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Laing, David, 1793-1878 (antiquarian, bookseller, and librarian of the Signet Library)

 Person

Staff Only

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 180 Collections and/or Records:

Decas Loyca by Leonino of Padua, late 14th century

 Item
Identifier: MS 133
Contents MS 133 is intriguing, as it seems to be the unique surviving manuscript of Leonini of Padua's Decas Loyca, although it is still only a part of the full text. Augustinian friar Leonino of Padua is first mentioned in 1332, holding a post at an annual meeting of the Augustinian Order in Venice. By 1360 he had become a Doctor of Theology as was teaching in Padua. His Decas Loyca was written probably in the late 1350s, in which he...
Dates: late 14th century
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Western Medieval Manuscripts

Diurnale (Dominican), 15th century

 Item
Identifier: MS 30
Contents The manuscript is a Diurnal, which means that it includes the daytime liturgical texts for the Hours of the Divine Office. This version is from the 15th century and could have originated in Bohemia and been intended for use in a nunnery dedicated to Saint Katherine. It is also specifically Dominican.The Kalendar starts on f.1r. It is missing January and February.The Table of Golden Numbers starts on f.6r. This section refers to...
Dates: 15th century
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Western Medieval Manuscripts

Diurnale (Franciscan), c 1480

 Item
Identifier: MS 31
Contents The manuscript is a Diurnal, which means that it includes the daytime liturgical texts for the Hours of the Divine Office. This version is from around 1480 and originated in Italy. It is also specifically Franciscan.The Kalendar starts on f.1r.The Proprium de Tempore starts on f.7r. The Proprium de Tempore contains liturgical texts for days that have special Masses or Offices (e.g. prayers,...
Dates: c 1480
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Western Medieval Manuscripts

Early Qur'anic Fragments, undated (some possibly 10th-11th cent. C.E.)

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 175
Scope and Contents Thirteen fragments of sections of the Qur'an that between them exhibit the gradual development of kūfī into naskhī script.The following is the historical account attached to them: "They are boldly written in black ink on vellum, the more ancient specimens having five and six lines on each page; the more recent from six to nine lines; red and green marks or spots are scattered throughout the writing, and many of...
Dates: undated (some possibly 10th-11th cent. C.E.)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

Epistles of Saint Paul (glossed) [Bible. Epistles of Paul. Latin.], late 12th century

 Item
Identifier: MS 15
Content It contains the text of the letters of Saint Paul. There is no prologue and the text immediately begins with the first letter. The text is accompanied by a set of glosses [i.e. annotations and comments] to the whole text. These include both marginal and interlinear glosses. Marginal glosses can be found also on the superior and inferior margins.The majority of the letters are preceded by an argumentum, a short text which records Paul's reason for...
Dates: late 12th century
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Western Medieval Manuscripts

Epitoma historiarum Philippicarum by Justin, late 15th century

 Item
Identifier: MS 193
Contents MS 193 is a text of the only known work by Roman historian Justin (Marcus Junianus Justinus Frontinus). Little else is known about this author, but he most likely lived in the second or third century AD. Justin's history is an epitome, or abridgement of the earlier history of the kings of Macedonia, Liber Historiarum Philippicarum by first-century Roman historian, Trogus, now lost. Justin summarises passages of Trogus' text,...
Dates: late 15th century
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Western Medieval Manuscripts

Erotemata by Manuel Chrysolaras, 16th century

 Item
Identifier: MS 227
Contents

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.

Dates: 16th century
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Western Medieval Manuscripts

Erotemata by Manuel Chrysoloras, ? 16th century

 Item
Identifier: MS 228
Contents

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.

Dates: ? 16th century
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Western Medieval Manuscripts

Esther Inglis, "A Treatise of Preparation to the Holy Supper and of our only Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ", 1608 (dated)

 Item
Identifier: La.III.75
Scope and Contents The manuscript contains a prose religious treatise, copied by Esther Inglis as a gift for Sir David Murray of Gorthy (1567-1629), her friend and companion to the Prince Henry. Sir David Murray was the recipient of three of Inglis’ manuscripts, with this being the first; the others are a Book of Psalms prepared in 1612 (now Wormsley Library, Oxfordshire, BM 1851), and a miniature illuminated manuscript of the "Quatrains of Guy du Faur" (now British Library, MS Harley 4324). The text itself...
Dates: 1608 (dated)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Laing Collection / Section III. Bound volumes

Esther Inglis, "Les Quatrains du Sieur de Pybrac", 1607 (dated)

 Item
Identifier: La.III.439
Scope and Contents This manuscript contains the popular religious and moral Quatrains written by Guy du Faur, Seigneur de Pybrac. This calligraphic copy of the Quatrains was produced by Esther Inglis as a gift for the New Year ("pour ses estrennes"), offered to Robert Cecil (1563-1612), 1st Earl of Salisbury. It is one of Esther Inglis’ floral, illuminated manuscripts, which she produces between 1600 and 1608. Within her corpus of...
Dates: 1607 (dated)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Laing Collection / Section III. Bound volumes