The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Humfrey Wanley (21 March 1672 - 6 July 1726)

Librarian to Robert Harley (Earl of Oxford). Wanley is referred to several times in Ralph Thoresby's Diary and Catalogue. In Thoresby's diary Wanley is referred to in connection with the Earl of Oxford's library, "At eight, at Mr. Dale's, with whom I walked to the Earl of Oxford's most noble library; viewed several valuable manuscripts, ancient and modern, European and American: met there not only with my old friend, Mr. Wanley, the librarian" (Vol 2 page 98). In Thoresby's Catalogue Wanley is mentioned in connection with some curiosities Thoresby aqcuired. "Two Indian Pencils fixed in Reeds seven Inches long. Don. D. Hum. Wanley." Dictionary of National Biography entry: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/28664 Relevant locations: Birth place in Coventry, West Midlands
Relationships: John Bagford (1650/1-5 May 1716) was a seller to Humfrey Wanley
Joseph Boyse (1660-1728) was a friend of Humfrey Wanley
Linked manuscript items: as Correspondent - "[Wanely to Charlett 22 Aug 1697]," Bodleian Library Ballard 13, Oxford University
Linked print sources: as Donator of object(s) - Ducatus Leodiensis; or the topography of the town and parish of Leedes and parts adjacent ...
References in Documents:
Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713)

An Inkhorn from Moscow very curiously painted and gilt; as is also the Pen which is made of a Reed. Don. D. An. Banks. Another of Brass with Flowers, inscribed, I was in Sheffield made, and many can, witness I was not made by any Man. (Ellen Ellis fecit.) Two Indian Pencils fixed in Reeds seven Inches long. Don. D. Hum. Wanley. Two Indian Pictures of the same Dimension, very well painted and gilt upon their Paper. Different Sorts of Paper from very distant Parts of the World. A coarse Sort of yellow Paper from China, perhaps that made of the Tree Bambu or Cio, a paler yellow, but somewhat finer; a Lemon Colour finer than either: Red Paper and Blew; but the finest of all is that made of Cotton. Samples also of the ancient German, Venetian, Italianand French Paper, from 1470 to 1500; and of the English some Centuries before. Modern Paper from Venice, Rome, Constantinople, &c. An entire sheet of fine white transparent Paper from India; in Length a Yard, and near a Foot, though scarce two Foot broad. Don. D. Ju. Dickenson. Some of the Indian Paper is writ upon, which gives me the Occasion of mentioning the different Characters of several Nations.

Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713)

The Pentateuch in English 8vo. printed at different Places as the Times would permit; at the End of the fyrst Boke of Moses called Genesis, is added, emprinted at Malborow in the Land of Hesse, by me Hans Luft, the Yere of our Lorde MCCCCCXXX the xvii daye of January. To this is prefixed W.T (Mr. Tyndall the Martyr) to the Reader, and a Prologe sheweinge the Use of the Scripture, wherein he answers the Popish Objection, that they wott not what moare profite is in many geftes of the Scripture, if they be read without an allegorye, then in a tale of Roben Hode. At the End is a Table expoundinge certaine words. Exodus is printed in a different Character; the Person, Time and Place concealed, W.T's Prologue is premised, wherein he compared such as go about to purchase grace with Ceremony, to soche as sucke the Ale pope to quench thirst. There are the Figures of the Altars, Lavers, High-Priests, &c. W.T's Prologue is also prefix'd to the thyrde boke Leviticus, and so to Numeri the fourthe, which is printed in the like Character with Genesis, but no Place, Time, or Printer named; nor in Deuteronomye, which is in the white Letter, as are also the 2d and 3d Books, and, I presume, were printed privately in England. This Pentateuch was the acceptable Present of Mr. Richard Beard of Shrewsbury. The ingenious Mr. Wanley's Pentateuch is all in the Roman Letter, but Numbers.