apparent lack of success, Moxon appears to have held onto unsold sheets and reissued them in 1683-84 as a single volume and there were various later editions and reissues until 1703. Exeter Library holds an example of an early facsimile reprint: Moxon's mechanick exercises, or, The doctrine of handy works applied to the art of printing : a literal reprint in two volumes of the first edition published in the year 1683, with preface and notes by Theo L. De Vinne (New-York : The Typothetæ of the City of New-York, 1896). The two volumes are in a limited edition of 450 copies, "All copies on hand-made Holland paper and printed from types ...". There is also a later edition:  Mechanick exercises on the whole art of printing (1683-4), by Joseph Moxon ; edited by Herbert Davis & Harry Carter (Oxford University Press, 1958 ; 2nd edition 1962 ; reprint by Dover, 1978). Copies of this are available in Exeter Libraries. 

It is a key work in the history of printing, a well-illustrated and detailed account of the wooden hand press which produced all letterpess publications in Europe from 1455 until the early 19th century, when mechanisation began. It could be displayed with another publication of Joseph Moxon which shows the key role of printing in spreading knowledge. Only three copies of this work were known in British libraries (Bodleian Library, Wellcome Library and Manchester University Library), so it is much rarer than Gutenberg's 42-line Bible. To these can be added a fourth copy, which I discovered in an attic in Exmouth and transferred to Exeter Library. It is: 

An exact survey of the microcosmus or little world : being an anatomie, of the bodies of man and woman wherein the skin, veins, nerves, muscles, bones, sinews and ligaments are accurately delineated. And curiously pasted together, so as at first sight you may behold all the outward parts of man and woman. And by turning up the several dissections of the paper take a view of all their inwards. With alphabetical referrences [sic] to every member and part of the body. Usefull for all doctors, chirurgeons, &c. As also for painters, carvers, and all persons that desire to be acquainted with the parts, and their names, in the bodies of man, or woman; Set forth by Michael Spaher of Tyrol ; And English'd by John Ireton ; And lastly perused and corrected, by several rare anatomists. The lengthy title says what is in the box. It is the work of Johann Remmelin (1583-1632) and has the imprint: London: Printed by Joseph Moxon, and sold at his shop 1670. It is a large format folio item with eight unnumbered pages, four pages of letterpress and four leaves of engraved plates which have superimposed moveable flaps. This edition uses the plates of the Dutch edition of 1667, whereas later English editions have re-engraved plates. The Dutch plates in turn were based on the 1613 Latin edition, instead of the revised 1619 edition which formed the basis of Latin and German editions. Thus it can be seen in the wider European context of an important medical text distributed in several languages with the international exchange of the meticulously engraved plates. Highlighting this text could also raise interest in the Adopt a Book scheme with this rare and fragile item a prime candidate for conserving and perhaps the production of a facsimile edition. 

Bibliographical podcasts in Exeter

Until recently I didn't really know what podcasts were - just one of the many techie terms tossed about by the BBC and other media outlets. My participation in the Leverhulme funded project Writing religious conflict and community in Exeter 1500-1750 (mercifully ReConEx for short) has rectified this. They will be launching a series of three podcasts later this year, the other contributors being Paul Auchterlone and Mark Stoyle. I confessed that, as well as podcasts, I was ignorant of religious conflict but my contribution was to place this against the background of the local and national book trade of the period. As an aide-memoir I pulled together a number of tables, some taken from earlier researches and others specially prepared, and I have started to place them on the Exeter working papers website. The recording took place in the University's Digital Humanities Hub in the Queen's Building, a place that resembles a sort of intellectual gym, bristling with  formidable equipment, the treadmills, exercise bikes and weight benches replaced by microphones, video cameras, sound decks and digitisation kit. 

