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Smithson's Library

bookcase with Smithson's collectionJames Smithson (c.1765-1829), an 18th-century gentleman of science, included his library with his bequest to the United States, and those books now reside in the vault of the Smithsonian Institution Libraries’ Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History.

The collection consists of 126 titles, primarily scientific monographs and journal articles, but also history and memoirs, political pamphlets, travel books and museum guides, and a few household items like cookbooks.   

Click here to see a list of titles that were part of Smithson's Library in SIRIS, the Libraries' catalog

A list of the collection was compiled by William J. Rhees, Chief Clerk & archivist of the Institution, and published in 1880 (pp.62-67 in the volume James Smithson and his bequest, and again in the following year as no.330 in the Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections); Rhees lists 116 titles, but two seem to refer to the same work. It is probable, however, that this is not Smithson’s entire library, since numerous publications basic to his scientific studies – by men whom he knew and worked with – are not present. Heather Ewing’s biography The lost world of James Smithson (Bloomsbury, 2007) notes that he lost a trunkful of books in 1795 when he had to flee Naples ahead of the invading Napoleonic armies, but the contents of the trunk and the rest of the history of his books remain a mystery.

Nevertheless, the collection of books that came with the bequest remains a useful source of contemporary information about Smithson’s work and the scientific world in which he moved. Inscribed and annotated volumes (of which you can see many examples by clicking on the link below), as well as multiple copies of one of Smithson's own publications that he would have sent out to colleagues in exchange for theirs, reflect the era’s methods of scientific communication and provide the raw material for understanding the intellectual networks of the period.

Interestingly, with very few exceptions Smithson’s books remain in their original paper wrappers, as he would have bought them from booksellers. Even as late as the early 1800s, books were not commonly sold in what we would consider a finished form, namely with hard covers – that was for the purchaser to decide on and pay extra for. Gentlemen of his social class and wealth typically had their books bound in elegant, decorated leather; most unusually, Smithson apparently chose not to trouble about such things, and we can only conclude that he looked upon his books as a working library.

The Smithson library provides a rich resource for historians of both science and book-making, for biographers and bibliographers alike.

