Index of papers read before the Royal Society between 1660 and 1717

Description

First volume of a ledger indexing the papers presented at a weekly meeting of the Royal Society. Pagination runs from 2 until page 302 (final page is copied over from the following volume). This mostly corresponds to double pages, except for the first and last pages.

The table is arranged in 6 columns across the double pages with the following heads of columns:
'Papers read before the RS' (including titles and authors)
Date
Reference in the 'Guard Books' (reference in alphabetical letter of author)
Entered in Register Books (reference for volume and page)
Entered in Letter Books (reference for volume and page)
'Printed' (with reference to the Philosophical Transactions or other publication).

The ledger covers from the date of the first meeting of the Royal Society, 28 November 1660 when Sir Christopher Wren's Lecture is listed and 31 January 1717 (New Date).

This volume was purchased at auction in 1859 in Brighton. The sale was likely following the death of the volume's previous owner, Alexander Caldcleugh FRS (1795-1858), mineralogist, colonial envoy and merchant. It is unclear how Cladcleugh came into its possession but a contemporary article in the Athenaeum (n. 1637, Mar. 12 1859, p. 356) notes a direct connection to Martin Folkes through a previous owner, Sir Richard Bentenson Brt.:
'Sir Richard married Lucretia, daughter and co-heiress of Martin Folkes'.
The volume includes a bookplate for Alexander Cladcleugh and the name of Sor Richard Betenson is stamped on the flyleaf. It includes in Weld's hand 'Purchased by the Royal Society' with the reference to the Athenaeum article.

Custodial history

Purchased 1859

Reference number

MS/703

Earliest possible date

1660-1716

Physical description

Ink on paper; 39.5cm x 24.5 cm

Page extent

1 volume, MS Large 602 folios