Manuscripts of Jan Meerman, consisting of Greek and Latin manuscripts.
Dates
- Creation: 10th-17th century
Extent
6.49 Linear metres (59 boxes)
Language of Materials
- Greek, Ancient (to 1453)
- Greek, Modern (1453-)
- Latin
Preferred Citation
Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MSS. Auct. T. 1. 1, fols. 1-2].
Full range of shelfmarks:
MSS. Auct. T. 1. 1-27, 2. 1-32
Collection ID (for staff)
CMD ID 13223
Abstract
Manuscripts collection of Jan Meerman.
Biographical / Historical
Jan Meerman, only son of Geraard Meerman, the author of the Origines Typographicae (1765), was born at the Hague, 1 November 1753, and educated at Göttingen and Leiden. On his father's death in 1771 he seems to have inherited a large library and sufficient means to enable him to follow out his literary tastes, but political ambition prevented him from producing any great work. He died on 15 December 1815.
Other Finding Aids
Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. IV, nos. 20579-20637.
Catalogi codicum manuscriptorum Bibliothecae Bodleianae pars prima recensionem codicum Graecorum continens (Oxford, 1853, reprinted with corrections by H. O. Coxe, Oxford, 1969).
For a more detailed description of the medieval manuscripts in this collection see Medieval Manuscripts in Oxford Libraries.
Catalogi codicum manuscriptorum Bibliothecae Bodleianae pars prima recensionem codicum Graecorum continens (Oxford, 1853, reprinted with corrections by H. O. Coxe, Oxford, 1969).
Custodial History
After Jan Meerman's death, his library was sold at the Hague in 1824 (printed books, June 8-30; MSS. July 1-3). Of the latter class there were 1086 lots, of which sir Thomas Phillipps secured a large proportion (MSS. Phillipps 1388-2010, 3078-87, 6756-82, now at Berlin, having been bought "en bloc" by the Royal Library in 1887), and the Bodleian 58 volumes. The purchase list of 1824 contains a description of all the books acquired at the sale, which dr. Gaisford personally attended.
The MSS. which had belonged to the Jesuit college of Clermont at Paris, and perhaps the majority of the rest, were acquired by Geraard Meerman in 1764: and of the MSS. which came to the Bodleian, nearly all came from that source (see the catalogue of the collection, Paris, 1764), some of them having previously belonged to the abbey of St. Vincent at Metz.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The manuscripts were purchased at the Hague in 1824.
Subject
- Meerman | Jan | 1753-1815 (Person)
- Title
- Meerman Manuscripts
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Collection Level Description by Emily Tarrant; EAD version 2020 by Kelly Burchmore
- Date
- EAD version 2020
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk