Periodic Reporting for period 3 - CULTIVATE MSS (Cultural Values and the International Trade in Medieval European Manuscripts, c. 1900-1945)
Reporting period: 2021-04-01 to 2022-09-30
The CULTIVATE MSS project examines the trade in medieval manuscripts c. 1900-1945 and its impact on the development of collections, on scholarship on premodern books, and on ideas about the Middle Ages and European identity. The early twentieth century saw a boom in the trade in medieval manuscripts, including an exodus of material from Europe to America. It also saw the creation of new libraries, in which manuscripts have remained. The taste of the wealthiest shaped their collections, but also dictated what was available for those with fewer resources. Rich collectors often sponsored scholarship on their books, ensuring that they were recognised as important (raising both their economic and cultural value). Against this backdrop, arguments were made that some books should be in particular countries or collections on the grounds of their national significance. The central hypothesis of the project is thus that the networks of collectors, dealers and scholars of this era played an important and underappreciated role in shaping how and where we encounter medieval books, a key source for the study of the Middle Ages. A reassessment of this activity allows us to better understand both medieval books and our relationship to the past.
The project is developing a multidisciplinary approach to assess the roles of collectors, scholars and dealers in the trade and documentation of manuscripts. It aims to go beyond existing accounts that have tended to focus on isolated figures (typically the most famous collectors and dealers), to understand the networks that facilitated the movement of manuscripts and in particular the contributions of under-represented groups, notably women. In addition, it contrasts the trade in the English-speaking world, France and Germany. Using the Schoenberg Database of Manuscripts to map records of medieval manuscripts on the market and in collections, the project aims to produce an unprecedentedly detailed reconstruction of the movement of manuscripts. Collection catalogues, sales catalogues and unpublished archival materials are being analysed to identify the values (both cultural and economic) projected onto manuscripts. The project is also evaluating the rhetoric around manuscripts as objects of "national significance" and contextualising this within the wider manuscript trade to assess the importance of medieval manuscripts within concepts of European identity.
The project is developing a multidisciplinary approach to assess the roles of collectors, scholars and dealers in the trade and documentation of manuscripts. It aims to go beyond existing accounts that have tended to focus on isolated figures (typically the most famous collectors and dealers), to understand the networks that facilitated the movement of manuscripts and in particular the contributions of under-represented groups, notably women. In addition, it contrasts the trade in the English-speaking world, France and Germany. Using the Schoenberg Database of Manuscripts to map records of medieval manuscripts on the market and in collections, the project aims to produce an unprecedentedly detailed reconstruction of the movement of manuscripts. Collection catalogues, sales catalogues and unpublished archival materials are being analysed to identify the values (both cultural and economic) projected onto manuscripts. The project is also evaluating the rhetoric around manuscripts as objects of "national significance" and contextualising this within the wider manuscript trade to assess the importance of medieval manuscripts within concepts of European identity.
The team of the Principal Investigator (PI), five post-doctoral researchers (PD) and three PhD students are working collaboratively on four work packages. Work package 1 focuses on Britain and America. The PI and a PD have co-authored a short monograph about the Transatlantic trade in rare books, approaching the topic from the perspectives of American collectors, British collectors, and dealers. The PI has published two articles on the collectors Charles Dyson Perrins and William Morris. Another PD has produced a case study of the Golden Gospels of Henry VIII (now in the Morgan Library in New York) as part of an investigation into prices paid for early medieval books, which were rare on the market in this period. A PhD student has begun an analysis of the role of clubs and societies in the movement of manuscripts and the production of scholarship on them and has successfully completed his mid-term review. Another PhD student has begun an analysis of the roles of women in the book trade and has also successfully completed her mid-term review. A third PhD student is investigating nationalist rhetoric and the development of national collections in Britain. She and the PI have co-authored a conference paper on the acquisition of a Life of Saint Cuthbert for Britain, which is currently in press. The team held a workshop to test their work in progress and have presented their findings at conferences and in public lectures. The key findings from the research in this work package include the selective taste of American collectors, the importance of the role of dealers and the relatively small networks facilitating the transatlantic trade.
