The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
A Cataloge of Rarities Belonging to William Walker (c.1736)
Brent Nelson
editor
* This is a beta version *
British Library
Sloane
1968 ff.172v-173v
This is a list of items in 
William Walker's collection, at least some of
which was acquired by Hans Sloane.
The "Catalogue" can be dated after 1736, the latest acquisition date
specified in the document.
The manuscript is ruled and the lists runs over two columns of content
per page, with a separate ruled column for the numbers attached to the
items. There are four lists: the original numbered list in hand A and,
continuing immediately after in the same hand, a very sort, un-numbered
list. These comprise the opening of 1v and 2r, with one item from the
un-numbered list spilling over into column one of 2v. In column one
there follows the third, un-numbered list in a different hand (handC),
and this list is labeled "addend." The fourth, un-numbered list, in the
same hand but lighter ink, begins in the second column of 2v. There are
also additions to list one, in handC.
In list one there are some instances of underlining, which appear to have
been added later. There is also, across all four lists, a series of
markings attached to various items, mostly occurring to the left of the
entry. There are four types of marking:
1) an em-dash
2) a black plus sign
3) a check mark
4) a red "x"
All of these markings were added after the composition of the four lists. It appears that the marks were added in at least three passes. The first was probably the dashes. Then, in several cases, it is clear that the dashes were turned into plus-signs by the addition of a vertical line (in several instances the two strokes are clearly made with different ink). It appears that the check-marks were a third pass, and the red "x" a fourth pass. The red "x" marks are certainly Sloane's. It is not clear who was responsible for the other markings. Hand C is probably alsoSloane's.
For items 12 through 21, which are on the outer edge of the verso of the
page, wear and soiling along the page edge have obscured much of the
marking, and what remains is unclear.
It appears that at least some of the added marks are Sloane's, probably
used in a process of comparison between this list and either another list
or objects in his collection.
The document is on a single bifold comprising two leaves. The
leaves are 21cm x 33 cm. It is bound with other documents, mostly
letters and inventories of various kinds, including books and other
objects.
A rough hand. It could be the same as hand C, but not enough
of a sample to be sure.
A fine hand and the hand that composed the base document
comprising of the original two lists of the "Cataloge"
The hand that added the two addenda lists and additions to the
original. Probably Hans Sloane's hand.
The hands that provided the markings added to the manuscript
are unclear, but probably the same as hand C: that of Hans
Sloane.
William Walker's collection, at least some of
which was acquired by Hans Sloane.
The "Catalogue" can be dated after 1736, the latest acquisition date
specified in the document.
The manuscript is ruled and the lists runs over two columns of content
per page, with a separate ruled column for the numbers attached to the
items. There are four lists: the original numbered list in hand A and,
continuing immediately after in the same hand, a very sort, un-numbered
list. These comprise the opening of 1v and 2r, with one item from the
un-numbered list spilling over into column one of 2v. In column one
there follows the third, un-numbered list in a different hand (handC),
and this list is labeled "addend." The fourth, un-numbered list, in the
same hand but lighter ink, begins in the second column of 2v. There are
also additions to list one, in handC.
In list one there are some instances of underlining, which appear to have
been added later. There is also, across all four lists, a series of
markings attached to various items, mostly occurring to the left of the
entry. There are four types of marking: 1) an em-dash
2) a black plus sign
3) a check mark
4) a red "x"
All of these markings were added after the composition of the four lists. It appears that the marks were added in at least three passes. The first was probably the dashes. Then, in several cases, it is clear that the dashes were turned into plus-signs by the addition of a vertical line (in several instances the two strokes are clearly made with different ink). It appears that the check-marks were a third pass, and the red "x" a fourth pass. The red "x" marks are certainly Sloane's. It is not clear who was responsible for the other markings. Hand C is probably also
Sloane's.
For items 12 through 21, which are on the outer edge of the verso of the
page, wear and soiling along the page edge have obscured much of the
marking, and what remains is unclear.
It appears that at least some of the added marks are Sloane's, probably
used in a process of comparison between this list and either another list
or objects in his collection.
The document is on a single bifold comprising two leaves. The
leaves are 21cm x 33 cm. It is bound with other documents, mostly
letters and inventories of various kinds, including books and other
objects.
