GB 0096 MS 228 - Treatise on the worship of Priapus

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0096 MS 228

Title

Treatise on the worship of Priapus

Date(s)

  • [1786] (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

1 volume containing 130 leaves and 17 plates

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Richard Payne Knight (1750-1824) was a numismatist. Having travelled in Sicily, in 1777, he began to form a magnificent collection of bronzes, which he bequeathed upon his death to the British Museum. He was MP for Leominster, 1780, and Ludlow, 1784-1806. He was Vice-President of the Society of Antiquaries, and wrote extensively on ancient art.

Archival history

GB 0096 MS 228 [1786] Collection (fonds) 1 volume containing 130 leaves and 17 plates Unknown
Richard Payne Knight (1750-1824) was a numismatist. Having travelled in Sicily, in 1777, he began to form a magnificent collection of bronzes, which he bequeathed upon his death to the British Museum. He was MP for Leominster, 1780, and Ludlow, 1784-1806. He was Vice-President of the Society of Antiquaries, and wrote extensively on ancient art.

From the Library of the London Institution.

Manuscript copy, [1786], of a work by Richard Payne Knight entitled An Account of the Remains of the Worship of Priapus, lately existing at Isernia, in the Kingdom of Naples...to which is added a discourse on the worship of Priapus, and its connexion with the mystic theology of the ancients, which was privately published and distributed by Payne Knight in 1786, who gave a copy to each member of the Dilettanti Society. The work, however, was so severely attacked by Thomas James Mathias that the author endeavoured to buy back all the copies. It is unclear whether this manuscript is the original of Payne Knight's work, or a copy made by another person following the publication of the work.

Single item.

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
English
Manuscript quarto. Bound in morocco.

Collection level description.

Richard Payne Knight, An Account of the Remains of the Worship of Priapus, lately existing at Isernia, in the Kingdom of Naples: in two letters; one from Sir William Hamilton ... to Sir Joseph Banks ... and the other from a person residing at Isernia: to which is added a discourse on the worship of Priapus, and its connexion with the mystic theology of the ancients (T. Spilsbury: London, 1786).

Compiled by Sarah Smith as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. ISAD(G) 2nd edition, and NCA rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names (1997). Jun 2000 Archaeological sites Archaeology Dilettanti Society Europe History Isernia Italy Knight , Richard Payne , 1750-1824 , numismatist and politician Naples Religious history Western Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

From the Library of the London Institution.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Manuscript copy, [1786], of a work by Richard Payne Knight entitled An Account of the Remains of the Worship of Priapus, lately existing at Isernia, in the Kingdom of Naples...to which is added a discourse on the worship of Priapus, and its connexion with the mystic theology of the ancients, which was privately published and distributed by Payne Knight in 1786, who gave a copy to each member of the Dilettanti Society. The work, however, was so severely attacked by Thomas James Mathias that the author endeavoured to buy back all the copies. It is unclear whether this manuscript is the original of Payne Knight's work, or a copy made by another person following the publication of the work.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Single item.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Collection level description.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Senate House Library, University of London

Rules and/or conventions used

ISAD(G) 2nd edition, and NCA rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names (1997).

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area