Print and manuscript

Preparing for the podcast, one of the points raised for discussion was the continuation of  the manuscript tradition long after the arrival on the scene of printing. We never got that far in our discussions, but it is certainly relevant in Devon in the case of historical writings. Historians in the country have a sorry record of printed publication - some important early writing remains unpublished even today, although they circulated widely in manuscript. An attempt was made to gather details of these together in the volume Topographical writers in south-west England, edited by Mark Brayshay (University of Exeter Press, 1996). Starting to list these in a table for the ReConEx project made me aware that the listing is incomplete and inaccurate. For example manuscripts that have ended up in America were excluded, including apparently some once in the Pine-Coffin library at Portledge in Alwington, and it is difficult to identify non-archival histories in archive catalogues, as there is no bibliographically consistent method of describing them. For example I have found it impossible to locate such key items as John Hooker's historical works in the Devon Heritage Centre's on-line catalogue and Richard Crossing's little-known 17th century history of Exeter cannot be found, although it is listed through the National Archive's Discovery database. I will be attempting to reduce this to some sort of order over the coming weeks and would welcome suggestions once the first draft of the listing is posted up. Some interesting aspects have emerged, for example manuscript copies derived from early printed texts.  

Devon bibliography

Preparing for the podcast also ensured that I updated many records for the period covered by the ReConEx project, and so my work on currrent updating has fallen a little by the wayside. I have covered the BNB up to 6 July and limitation largely to this source has made me realise quite how few local publications it contains. Personal circumstances have limited my excursions from home in recent weeks, so I have not been picking up local publications from the places I normally visit. These were in any case largely confined to the Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon and Teignbridge districts. With no local studies librarian in post in Devon, there is no focal point for bibliographical work in the county, and soon I too may have to curtail my activities in this area. I will ensure that my work remains available and deposited at a suitable location in Devon.

The Baring-Gould library at Lewtrenchard

As part of  my work in rounding off projects that take me far from home I have published on behalf of the Baring-Gould Corporation The Baring-Gould Library, the books at Lewtrenchard : a shelf list and guide, including the Shacklock Collection. Copies have been distributed free of charge to libraries in Devon and the copyright libraries, and a few copies are available from the compilers, price £10.00. We have worked on this project, off and on,  over many years but, having now to rely on public transport, and having been stranded in the depths of the West Devon countryside recently when the last bus was cancelled, I felt it best to publish as it is. While important sections of the Baring-Gould library are in the University of Exeter Special Collections and in the Devon Heritage Centre, some 2,500 items remain at Lewtrenchard, and these have been added to by 1,000 items donated to Lewtrenchard in 2018 by David Shacklock, the founder of the Sabine Baring-Gould Appreciation Society. An ISBN has not been assigned to this work as it is still in draft. A full stock check is required and sequences require final sorting and allocating to fixed shelves, so this appears following the principle that the best is enemy of the good. 

  

A missing copy of Polwhele

Working my way through John Cranch: uncommon genius, by John W. Lamble. (Cambridge: Wolborough Press, 2019) which was mentioned in the last newsletter I noticed (pages 190-193) that he had owned, grangerised and extensively annotated a copy of Richard Polwhele's History of Devonshire. The author of the biography notes that it had come up for auction in 2013 and is now in private hands. I have run the item to earth but not the purchaser. It was lot 1989 in Lawrence of Crewkerne's Fine Art Sale - Books, Maps & Manuscripts on 26 July 2013, and was sold for £1,050. The title page is inscribed as John Cranch's copy and dated 'Bath 1811'. The auctioneer describes it as "extra-illustrated, with numerous aquatint and stipple engravings by Samuel Prout et al., various letters, drawings and indentures, ranging from the late 15th century to the early 19th, including 2 examples from William Chappel (1718-1781), cropped and affixed, profusely annotated throughout by John Cranch, mostly in the margins. It is rebound in one volume in modern calf gilt." The auctioneer notes that "John Cranch (1751-1816) was a painter, born in Kingsbridge, Devon. He was self-taught and contributed several pieces to the Society of Artists and the British Institution. His most notable work is The Death of Chatterton. He died in Bath, where he lived for most of his final years." He quotes from the front endpaper the following inscription: 'Something of an apology may be proper for my having inserted, amongst the illustrations, some few topics that do not strictly belong to Devonshire. Wherever such occur, the reader is requested to observe that most of these extras were put in, either as having, in some respect or other, an affinity to this history... John Cranch April 1812' 