A rough hand. It could be the same as hand C, but not enough
of a sample to be sure.
A fine hand and the hand that composed the base document
comprising of the original two lists of the "Cataloge"
The hand that added the two addenda lists and additions to the
original. Probably Hans Sloane's hand.
The hands that provided the markings added to the manuscript
are unclear, but probably the same as hand C: that of Hans
Sloane.
172
All these I believe belongd to me only
in ye Garret laygarret lay in the neighbourhood of the
others but the Capt. will tell you
these where werecaptn Walker's.
172v
A Cataloge of Rarities
Belonging toWill:
Walker
N.1
— a Piece of Sea Flote of a bout 600℔ weight
in a Confused forme Suppos’d to be Amber
grease.
+ 2. a Large
Cattamount skin Stuffed very
Curious.
+ 3. a Case bottle filled with snakes
Scorpions
Santepees, & sundry other venomous things
Collected with much pains, & preserved in
Speritts.
× 4. An
Elephants Tale.
— 5. Sundry 
Guinea Baggs.
+✓ 6. an
Indian Womans Flap win beads
which they wear before them having no
Cloaths in the hot Countrys.
+✓ 7.Indian Bows & arrows, from different
Indian Countrys.
×+✓ 8. Sundry Quaaccoo
Bills very curious
×— 9. a Hornetts neast very surprizing
—✓ 10.
Indian Pipes +?
+✓ 11.
Indian Speers.
12. Indian Hambmers of stone.
13. Indian Hatchetts, Ditto.
14. Indian whetstones.
+— 15. Racoons
Pisles.
++— 16. a Small River Turtle dryed.
17. Serpentine wood which will not Consume
in Fire. in ye box.
18. Humming Birds neasts.
19. Bark of a Tree in Immetation of lace
+— 20. a Piece
of a Spaniards rib Bone taken
out of him alive & he recovered
+ 21. a Bay Bug Improperly named
a
a a
Great Curioisity fromMexico
in ye nature of aSpanish fly, but
as big as a betle.
+— 22.
Turantelo’s toothe.
+✓ 23.
The taile of a fish in Immetation
a whip very Curious.
+✓ 24.
Fishes Jaws.
× 25. a Pipe smoked in 17
years.
✓ 26. an Indian Jarr very Curious.
over
+✓ 27.
an Old Wife fish Stuffed.
+✓ 28.
Sundry Porcupines Quills.
— 29. Sundry Sea Shells.
+ 30. a Vyall win a
Snake, & caterpillar Tobacco worm
+ 31.Lead Stone, & Sundry
oars.
— 32. a piece of Rock ye Indians had
use to make Potts & Kettles in Old times
— 33. The Stones desected from a Shee
Muskquasly
—✓ 34.
Indian Painted Callabaslies.
×+✓ 35. Dryed
squashes
×— 36. Spermacetti whales teethe.
×+— 37. Geapon
Tea.
+✓ 38. a
Capashears Knife from Guinea
39. a Pistol win a Brass stocke
belong
belonging
to ye famous Pyrot Anstis.
+ 40. Rattle snakes teethe
+✓ 41. a
Root against ye bite of Rattlesnakes
×— 42. Sundry Rattles of snakes.
✓ 43. Indian Punke.
+✓ 44.
Indian Tuckwood they burn with
for the Gout.
—✓ 45.
Punk Immetating Leather
—✓ 46.
Bark ye Indians use in room of
Candles
+✓ 47.
Curious Indian Paddles
+✓ 48. a
Piece of stone cut by the Indians in
Shape of some Instrument of musick
found atMount hope a plowing ye Ground
on a Spott whereKing Phillip formerly
lived, & made before ye Indians had
any use of tools. being antiq.N. Amer
+ 49. a Large Black Scorpion dryd.
×—✓ 50. Sundry Guinea
dears feet.
51. an Old wife Fish very large
×— 52. a Crocadil's Egges
— 53. a Curral Rock in shape of a
Turtle
×— 54. The House of a Fish taken from
A Curral Rocke. A tubulous sponge
×— 55. an Other more Curious. a sponge
in form of a funnel
56. Some India Locusts.
over
173
×— 57. Indian Necors in the Codds.