Leslie K. Overstreet, Curator of Natural-History Rare Books
Jan, 2008

Displaying 1 - 80 of 93

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Grid of Smithsonian Libraries Image Galleries
M. Garnerin's Ascent and Descent with his Balloon and Parachute
"M. Garnerin's Ascent and Descent with his Balloon and Parachute" from Air Balloon & Parachute Book
View of the Exhibition of Ancient and Modern Mexico
"View of the Exhibition of Ancient and Modern Mexico" from Ancient and Modern Mexico
Alembics of Copper
Alembics of Copper in Cyclopaedia, or, An universal dictionary of arts and sciences
An example of Smithson's humor and sarcasm in A Tour of France
Annotated list of figures from Cristallographie
Annotated page from The works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.
Annotated page from Travels through the states of North America.
Annotated page from Travels through the states of North America.
Annotated page from Travels through the states of North America.
Annotated page from Travels through the states of North America.
Annotated page from Travels through the states of North America.
Annotated pages in Sketch of a tour into Derbyshire and Yorkshire
Annotated title page from Mémoire sur l'emploi de petites coupelles au chalumeau, ou, Nouveaux moyens d'essais minéralogiques
Annotation by James Smithson in Cristallographie
Annotation by James Smithson in Cristallographie
Annotation by James Smithson in Cristallographie
Annotation by James Smithson in Cristallographie
Annotation by James Smithson in Cristallographie
Annotation by James Smithson in Cristallographie
Annotation by James Smithson in Cristallographie
Annotation by James Smithson in Cristallographie
Annotation by James Smithson in Cristallographie
Annotation by James Smithson in Cristallographie
Annotation by James Smithson in Cristallographie
Annotation by James Smithson in Cristallographie
Annotation by James Smithson in Cristallographie
Annotation by James Smithson in Runakefli le runic rim-stok
Annotation by James Smithson of a page in A Tour of France
Annotation by James Smithson of a page in A Tour of France
Annotation by James Smithson of a page in A Tour of France
Annotation by James Smithson of a page in A Tour of France
Annotation by James Smithson of a page in A Tour of France
Annotation by James Smithson of a page in A Tour of France
Annotation by James Smithson of a page in A Tour of France
Annotation by James Smithson of a page in A Tour of France
Annotation by James Smithson of a page in A Tour of France
Annotation by James Smithson of a page in A Tour of France
Annotation of Page in Voyage Fait dans les Departemens
Chemistry, Tab II
Chemistry, Tab II in Cyclopaedia, or, An universal dictionary of arts and sciences
Chemistry, Tab III
Chemistry, Tab III in Cyclopaedia, or, An universal dictionary of arts and sciences
Chemistry, Tab IV
Chemistry, Tab IV in Cyclopaedia, or, An universal dictionary of arts and sciences
Chymical & Characters
Chymical & Characters in Cyclopaedia, or, An universal dictionary of arts and sciences
Cover of Ancient and Modern Mexico
Cover of Notes on the mineralogy of part of the vicinity of Dublin
Dans ce jour solemnel, la science couronnera la valeur.
Dans ce jour solemnel, la science couronnera la valeur.
Diagrams of various implements, including a hammer, in Opuscules chymiques et physiques de M.T. Bergman
Drawings of Geometric Figures in Opuscules chymiques et physiques de M.T. Bergman
Eglise de Ste Genevieve
Eglise de Ste Genevieve
Explanataion of a View of the City of Mexico, exhibiting in the Panorama, Leicester Square
Explanation of a View of the City of Mexico, exhibiting in the Panorama, Leicester Square
Figure of various crystal structures from Observations sur la simplicité des lois auxquelles est soumise la structure des cristaux
Figures Geometriques des Cristaux
Figures Geometriques des Cristaux from Cristallographie
Fossils
Fossils in Cyclopaedia, or, An universal dictionary of arts and sciences
M. Garnerin's Ascent and Descent with his Balloon and Parachute
Frontispiece and title page from Air Balloon & Parachute
View of the Exhibition of Ancient and Modern Mexico
Frontispiece and title page from Ancient and Modern Mexico
Frontispiece and title page of Observations relative to the mineralogical and chemical history of the fossils of Cornwall
Frontispiece and title page of Travels through the south of France…
Half title page from Observations sur la simplicité des lois auxquelles est soumise la structure des cristaux
Inscription on inside cover of Mémoire sur les pierres météoriques et notamment sur celles tombées près de Jonzac, au mois de juin 1819
Inside back cover from Travels through the states of North America.
List of pages Smithson found interesting in A Tour of France
List of Smithson's favorite recipes in The art of cookery made plain and easy
Map of France from Travels through the south of France…
Memoire sur les pierres Meteoriques
Memoire sur les pierres Meteoriques from Cristallographie
Microscopical Discoveries
Microscopical Discoveries in Cyclopaedia, or, An universal dictionary of arts and sciences
Notation in An essay towards a system of mineralogy
Notation in Leçons de minéralogie
Notation in Leçons de minéralogie
Notation in Leçons de minéralogie
Notation in Leçons de minéralogie
Notation in Leçons de minéralogie
Notation in Leçons de minéralogie
Notation in Leçons de minéralogie
Notation in Leçons de minéralogie
Notation in Leçons de minéralogie
Notation in Leçons de minéralogie
Notation in Memoire sur la montagne de sel gemme de Cardonne en Espagne
Notation in Notes on the mineralogy of part of the vicinity of Dublin
Portrait Du Roi
Portrait Du Roi in Relation des derniers événemens de la captivité de Monsieur
Printer's ornament in Cristallographie
Sketch of Part of the Mountainous Country near Dublin
Sketch of Part of the Mountainous Country near Dublin

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