Laing, David, 1793-1878 (antiquarian, bookseller, and librarian of the Signet Library)
Biography
David Laing, eminent historian, antiquary and bibliographer, was the second son of the Edinburgh bookseller William Laing (1764-1832) and his wife Helen Kirk, and was born on 20 April 1793. He was educated at the Canongate Grammar School and later on attended Greek classes at the University of Edinburgh. At the age of fourteen, he became apprenticed to his father who, at the time, was the only bookseller in Edinburgh dealing in foreign literature. Laing was able, occasionally, to travel abroad in search of rare or curious books. In 1821, he became a partner in his father's business and throughout his life he was an avid collector of manuscripts and rescued many from destruction. The first published work of his own was Auctarium Bibliothecae Edinburgenae sive Catalogus Librorum quos Gulielmus Drummondus ab Hawthornden D.D.Q. Anno 1627 (1815). Among other works, Laing also reprinted Thomas Craig's Epithalamium on the marriage of Darnley and Mary Stuart (1821). When Sir Walter Scott founded the Bannatyne Club in 1823 for the printing of material and tracts relating to Scottish history and literature, Laing - a friend of Scott's - became Secretary of the Club and chief organiser until its dissolution in the 1860s. Laing was also associated with the Abbotsford Club, the Spalding Club, and the Wodrow Society, each of which had been set up for the publication of manuscripts and for the revival of old texts. When the keepership of the Advocates' Library fell vacant in 1818, Laing was a candidate but was not elected. He became Keeper of the Library to the Society of Writers to Her Majesty's Signet, a post which he occupied from 1837 until his death. On his appointment to the post, he gave up his business as a bookseller and disposed of the stock in a public sale. Laing died at Portobello, in Edinburgh, on 18 October 1878.
Found in 11 Collections and/or Records:
MS 120: Composite manuscript containing three texts, 15th century
MS 220: Quatuor Evangelia Graece (a Tetraevangelion), early 13th century
MS 221: Gospels, 15th century
MS 222: Gospel Lectionary, 12th century
MS 223: Psalter, 1591
A Psalter (i.e. a book which contains the text of the Psalms) in Greek followed by two poems on the Psalms.
Writing
Headings and initials red.
MS 224: Ritual Ordinance by Neophytus, 1214
The manuscript is an early copy of the original manuscript containing the Ritual Ordinance (Typike Diatheke, in Greek) written by Neophytus, a monk who laid down a set of monastic rules.
MS 225: Acts of Saint Thecla, 13th century
The Acts of Saint Paul and Saint Thecla told the story of a young virgin called Thecla, who converted and perfomed miracles after listening to the teachings of Saint Paul Apostle.
Writing
Written in a fine hand.
MS 226: Lexikon by Pseudo-Zonaras, 15th-16th century
The Lexikon traditionally attributed to the Byzantine chronicler John Zonaras (12th century) is now believed to be spurious. The beginning of the text contained in this manuscript is incomplete.
MS 227: Erotemata by Manuel Chrysolaras, 16th century
The Erotemata ('Questions') was the first Greek grammar in use in Western Europe and it became widely popular among humanists after its publication in 1484. Manuel Chrysolaras (1355-1415), born in Constantinople, moved to Italy after having being invited by the humanist Coluccio Salutati to teach Greek in Florence.
Illumination
Initials and headings are in red, one is illuminated.
MS 228: Erotemata by Manuel Chrysoloras, ? 16th century
The Erotemata ('Questions') was the first Greek grammar in use in Western Europe and it became widely popular among humanists after its publication in 1484. Manuel Chrysolaras (1355-1415), born in Constantinople, moved to Italy after having being invited by the humanist Coluccio Salutati to teach Greek in Florence.
Writing
Initials and headings red. Writing Western in appearance, perhaps 16th century.