The author was clearly able to examine the volume closely and says that no fewer than 110 engravings of Devonshire scenes by Samuel Prout (1783-1852) have been pasted in. If this is true, it may include some early etchings that escaped Somers Cocks, as he lists only 55 images which appeared in Prout's Picturesque delineations in the counties of Devon and Cornwall, which was published in 1812. The author goes on to give details of some other additions, including a sample of cloth stained with the natural dye extracted from the murex sea snail which he obtained at Thurlestone Rocks, near Kingsbridge, in 1799 with the addition of a long note. He also adds colourful stories about famous people in his biographical notes, for example on Ashburton-born John Dunning (1731-1783), Solicitor General, "[...] the personage of Mr Dunning was uncommonly thick and squab and his head [...] somewhat broader than it was long. [...] His retirement at Putney Heath became a temple of solid sensuality and high voluptuousness. Every guest was engaged, not only to a distinct apartment for the night, but with this extraordinary appendage of hospitality - a fine girl was found between every pair of sheets!" It all makes my own retirement as an old bibliofool seem rather dull. 

Mount Radford village street

Unlikely as it seems, this is a locality close to the heart of Exeter, perhaps better known as Magdalen Road shops, and it is the subject of a project which is based closer to home than most of my other researches. It has even introduced me to Exeter's artistic community and my "works" have been featured on the community art board at Gallery36 in Denmark Road, organised by that hyperactive and enthusiastic nonagenarian Veronica Gosling. Examples of artwork featured on earlier boards are currently on display in Exeter Library.  

The results appear on two blog pages: Magdalen Road, Exeter, through time and Mount Radford village street: historic maps-historic.html. The first deals with the street property by property with a list of successive occupiers, and the second by selected years attempting to match the properties depicted on the map with occupiers as listed in a range of sources. The story is complicated by several changes in street numbering as the frontage was developed during the 19th century, and also following redevelopment after bombing during World War 2. In fact the whole exercise demonstrates the use to which historical sources in local studies collections and archives can be put - census returns, trade directories, maps and plans, combined with digital resources such as Google Street View and present-day photographs bringing heritage to everyone's doorstep.  

Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the destruction of Exeter City Library

On 4 May 1942 Exeter City Library was firebombed by the Luftwaffe and some 95,000 volumes were lost in the resulting conflagration. The precious city archives which remained in the secure muniment room survived, as did the local studies collection, which had been evacuated on the outbreak of war and also some 4,000 books that were on loan.  Only one book in the library survived the inferno that followed the fire-bombing in 1942: English men of letters: the life of Thomas Gray, by Edmund Gosse. It was wrapped in brown paper to protect it from any further damage, a state in which it has remained ever since. 

On 4 May 2022 the stray surviving item was reunited in a small ceremony in Exeter Library with another book I recently found in a charity shop in St Thomas: My Devonshire book, by J. Henry Harris, published by the Western Morning News in 1907. It bears all the hallmarks of a long and useful life in Exeter Central Library, a stout but worn red buckram binding, class-mark and shelf-mark on the spine and the title page, together with the accession number, and the leaf of each plate carefully perforated with "PUBLIC LIBRARY EXETER". The book was withdrawn on or after 2 July 1940, a date which was stamped inside the front cover, and the class mark indicates that the volume formed part of the lending stock. Perhaps it formed part of the collection of books donated to Plymouth after the destruction there in 1941, books that Plymouth offered to return just a year later. The losses of the two cities are tabulated below:

Library	Date	Lending	Reference	Local studies	Total losses
Plymouth City Library	22/3 Apr 1941	41,000	16,000	15,000	72,000
Plymouth Athenaeum	21/2 Apr 1941				10,000
Plymouth Proprietary Lib.	21/2 Mar 1941				35,000
Exeter City Library	3/4 May 1942	33,157	62,300	[7,500]	95,457
Exeter Public Collections	3/4 May 2022	150,000	60,000	[140,000]	[Stock today]

The ceremony was given added poignancy by the fact that, after 80 years, libraries in Ukraine, including the twinned UNESCO cities of literature in Odesa and Lviv were facing similar threats in a "special military operation" that is resulting in both human and cultural genocide - a generous act of liberation that is Mother Russia's greatest gift to an ungrateful Ukraine since the Holodomor or Great Famine of 1932. As of 4 July, UNESCO has verified damage to 157 sites since 24 February – 71 religious sites, 12 museums, 30 historic buildings, 21 buildings dedicated to cultural activities, 16 monuments and 7 libraries. As might be expected, Ukrainian media provide much higher figures, some sources stating that sixty libraries have been damaged or destroyed and many Ukrainian books confiscated. It all makes very depressing reading.