×— 58. a Large Sea Feather
×— 59. a Herrin-Hogs head.
— 60. a Sea Porcupine very large.
×+ 61. a Penguins Egg.
—✓ 62. a
large Santepee in a Vyal
×+ 63. a Gume worme Ditto. lumbr. lat.
×— 64. a Sharks Jaw.
×— 65. 2 Drum Fish or small needle
fish
×+ 66. Sundry Swords of Soard fish of
Different si s z es.
×— 67. an Allegater stuff’d.
+✓ 68.
Buffelows cods.
— 69. a Jewel of an Indian Queen a
Great piece of antiquity.
— 70. a Stone in Shape of a Tode & of
a Turtle.
+✓ 71. a ps piece of wood Representing a Negro
Boys head. his 1 logwood Knob.
× 72. a Ball taken out of ye maw of
an Ox.
+ 73. Stones in Shape of mens teeth.
+✓ 74. a
Poyson’d Indian Arrow.
75. a wild catt Skin Stuffed.
— 76. a Bone taken out of ye head of a Shark
+✓ 77. a
Guanau skin Stuff’d.
+✓ 78.
the bill of a Scuttle Corloo. very curious
+✓ 79.
the Drum bone of ye Ear of a
Mannatee 2000℔ ye mannatee is
Suppos’d to be ye Quickest Creature
to hear, in the world.
+✓ 80. a
Toad fish skin Stuffed.
+✓ 81. a
Barracuta’s Jaw Bone.
✓ 82. a Curious Callabasly.
+ 83. Oars, & Cristol Rocks.
+ 84. a Guinea Spoon Curious.
+ 85. a Large Scorpion in Speritts.
+ 86. a Locust (Improperly named)
fromMexico in a Vyal with
Sperits a very great Curiosity.
— 87. I piece of uncommon Rock
taken out of the maw of a Turk’y
atConanicott: 1730.
over
— 88. a Powder horne made out of ye
tooth of a Sea Horse Carved,
& Antique.
89. Mannatees Strops
✓ 90. Turtles dryed.
— 91. a piece Silver oar
+✓ 92.
an Indian Burch Cannoa Twenty
Feet in Length very Curious.
× 93. an Eagle Claw
+✓ 94.
Hippacoquana from Carrolina
95. a Tooth of Fly the noted Pyrot.
+— 96. a Parrot
fish.
+ 97. a Natural Rock Olive from Turkey
Annually Petrefying as they Grow
both tree & Fruit.
+✓ 98.
Pummy stones.
— 99. a Horse Shee Fish
×— 100. a Very large Lobsters Claw
— 101. Several young dog fish in a Vyel
of sperits with the Eggs to them
taken out of ye Belly of ye Dam
at Sea. 1736.
×— 102. Sundry Star fish or five Fingers.
103. a Flying Fishes wing.
+✓ 104.
a Natural piece of Rock vain’d
Exactly like a ps piece of Casteele Sope.
—✓ 105. Sundry pieces of Curious Rocks.
+ 106. Brought the Grub of a Curious
& uncommon Butterly in a
a a
Basket, & it flew out of its
nest at sea June the 29th 1736. I have
Saved theFly, & nest.
++ 107. a
Curious Fly dry’d. Libellae
+ 108. Indian Corne of Divers Coulers
+— 109. Guinea
Pepper.
Creaters a live
+ a Squash Improperly named
from yeBay Honduras a very
great Curiosity. nNone have been
ever Brought toEngland
a Munkey
2. Parrots.
173v
+Pillecons head bill & pouch of
an uncommon Couler addend
—× a
rattle snake skin’d & dryed
—× part
of ye Gills taken out of
✓ an uncommon shark very curious.
×
A piece of
----------
wax
× 3.
--------
fish jaws.
× a bullet lodged in a branch
✓ of a Fir tree & grown over.
×
------------
of a fish
× a Goats codd with
---------
-------------------------------------
in it
× Indian stomach root, for ye
✓ colick, & a cordial. addend.
×— The tooth of a Dragon from peru
&mexico.
×— a piece of Cassada bread
×— a small horn’d Triangula fish
×— a large Triangular fish not
horned
×
2 small neadle fish.
× jaws of 2 different sorts of
porpus’s. ✓
×— The Antenna of a Molucca
crabb.
×— a Boar tusk
×—✓ Hickery nutts
× a butter
black Walnut
× an Indian Nicker.
54
×—
a piece of tubulous sponge
55
×—
a sponge in form of a
funnel.
in ye Garret laygarret lay in the neighbourhood of the
others but the Capt. will tell you
these where were
captn Walker's.
172v
A Cataloge of Rarities Belonging to
Will:
Walker
N.1 — a Piece of Sea Flote of a bout 600℔ weight
in a Confused forme Suppos’d to be Amber
grease.
+ 2. a Large
Cattamount skin Stuffed very
Curious.
+ 3. a Case bottle filled with snakes
Scorpions Santepees, & sundry other venomous things
Collected with much pains, & preserved in
Speritts.
× 4. An
Elephants Tale.
— 5. Sundry Guinea Baggs.
+✓ 6. an
Indian Womans Flap win beads which they wear before them having no
Cloaths in the hot Countrys.
+✓ 7.
Indian Bows & arrows, from different Indian Countrys.
×+✓ 8. Sundry Quaaccoo
Bills very curious
×— 9. a Hornetts neast very surprizing
—✓ 10.
Indian Pipes +?
+✓ 11.
Indian Speers.
12. Indian Hambmers of stone.
13. Indian Hatchetts, Ditto.
14. Indian whetstones.
+— 15. Racoons
Pisles.
++— 16. a Small River Turtle dryed.
17. Serpentine wood which will not Consume
in Fire. in ye box.
18. Humming Birds neasts.
19. Bark of a Tree in Immetation of lace
+— 20. a Piece
of a Spaniards rib Bone taken out of him alive & he recovered
+ 21. a Bay Bug Improperly named
a a a
Great Curioisity from
Mexico in ye nature of a
Spanish fly, but as big as a betle.
+— 22.
Turantelo’s toothe.
+✓ 23.
The taile of a fish in Immetation a whip very Curious.
+✓ 24.
Fishes Jaws.
× 25. a Pipe smoked in 17
years.
✓ 26. an Indian Jarr very Curious.
over
+✓ 27.
an Old Wife fish Stuffed.
+✓ 28.
Sundry Porcupines Quills.
— 29. Sundry Sea Shells.
+ 30. a Vyall win a
Snake, & caterpillar Tobacco worm
+ 31.
Lead Stone, & Sundry
oars.
— 32. a piece of Rock ye Indians had use to make Potts & Kettles in Old times
— 33. The Stones desected from a Shee
Muskquasly
—✓ 34.
Indian Painted Callabaslies.
×+✓ 35. Dryed
squashes
×— 36. Spermacetti whales teethe.
×+— 37. Geapon
Tea.
+✓ 38. a
Capashears Knife from Guinea
39. a Pistol win a Brass stocke
belong
belonging
to ye famous Pyrot Anstis.
+ 40. Rattle snakes teethe
+✓ 41. a
Root against ye bite of Rattlesnakes
×— 42. Sundry Rattles of snakes.
✓ 43. Indian Punke.
+✓ 44.
Indian Tuckwood they burn with for the Gout.
—✓ 45.
Punk Immetating Leather
—✓ 46.
Bark ye Indians use in room of
Candles
+✓ 47.
Curious Indian Paddles
+✓ 48. a
Piece of stone cut by the Indians in Shape of some Instrument of musick
found at
Mount hope a plowing ye Ground on a Spott where
King Phillip formerly lived, & made before ye Indians had
any use of tools. being antiq.
N. Amer
+ 49. a Large Black Scorpion dryd.
×—✓ 50. Sundry Guinea
dears feet.
51. an Old wife Fish very large
×— 52. a Crocadil's Egges
— 53. a Curral Rock in shape of a
Turtle
×— 54. The House of a Fish taken from A Curral Rocke. A tubulous sponge
×— 55. an Other more Curious. a sponge
in form of a funnel
56. Some India Locusts.
over
173
×— 57. Indian Necors in the Codds.
×— 58. a Large Sea Feather
×— 59. a Herrin-Hogs head.
— 60. a Sea Porcupine very large.
×+ 61. a Penguins Egg.
—✓ 62. a
large Santepee in a Vyal
×+ 63. a Gume worme Ditto. lumbr. lat.
