A mixed set. 13 vol. 12mo. vol. IX and X are the original
Paris edition printed by the veuve
Estienne, 1735,6. The books collate as follows: vol. I, dated 1740, 276
leaves; vol. II, 1741,
264 leaves, the last a blank; vol.
III, 1739, 310
leaves; folded engraved
plan; vol. IV, 1735, 252 leaves;
folded engraved map;
vol. V, 1740, 262
leaves; vol. VI, 1741, 300 leaves; vol
VII, 1735, 254 leaves
including half-title,
(sig. Y misbound); vol. VIII, 1735,
308 leaves; folded
plate; vol. IX,
Paris 1735, 316 leaves; vol. X,
ib, 1736, 294 leaves; the leaves in the first alphabet have asterisked
pagination [*1]-120*,
the second alphabet begins separate
pagination, the
printer’s imprint is at
the end of both the
Paris volumes; vol. XI, 1737, 317 leaves; including the title for
Tome Onzieme. Seconde Partie, with separate pagination; vol. XII, 1739, 324 leaves; vol. XIII,
1739, 269 leaves;
titles of the
Amsterdam edition printed in red and black with printers’ engraved devices,
the
Paris titles in black without devices.
Original calf, gilt backs; the 2 volumes with Paris imprints measure slightly larger, they are also in original calf, gilt
backs, and have marbled end papers, r.e. Initialled by Jefferson at sigs. I and T throughout (in vol. XI, at sig. I in both
alphabets). With the Library of Congress 1815 bookplates.
The volumes of the Amsterdam edition are from the library of George Gilmer, and have his signature in several places, in vol. II with a portion of a date in French:
G. Gilmer son Livre le vingt neuvieme de Novembre. Vol. I and II have also the signature
Ex Libris Johannis Walker, with the date 1760. Vol. IX and X, the two volumes of the first edition, are from the library of Lord Dunmore, and have his autograph signature on the titles.
[The Gilmer and Walker families were closely related, and were connected by marriage with the Meriwether family and hence
with Martha Jefferson. John Murray, fourth earl of Dunmore, was the colonial governor of Virginia at the time of the Revolution,
and returned to England in 1776.
[
sic
]]
Charles Rollin, 1661-1741, French historian. The first edition of this work was printed by Estienne in Paris 1730-1738.
John Murray,fourth Earl of Dunmore, 1732-1809, colonial Governor of Virginia at the time of the Revolution. Several books with his bookplate are in Jefferson's library.
George Gilmer, was a young Scottish physician who had emigrated to Williamsburg, and married there in 1732.
[127]
J.125
Universal history.
20. v.
8
vo.
1815 Catalogue, page 7. no. 100, as above.
An Universal History, from the Earliest Account of Time. Compiled from Original Authors; and illustrated with Maps, Cuts,
Notes &c. with a General Index to the Whole . . . Vol. I [-XX.]
London: Printed for
T. Osborne,
A. Millar, and
J. Osborn,
M.DCC.XLVII. [-M.DCC.XLVIII.] [1747-8.]
[
sic
]
D20 .U59 Copy 2
20 vol. only. 8vo. Folded and full page engraved maps and plates in every volume by Basire, Monk, Blundell, Guignion and others, many in this copy lacking and some defective, printer’s device on every title-page.
A List of the Names of such Subscribers as are come to hand includes the German Town Library of Philadelphia and the Union Library Company of Philadelphia. This copy is without vol.
XXI, the Chronological Tables to the foregoing Twenty Volumes, printed in 1754.
Original calf. Initialled by Jefferson at sigs. I and T throughout. From the library of Reuben Skelton, with his armorial
bookplate in each volume with the exception of vol. I and vol. XVII from which it has been removed; in vol. IV the plate is
partly torn away. With the Library of Congress 1815 bookplates.
On October 25, 1825, in a letter to George Washington Lewis on the history course at the University of Virginia, Jefferson
wrote: “
. . . the antient Universal history should be on our shelves as a book of general reference, the most learned, and most faithful
perhaps that ever was written. it’s style is very plain, but perspicuous . . .
”
Jefferson had the ancient portion only of the Universal History; the complete work had in addition a modern portion in 44
volumes. The first edition was in folio, 1736-65, 26 vol. The compilers of the ancient portion were George Sale, q.v. Chap. 17, John Swinton, 1703-1777, English historian and antiquary, John Campbell (q.v. Chap. 3), George Shelvocke, d. 1760, Archibald Bower (q.v. Chap. 5) and the impostor George Psalmanazar, 1679?-1763.
Jefferson mentioned the Universal History in a letter to Isaac McPherson, dated from Monticello, August 13, 1813. For the quotation, see no. 3946.
[128]
