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Senate House Library, University of London

Translation of the De Rerum Natura of Titus Lucretius Carus


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0096 MS 705

Held at: Senate House Library, University of London

Title: Translation of the De Rerum Natura of Titus Lucretius Carus

Date(s): c1850

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 1 volume containing 81 leaves

Name of creator(s): Unknown

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Titus Lucretius Carus was a Roman poet and philosopher. He was probably born in 98 or 96 BC, though few other details of his life are known. Carus was said to have been driven mad by a love-philter, and to have finally committed suicide in 55BC. He left one work, the De Rerum Natura, a didactic poem in 6 books setting forth the Epicurean system of philosophy, especially relating to the origin of the world and operations of natural forces.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Anonymous English prose translation of De Rerum Natura by Titus Lucretius Carus, entitled 'The Natural Philosophy of Epicurus as delivered by T.Lucretius Carus in his poem "Of the Nature of Things"'. The manuscript was written c1850.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Single item.

Conditions governing access:

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Physical characteristics:

7½" x 6". The manuscript is written on ruled leaves of various colours, with the initials beginning each paragraph decorated or historiated in colour. The page beginning each of the six books bears an initial in gold leaf and a decorated border. There are three full-page pencil and watercolour drawings, at the opening of books 4, 5 and 6. The paper is watermarked 'G. Wilmot 1834'. The binding is of leather stamped with floral decorations in relief, with green watered silk endpapers, in a mottled cardboard slipcase.

Finding aids:

Collection level description.

Detailed catalogue

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Bought from Dr. J.H.P. Pafford in 1967.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: Nov 2001


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Illuminated manuscripts | Manuscripts | Documents | Information sources
Philosophy

Personal names
Epicurus | ? 341- ? 271 BC | Greek philosopher
Lucretius Carus | Titus | ? 98- ? 55 BC | Roman poet and philosopher

Corporate names

Places