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University of Edinburgh Library -- Legacy shelfmark sequence: Da-Dp

 Subject

Staff Only
Subject Source: Local sources
Scope Note: This shelfmark (or press mark) sequence originated within the Strong Room Library in 'Old College', likely beginning around 1909 (the first Strong Room having been constructed 1905-1909). Each two-letter prefix referred to a block of shelving, which roughly mapped to a category or grouping of items. The first number then referred to the shelf and the final number to the item itself. As collections expanded and were moved, this precise correlation broke down but most of the items retained their shelfmarks.

Da
University Archives. Originally upper floor, north wall of the Strong Room. This later evolved into a crude classification scheme before being abandoned in favour of regular archival arrangement. Items bearing these legacy shelfmarks can still be identified, particularly early Library records which occupied Da.1 and Da.2.

Db
Originally used for mediaeval manuscripts. In the early 20th century, pre-Reformation manuscripts from across the library were brought together to form the Western Medieval Manuscripts collection, under the shelfmark "MS".

Dc
Manuscripts. Mostly bound. Originally on upper floor, front of the Strong Room. This part of the sequence is largely intact, with these shelfmarks now being retained as identifiers of physical location. The items themselves have all been given regular archival reference codes.

Dd
Printed, including Clement Litill. Originally on upper floor, front, south wall of Strong Room.

De
Printed, including the Drummond of Hawthornden collection (largely printed but with some manuscript enclosures from the latter). Originally on the upper floor, back, west wall of the Strong Room. This part of the sequence is intact.

Df
Printed. Originally on the upper floor, back, east wall of the Strong Room. This part of the sequence is intact.

Dh
Printed, including Lutheran tracts. Originally on the upper floor, back of the Strong Room. This part of the sequence is intact.

Dk
Manuscript. Originally in the centre case of the Strong Room, opposite Dh. This part of the sequence is largely intact, with these shelfmarks now being retained as identifiers of physical location. The items themselves have all been given regular archival reference codes.

Dm
Music. Originally in the centre cases of the Strong Room.

Dn
Bindings. Originally in the centre cases of the Strong Room.

Found in 334 Collections and/or Records:

Partial copy of Expositiones vocabulorum biblie, also known as Summa Britonis, by William Brito, between 1267 and 1399

 Item
Identifier: MS 201
Contents MS 201 is a partial copy of Expositiones vocabulorum biblie, also known as Summa Britonis, by William Brito. On f. 1r, the manuscript begins with A. littera secundum Ysidorum in omnibus hujus est prior. The text is incomplete, and ends (on f. 128v) with Virago dicitur quod a viro acta et est sumptum non a viri nomine. ...
Dates: between 1267 and 1399
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Western Medieval Manuscripts

Photographs of War-Devastated Caen

 Fonds — Volume Dk.2.1
Identifier: Coll-164
Scope and Contents

The collection of photographs and postcards shows the war devastation of Caen, June-July, 1944. The devastation is shown from different elevations, and feature not only the most prominent buildings but also the extent of the damage beyond the central area of the city. Some of the pictures show the streets and buildings of Caen before the bombings.

Dates: 1900-1945
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Poem "The Minstrel, or, The Progress of Genius" by James Beattie

 Fonds — Volume Dk.5.28
Identifier: Coll-2204
Scope and Contents

Poem entitled "The minstrel, or, the progress of genius" by James Beattie. Also 3 anonymous poems entitled "Arthur and Edith", "The Spectre", "Owen of Barron". Watermark 1803, 83 ff.

Dates: c 1803
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Portfolio of Arthur Logan Turner mostly relating to the 350th Anniversary of the University of Edinburgh

 Fonds — Folder Dk.1.43
Identifier: Coll-2136
Scope and Contents

This is a portfolio compiled by Arthur Logan Turner. It contains photographs, pamphlets, invites, program of events, newspaper clippings, and captioned photographs relating to the 350th anniversary of Edinburgh University in 1933. It also includes reviews of his books, and a arge envelope containing miscellaneous correspondence of A. Logan Turner.

Dates: 1933-1939
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Portolano Charts

 Fonds — Folder Dc.1.40
Identifier: Coll-398
Scope and Contents

This particular small collection is composed of charts drawn by Franciscus Oliva, one of a well-known family of Italian map-makers, in Marseille in 1650. The charts are of the Aegean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the coasts of Western Europe and North-western Africa.

Dates: 1650
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Practica cum antidotario, by Johannes Serapion, 13th-14th century

 Item
Identifier: MS 170
Contents MS 170 is the Practica sive breviarium, a Latin translation from the 12th century by Gerard of Cremona. Gerard translated one of the two medical texts by 9th-century Christian physician, Johannes Serapion (also known as Yahya ibn Sarafyun, and Serapion the Elder). Little is known about Serapion, other than that he lived during the second half of the 9th century, and wrote medical treatises in Syriac. Through Gerard's Latin translation, which made the text...
Dates: 13th-14th century
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Western Medieval Manuscripts

Prayer Book, 16th century

 Item
Identifier: MS 66
Contents Prayer book from the 16th century of Flemish or Northern French origin. It contains both French and Latin prayers, and since many of the prayers have feminine forms, it was likely written for a woman.Sequence, Gospel of Saint John (in Latin): starts f.1. It begins, "In principio..."Passion (in Latin): starts f.2. It begins, "Egressus est..."Fifteen Odes of Saint Bridget (in Latin,...
Dates: 16th century
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Western Medieval Manuscripts

Probate of the Will of William Wallace, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh

 Fonds — Folder Dk.3.36
Identifier: Coll-2173
Scope and Contents

Creator: Wallace, William, 1768-1843 (Scottish mathematician, astronomer)

Probate of the will of William Wallace, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh, 31 May 1843.

Dates: 1843
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Programme for the Unveiling of the Dawson Monument, Pictou, Nova Scotia

 Fonds — Box Dk.7.54-64
Identifier: Coll-2235
Scope and Contents

Dawson, Sir John William. Programme of unveiling of monument to Pictou, Nova Scotia, 30, October 1957. Pr. 3 copies.

Dates: 1957
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Psalter, 15th century

 Item
Identifier: MS 58
Contents The manuscript is an English Psalter that was created in the 15th century. This manuscript could be from around Salisbury, or is at least Sarum Use.The fly-leaves at the start of the manuscript (as well as some borders within the manuscript) are full of medical lore, prescriptions, etcetera, all in a 17th century hand.The Kalendar starts on f.1r.The Psalter starts on f.7r. It is missing Psalms 96:1—Psalms 97:9; and...
Dates: 15th century
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Western Medieval Manuscripts