Hunterian Collection
Encyclopedia
The Hunterian Collection is one of the best-known collections of the University of Glasgow
and is cared for by the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery
and Glasgow University Library
. It contains 650 manuscripts and some 10,000 printed books, 30,000 coins and 15,000 anatomical and natural history specimens. The collection was originally assembled by anatomist William Hunter
.
(1718–83), who was an avid collector of coins, medals, paintings, shells, minerals, books and manuscripts. Considerable purchases were made in Paris from monastic houses and private libraries, such as those of César de Missy
and Jean-Baptiste Colbert
. Other major acquisitions were made in Vienna
and Italy.
The library and other collections remained in London after Hunter's death for the use of his nephew, physician
and pathologist
, Matthew Baillie
(1761–1823), as well as William Cumberland Cruikshank
(1745–1800). It came to the University of Glasgow
in 1807. The coins were stored for six years in the Bank of Scotland
.
, dated by a colophon to the year 859. The printed books include 534 incunabula. Hunter purchased a collection of biblical manuscripts from Caesar de Missy.
About a third of Hunter's books are on the subject of medicine. They include key historical texts by authors including Hippocrates
, Galen
, Vesalius and William Harvey
, as well as the writings of Hunter's contemporaries, such as William Smellie
, Albinus and Albrecht von Haller
.
According to the Introduction of Catalogue of Greek Coins in the Hunterian Collection (MacDonald 1899), Hunter purchased many important collections, including those of Horace Walpole and the bibliophile Thomas Crofts
. In 1782, in Vienna, he purchased the Hess collection, including around 700 Roman Imperial gold coins, for £2,400. King George III even donated an Athenian gold piece.
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
and is cared for by the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery
Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery
The University of Glasgow's Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery is the oldest public museum in Scotland. It is located in various buildings on the main campus of the University in the west end of Glasgow.-History:...
and Glasgow University Library
Glasgow University Library
The University of Glasgow Library is one of the oldest and largest University libraries in Europe. It holds more than 2.5 million books and journals, as well as providing access to an extensive range of electronic resources including over 30,000 electronic journals.The current 12-storey building,...
. It contains 650 manuscripts and some 10,000 printed books, 30,000 coins and 15,000 anatomical and natural history specimens. The collection was originally assembled by anatomist William Hunter
William Hunter (anatomist)
William Hunter FRS was a Scottish anatomist and physician. He was a leading teacher of anatomy, and the outstanding obstetrician of his day...
.
History
The collection was assembled by anatomist and physician, William HunterWilliam Hunter (anatomist)
William Hunter FRS was a Scottish anatomist and physician. He was a leading teacher of anatomy, and the outstanding obstetrician of his day...
(1718–83), who was an avid collector of coins, medals, paintings, shells, minerals, books and manuscripts. Considerable purchases were made in Paris from monastic houses and private libraries, such as those of César de Missy
César de Missy
César de Missy , theologian, chaplain to George III, scholar of the New Testament, and book collector.De Missy was a Prussian critic and book collector, who owned many of the volumes in this collection. He spent his life collecting manuscripts for the new edition of the New Testament. Some...
and Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert was a French politician who served as the Minister of Finances of France from 1665 to 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. His relentless hard work and thrift made him an esteemed minister. He achieved a reputation for his work of improving the state of French manufacturing...
. Other major acquisitions were made in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Italy.
The library and other collections remained in London after Hunter's death for the use of his nephew, physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and pathologist
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
, Matthew Baillie
Matthew Baillie
Matthew Baillie was a Scottish physician and pathologist.-Life:...
(1761–1823), as well as William Cumberland Cruikshank
William Cumberland Cruikshank
William Cumberland Cruikshank was a British chemist and anatomist. He was the author of The Anatomy of the Absorbing Vessels of the Human Body, which was first published in 1786....
(1745–1800). It came to the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in 1807. The coins were stored for six years in the Bank of Scotland
Bank of Scotland
The Bank of Scotland plc is a commercial and clearing bank based in Edinburgh, Scotland. With a history dating to the 17th century, it is the second oldest surviving bank in what is now the United Kingdom, and is the only commercial institution created by the Parliament of Scotland to...
.
Manuscripts and books
The manuscripts number around 650, of which approximately two thirds are medieval (biblical manuscripts) or Renaissance in origin; over a hundred of the remaining manuscripts are oriental (Persian and Arabic). The oldest manuscript is the Homilies of Saint BasilBasil of Caesarea
Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great, was the bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia, Asia Minor . He was an influential 4th century Christian theologian...
, dated by a colophon to the year 859. The printed books include 534 incunabula. Hunter purchased a collection of biblical manuscripts from Caesar de Missy.
About a third of Hunter's books are on the subject of medicine. They include key historical texts by authors including Hippocrates
Hippocrates
Hippocrates of Cos or Hippokrates of Kos was an ancient Greek physician of the Age of Pericles , and is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine...
, Galen
Galen
Aelius Galenus or Claudius Galenus , better known as Galen of Pergamon , was a prominent Roman physician, surgeon and philosopher...
, Vesalius and William Harvey
William Harvey
William Harvey was an English physician who was the first person to describe completely and in detail the systemic circulation and properties of blood being pumped to the body by the heart...
, as well as the writings of Hunter's contemporaries, such as William Smellie
William Smellie (obstetrician)
William Smellie was a Scottish obstetrician.He practiced medicine before getting a licence, but enrolled later at the University of Glasgow and received his M.D. degree in 1745. After training in obstetrics in London and Paris, he opened a practice in London and began teaching...
, Albinus and Albrecht von Haller
Albrecht von Haller
Albrecht von Haller was a Swiss anatomist, physiologist, naturalist and poet.-Early life:He was born of an old Swiss family at Bern. Prevented by long-continued ill-health from taking part in boyish sports, he had the more opportunity for the development of his precocious mind...
.
Anatomical and natural history specimens
Hunter's collection contained about 15,000 specimens and preparations focusing on human anatomy and pathology, and natural history.Coins
Hunter began to collect coins in about 1770, spending over £22,000 on them before his death in 1783. The resulting collection is believed to be the finest ever assembled by a private individual. George MacDonald estimated: "Its trays contain about 30,000 specimens, of which over 12,000 are Greek and nearly the same number Roman."According to the Introduction of Catalogue of Greek Coins in the Hunterian Collection (MacDonald 1899), Hunter purchased many important collections, including those of Horace Walpole and the bibliophile Thomas Crofts
Thomas Crofts
The Reverend and Learned Thomas Crofts FRS FSA was a British bibliophile, Anglican priest, Fellow of the Royal Society and European traveller.- Early life :Thomas was born in Monmouth, Wales and was the son of John Crofts...
. In 1782, in Vienna, he purchased the Hess collection, including around 700 Roman Imperial gold coins, for £2,400. King George III even donated an Athenian gold piece.
Some manuscripts
- Minuscule 560Minuscule 560Minuscule 560 , ε 1288 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century.Scrivener labelled it by number 520....
- Minuscule 561Minuscule 561Minuscule 561 , ε 1289 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 13th century.Scrivener labelled it by number 521....
- Minuscule 562Minuscule 562Minuscule 562 , ε 604 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on paper. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 16th century.Scrivener labelled it by number 522.- Description :...
- Minuscule 563Minuscule 563Minuscule 563 , ε 160 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century.Scrivener labelled it by number 519....
- Lectionary 162Lectionary 162Lectionary 162, designated by siglum ℓ 162 is a Greek manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment...
- Lectionary 239Lectionary 239Lectionary 239, designated by siglum ℓ 239 is a Greek manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 13th century.Scrivener labelled it by 230evl....
- Lectionary 240Lectionary 240Lectionary 240, designated by siglum ℓ 240 is a Greek manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment...
- Lectionary 241Lectionary 241Lectionary 241, designated by siglum ℓ 241 is a Greek manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. It is dated by a Colophon to the year 1199.Scrivener labelled it as 232evl...
Further reading
- R. Hingston Fox William Hunter, anatomist, physician, obstetrician, (1718-1783) (London 1901)
- George MacDonald, Catalogue of Greek Coins in the Hunterian Collection, University of Glasgow (1899-1905), Volume I, Volume II, Volume III [reprinted in 2005]
- R. J. Last, Specimens from the Hunterian Collection, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, vol. 34 B, No 2, May 1952
External links
- Hunterian Collection at the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow
- Hunterian Collection at the Special Collections, University of Glasgow
- The Hunterian Collection at the Royal College of Surgeons of England
- The Hunterian coin collection