Work package 2 examines the trade in France. A PD is working on the international trade, with a focus on ideas about repatriation. A second PD is exploring Paris as a hub for the international trade, which has led to an analysis of key Italian dealers such as Leo Olschki and Tammaro de Marinis. Two articles arising from this research are currently in press. The researchers in this strand are collaborating with the rest of the team to collect and analyse economic data. Key findings so far include the complexity of the international trade, the level of collaboration between dealers, and different choices made in defining material considered to be of national importance.
Work package 3 concentrates on Germany. A PD is analysing the extensive records of the dealer Jacques Rosenthal to explore his place in the international trade in books. This will provide a basis for comparison with other German dealers. She is collaborating with the rest of the team to collect and analyse economic data. Key results so far include the scale of the German book trade, its distinctive internal structures and their consequences, and an underappreciated level of international trade. The three PDs in work packages 2 and 3 hosted a combined workshop to present their work in progress and broaden the project's networks. They have also presented their work at international conferences. In addition, the whole team has made significant contributions adding to and improving data in the Schoenberg Database of Manuscripts.
The final work package focuses on methodology and multi-disciplinary collaboration. The PI has refined the approaches taken by the team and continues to encourage collaboration within the team and with external researchers from many disciplines. Her article on William Morris provides a test case for an approach combining analysis of economic data and descriptions of manuscripts from varied sources. She has begun drafting her monograph, and the team has organised a large conference planned for September 2022.
Work package 2 examines the trade in France. A PD is working on the international trade, with a focus on ideas about repatriation. A second PD is exploring Paris as a hub for the international trade, which has led to an analysis of key Italian dealers such as Leo Olschki and Tammaro de Marinis. Two articles arising from this research are currently in press. The researchers in this strand are collaborating with the rest of the team to collect and analyse economic data. Key findings so far include the complexity of the international trade, the level of collaboration between dealers, and different choices made in defining material considered to be of national importance.
Work package 3 concentrates on Germany. A PD is analysing the extensive records of the dealer Jacques Rosenthal to explore his place in the international trade in books. This will provide a basis for comparison with other German dealers. She is collaborating with the rest of the team to collect and analyse economic data. Key results so far include the scale of the German book trade, its distinctive internal structures and their consequences, and an underappreciated level of international trade. The three PDs in work packages 2 and 3 hosted a combined workshop to present their work in progress and broaden the project's networks. They have also presented their work at international conferences. In addition, the whole team has made significant contributions adding to and improving data in the Schoenberg Database of Manuscripts.
The final work package focuses on methodology and multi-disciplinary collaboration. The PI has refined the approaches taken by the team and continues to encourage collaboration within the team and with external researchers from many disciplines. Her article on William Morris provides a test case for an approach combining analysis of economic data and descriptions of manuscripts from varied sources. She has begun drafting her monograph, and the team has organised a large conference planned for September 2022.
A major achievement of the project so far has been the addition of thousands of records to the Schoenberg Database of Manuscripts, creating the most detailed account of the movement of manuscripts in the early twentieth century to date. This work continues, but it provides a foundation for the team's analyses. In addition, the short monograph on the transatlantic trade and the articles (published and in press) break new ground both on individual collectors and dealers and in their approaches to the study of the rare book trade and collecting.
More results will be forthcoming in the second half of the project. These include the first detailed studies of the significance of clubs and societies in shaping collections and scholarship on manuscripts, of the roles of women in the manuscript trade, and of nationalist rhetoric in the development of collections in Britain. In addition, the team is working towards a multi-authored analysis of the economic data which aims to shed new light on both the top and bottom of the market. The PDs are working on focused studies of the market in France, Germany and America. The conference will provide a rich, multidisciplinary conversation about many aspects of the trade in Europe and America and its consequences, and the PI will complete her monograph on the trade in premodern manuscripts in Britain.
More results will be forthcoming in the second half of the project. These include the first detailed studies of the significance of clubs and societies in shaping collections and scholarship on manuscripts, of the roles of women in the manuscript trade, and of nationalist rhetoric in the development of collections in Britain. In addition, the team is working towards a multi-authored analysis of the economic data which aims to shed new light on both the top and bottom of the market. The PDs are working on focused studies of the market in France, Germany and America. The conference will provide a rich, multidisciplinary conversation about many aspects of the trade in Europe and America and its consequences, and the PI will complete her monograph on the trade in premodern manuscripts in Britain.