White (Gilbert, Rev., naturalist, author of the "Natural History of Selborne", 1720-93) "The benevolence of modern naturalists hath induced them to pronounce the toad harmless...", manuscript in a juvenile hand probably written at White's dictation, together 2pp., first page statement by White with eleven corrections in the text, watermark royal coat of arms, fold, browned, edges slightly creased and chipped, folio, n.d. [18th century]. ⁂ White's statement on the venomous properties of the toad and with a series of thermometer readings. Editor Thomas Bell describes as "Gilbert White's statement" on the venomous properties of the toad, first printed in a footnote (signed 'T. B.') on pp.51-52 of the first volume of Bell's 1877 edition of The Natural History of Selborne (London: John Van Voorst, 1 Paternoster Row). The following note by Bell, prefixed to White's "statement", indicates the significance Bell placed upon it, and the circumstances of its composition: "The habit of close observation of nature which was so conspicuous in White himself was communicated by his example to many who came within the sphere of his influence... . The following account, which I find amongst his papers, is a striking example of this. The observer was doubtless no other than his old gardener, Thomas Hoar, a quaint original, who was many years in his service. The account is not in White's handwriting, but evidently written from his dictation, as it is in a boy's hand, and has several verbal corrections, and the diction is his own." The present manuscript text of White's 'statement' - corresponds to the 1877 printed version in all but accidentals: it is not in White's handwriting, but in "a boy's hand"; it has "several verbal corrections", and the diction is White's own. The layout of the "statement" is, in addition, very similar to that of the original manuscript of the Natural History, suggesting the possibility that the leaf it is written on once formed part of it. Two factors reinforce the impression that the document was used by a printer. Firstly, in pencil, at the head of the page, is written "Copied & printed". Secondly, added in ink at various points in the document are what appear to be two printer's marks: first, a symbol of a dot in a circle, repeated once; and another symbol of a square with a central vertical line through it, also repeated once. On the reverse of the document are thermometer readings which White is known to have carried out on a daily basis. ?Provenance: On 26 July 1937, Sotheby's sold "White Gilbert Auto. MS., 1p., folio -- The benevolence of modern naturalists... . The Property of a Collateral Descendant of the Revd. Gilbert White Buyer: Dyke.
White (Gilbert, Rev., naturalist, author of the "Natural History of Selborne", 1720-93) "The benevolence of modern naturalists hath induced them to pronounce the toad harmless...", manuscript in a juvenile hand probably written at White's dictation, together 2pp., first page statement by White with eleven corrections in the text, watermark royal coat of arms, fold, browned, edges slightly creased and chipped, folio, n.d. [18th century]. ⁂ White's statement on the venomous properties of the toad and with a series of thermometer readings. Editor Thomas Bell describes as "Gilbert White's statement" on the venomous properties of the toad, first printed in a footnote (signed 'T. B.') on pp.51-52 of the first volume of Bell's 1877 edition of The Natural History of Selborne (London: John Van Voorst, 1 Paternoster Row). The following note by Bell, prefixed to White's "statement", indicates the significance Bell placed upon it, and the circumstances of its composition: "The habit of close observation of nature which was so conspicuous in White himself was communicated by his example to many who came within the sphere of his influence... . The following account, which I find amongst his papers, is a striking example of this. The observer was doubtless no other than his old gardener, Thomas Hoar, a quaint original, who was many years in his service. The account is not in White's handwriting, but evidently written from his dictation, as it is in a boy's hand, and has several verbal corrections, and the diction is his own." The present manuscript text of White's 'statement' - corresponds to the 1877 printed version in all but accidentals: it is not in White's handwriting, but in "a boy's hand"; it has "several verbal corrections", and the diction is White's own. The layout of the "statement" is, in addition, very similar to that of the original manuscript of the Natural History, suggesting the possibility that the leaf it is written on once formed part of it. Two factors reinforce the impression that the document was used by a printer. Firstly, in pencil, at the head of the page, is written "Copied & printed". Secondly, added in ink at various points in the document are what appear to be two printer's marks: first, a symbol of a dot in a circle, repeated once; and another symbol of a square with a central vertical line through it, also repeated once. On the reverse of the document are thermometer readings which White is known to have carried out on a daily basis. ?Provenance: On 26 July 1937, Sotheby's sold "White Gilbert Auto. MS., 1p., folio -- The benevolence of modern naturalists... . The Property of a Collateral Descendant of the Revd. Gilbert White Buyer: Dyke.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
