Collection Item

From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitleBook, The Georgics of Virgil

About this objectRebound by Professor of Classics Douglas Kidd, this copy of the Georgics, translated by John Martyn and published in 1746, is one of the more well-preserved books of the Kidd Collection.

This copy of the Georgics was translated by John Martyn and published in 1746. This edition of the Georgics is particularly thorough, with a comprehensive commentary of the original Latin on every page as well as an extensive index.

The commentary gives an explanation of the root meanings of certain words, and the connotations that they hold. It also makes reference to specific lines of poetry, both Latin and Greek, from which Virgil sourced some of his information, indicating their similarities and differences.

This edition of the Georgics is impressive in that the author pays respects to King George II for allowing the use of his Latin manuscripts in the making of this book. Martyn's enthusiasm for Botany is clear in the commentary of this edition of the Georgics. This copy contains many valuable agricultural and botanical notes, as well as several detailed hand-drawn images of the plants and flowers mentioned in the book.

John Martyn (1699-1768) was an English botanist, best known for his work Historia Plantarum Rariorum (1728–1737), and his translation of the Georgics of Virgil. As a well-educated man in both medical and botanical studies, Martyn began life as the humble son of a merchant. In 1732 he was appointed Professor of Botany at Cambridge University, but soon ceased lecturing due to a lack of support and equipment. Nonetheless, he remained a professor at Cambridge until 1768.

MakerVirgil (ca 70-19 BCE)

Maker RoleAuthor

MakerJohn Martyn (1699-1768)

Maker RoleTranslator

MakerR. Reily, for T. Osborne

Maker RolePrinter

Date Made1746

Place MadeEngland, London

Medium and MaterialsPaper/card; leather

TechniquePrinting

TechniqueBookbinding

Subject and Association KeywordsWriting, history

Named CollectionThe James Logie Memorial Collection, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Credit LineFrom the Collection of Professor D.A.Kidd

Object TypeBook

Object number214.13.10

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved