Browse Exhibits (4 total)
David Ramsay's "The History of the American Revolution", Volumes I-II (1789)
David Ramsay's The History of the American Revolution is a two-volume history of the Revolutionary War, from the growth of colonial dissent in the 1760's (following the French and Indian War) to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
The copies of The History of the American Revolution, housed in the Rare Books collection of Tisch Library at Tufts University, are first-edition, printed in 1789 by Philadelphia-based R. Aitken and Son.
Written only six years following the Treaty of Paris, Ramsay's narrative is considered the first comprehensive work on the American Revolution. His work was met with acclaim upon publication--so much so that his reputation as a "historian" dwarfed his status as a "politician" for posterity.
John Trumbull's "The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill" (1786); the painting is a popular Neoclassical painting depicting the infamous battle, which largely took place on nearby Breed's Hill.
Basil Kennett's Romæ Antiquæ Notitia (1721)
Basil Kennett's Romæ Antiquæ Notitia or, The antiquities of Rome : in two parts: I. A short history of the rise, progress, and decay of the Common-wealth. II. A description of the city : an account of the religion, civil government and art of war ... to which are prefix'd two essays: concerning the Roman learning, and the Roman education is an antiquity text that explores the rise and fall of Ancient Rome. Originally published in 1696, Tufts special collections has the seventh edition of this book, which was published in 1721. This presentation will focus on that version of the book
A Compendious System of Astronomy
An analysis of Margaret Bryan's A Compendious System of Astronomy with included pictures of her original diagrams and marginalia added post publication. The book was accessed from the Tisch Library Special Collections. The diagrams and simplistic language function as a tool to give her readers a well rounded lesson in astronomy. Each chapter is broken into a different lesson and includes some of the history behind the science. Christianity is mentioned often and her lessons are sometimes interrupted by prayers or biblical quotes. Bryan includes practice lessons and an index of terms to accomodate her readers. The book was published in 1797 and was the first volume of two in her series of astronomy textbooks.
"Anatomical Tables of the Human Body" by William Cheselden (1796)
An Overview
This is a visual presentation of selected higlights from William Cheselden's Anatomical Tables of the Human Body. This book was printed by Manning and Loring for bookseller David West in Boston in 1796 and constitutes part of the Special Collections at Tisch Library. Photographs taken of the book display the use of copper engravings to print anatomical diagrams. These diagrams highlight the use of illustration in communicating scientific knowledge to both academic and general audiences in the 18th century in England and America.
Full-body skeletal diagram from Table X.