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[mackenzee]

"What's Sweeter than Literary Leisure?" – a Bibliographic Analysis

Project Title – ‘What's Sweeter than Literary Leisure?’ a bibliographic analysis of Memoires relating to the state of the Royal Navy of England, for ten years, determin'd December 1688

Project Description – This paper engages with descriptive and analytical bibliography, concerned with studying the ‘book as object’ through a multilayered perspective. Books were assigned from the New York Public Library’s Rare Books collection for the purpose of critical bibliographic evaluation. My research synthesizes material information like collation, binding, paper, type elements, and design attributes; while presenting contemporary cultural relevance of physical evidence. 

Methods – I conducted an intensive bibliographic study of a first edition, second

issue copy of Memoires relating to the state of the Royal Navy of England, for ten years, determin'd December 1688 by Samuel Pepys. Composing my bibliography involved an assessment of value, condition, and material evidence; both on-site at NYPL’s Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, and remotely using my own photographic documentation against digital surrogates. Throughout the semester, I engaged with a variety of resources – publications from Samuel Pepys’ scholars, early New York Public Library Bulletins, multiple University Library Catalogs, the English Short Title Catalog, early publishing house records, early and contemporary Auction Catalogs, and the Gravell Watermark Archive – to support my resolutions.   

My Role – I am the sole creator of this paper.

Read my final paper here | View my collation here | View my presentation here right click to open in new tab

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Learning Outcome Achieved – Research

Rationale – This project required us to research our assigned book thoroughly in order to contextualize it within historical and contemporary bibliographic conversations. This assessment predominantly required physical documentation in addition to text-based evidence. Multiple research appointments were performed on-site to materially evaluate the ‘book as object,’ compile photographic evidence, and consult with secondary sources. Throughout this course, I became familiar with numerous bibliographic resources essential for efficiently administering bibliographic research – as mentioned above.   

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