×— 64. a Sharks Jaw.
×— 65. 2 Drum Fish or small needle
fish
×+ 66. Sundry Swords of Soard fish of
Different si s z es.
×— 67. an Allegater stuff’d.
+✓ 68.
Buffelows cods.
— 69. a Jewel of an Indian Queen a
Great piece of antiquity.
— 70. a Stone in Shape of a Tode & of
a Turtle.
+✓ 71. a ps piece of wood Representing a Negro
Boys head. his 1 logwood Knob.
× 72. a Ball taken out of ye maw of an Ox.
+ 73. Stones in Shape of mens teeth.
+✓ 74. a
Poyson’d Indian Arrow.
75. a wild catt Skin Stuffed.
— 76. a Bone taken out of ye head of a Shark
+✓ 77. a
Guanau skin Stuff’d.
+✓ 78.
the bill of a Scuttle Corloo. very curious
+✓ 79.
the Drum bone of ye Ear of a Mannatee 2000℔ ye mannatee is
Suppos’d to be ye Quickest Creature
to hear, in the world.
+✓ 80. a
Toad fish skin Stuffed.
+✓ 81. a
Barracuta’s Jaw Bone.
✓ 82. a Curious Callabasly.
+ 83. Oars, & Cristol Rocks.
+ 84. a Guinea Spoon Curious.
+ 85. a Large Scorpion in Speritts.
+ 86. a Locust (Improperly named)
from
Mexico in a Vyal with Sperits a very great Curiosity.
— 87. I piece of uncommon Rock taken out of the maw of a Turk’y
at
Conanicott: 1730.
over
— 88. a Powder horne made out of ye
tooth of a Sea Horse Carved,
& Antique.
89. Mannatees Strops
✓ 90. Turtles dryed.
— 91. a piece Silver oar
+✓ 92.
an Indian Burch Cannoa Twenty Feet in Length very Curious.
× 93. an Eagle Claw
+✓ 94.
Hippacoquana from Carrolina
95. a Tooth of Fly the noted Pyrot.
+— 96. a Parrot
fish.
+ 97. a Natural Rock Olive from Turkey
Annually Petrefying as they Grow
both tree & Fruit.
+✓ 98.
Pummy stones.
— 99. a Horse Shee Fish
×— 100. a Very large Lobsters Claw
— 101. Several young dog fish in a Vyel
of sperits with the Eggs to them
taken out of ye Belly of ye Dam
at Sea. 1736.
×— 102. Sundry Star fish or five Fingers.
103. a Flying Fishes wing.
+✓ 104.
a Natural piece of Rock vain’d Exactly like a ps piece of Casteele Sope.
—✓ 105. Sundry pieces of Curious Rocks.
+ 106. Brought the Grub of a Curious
& uncommon Butterly in a
a a
Basket, & it flew out of its
nest at sea June the 29th 1736. I have
Saved the
Fly, & nest.
++ 107. a
Curious Fly dry’d. Libellae
+ 108. Indian Corne of Divers Coulers
+— 109. Guinea
Pepper.
Creaters a live
+ a Squash Improperly named from ye
Bay Honduras a very great Curiosity. nNone have been
ever Brought to
England
a Munkey
2. Parrots.
173v
+
Pillecons head bill & pouch of
an uncommon Couler addend
—× a
rattle snake skin’d & dryed
—× part
of ye Gills taken out of ✓ an uncommon shark very curious.
×
A piece of
----------
wax
× 3.
--------
fish jaws.
× a bullet lodged in a branch ✓ of a Fir tree & grown over.
×
------------
of a fish
× a Goats codd with
---------
-------------------------------------
in it
× Indian stomach root, for ye
✓ colick, & a cordial. addend.
×— The tooth of a Dragon from peru
&
mexico.
×— a piece of Cassada bread
×— a small horn’d Triangula fish
×— a large Triangular fish not horned
×
2 small neadle fish.
× jaws of 2 different sorts of
porpus’s. ✓
×— The Antenna of a Molucca crabb.
×— a Boar tusk
×—✓ Hickery nutts
× a butter
black Walnut
× an Indian Nicker.
54
×—
a piece of tubulous sponge
55
×—
a sponge in form of a
funnel.