MS 227: Edmond Tew, Mathematical Notebook

Archive Unit
  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 473 MS227
  • Dates of Creation
      Oxford?, 18th c.; ca. 1753
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
      English
  • Physical Description
      Support (paper) 242 x 145 mm. Text area: typically 239 x 139 mm. Fol. i + 82 + i leaves. (1 later pencil sequence of foliation in top right of each recto from fol. 1: 83 leaves.) Fol. 83 is the detached rear pastedown. Stub between fols 1 and 2. Binding: Contemporary vellum over pasteboard. 2 brass book-claps. Shelfmark stamped in gilt at top of spine. Red wax used to seal pastedowns? Binding dimensions 246 x 147 mm.

Scope and Content

18th c. mathematical notebook by Edmund Tew, Fellow of St John's, Oxford (matric. 1753). Given to the Library by Francis Puryer White (1893-1969), Fellow and Librarian of St John's College, Cambridge, who purchased it initially under the impression that it was associated with that college, rather than the Oxford college.

1. Fols 1r-45v: Tew, Edmund. Mathematical notebook. English. Single 18th c. hand. Written in long lines with ca. 36-37 lines to a page. Includes geometrical diagrams and other figures. "Explanation of Terms. Problem, denotes a Proposition wherein some operation or construction is required ... this will be the length of the two equal sides of the triangle." Dated "St John's, 1753" at head of fol. 1r. Contents from major divisional captions as follows:

  • a. Fols 1r-1v, "Explanation of Terms."
  • b. Fols 2r-38r, "The Propositions of Euclid applied."
  • c. Fols 38r-46r, "Trigonometry." [fol. 46r blank except for a diagram, fols 46v-83v blank.]

Access Information

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Acquisition Information

Letter from Francis Puryer White (fol. i) tacked to fol. 1r. Dated 25th October, 1930 and on London Mathematical Society headed paper, this reads: "The Librarian, St John's College, Oxford. Dear Sir, A London bookseller recently listed a mathematical MS notebook of the eighteenth century, bearing the inscription 'St John's, 1753.' Thinking that this was probably the College of the Evangelist in Cambridge, I bought the book with a view to its finding a place in our College library ... A reference to Foster's 'Alumni Oxon.' gives 'Edmund Tew. s. Of Edmund, of Sawbridgeworth, Herts, doctor. St John's College, Oxford, Matric. 10 July 1753, aged 18.' So I venture to present this book to you. As far as I can make out it has no interest except the association. If you can give it a home, pray do. Otherwise, please destroy it. Yours faithfully, F. Puryer White."

20th c. bookplate of St John's College, Oxford, on front pastedown, with black-inked shelfmark.

Other Finding Aids

This catalogue entry derives from Stewart Tiley's unpublished descriptive catalogue of the post-1500 western manuscripts at St John's College, Oxford (2018). This entry was uploaded to ArchivesHub in April 2023 as part of the St John's College Library digitization project. To learn more about the project and to find digital resources, please visit the Digital Library

Custodial History

Inscriptions of the name Edmund Tew at various locations:

  • a. Partially erased at head of fol. 1r.
  • b. Abandoned log of accounts?, inverted on fol. 82v: "Edmund Tew to Dr[?] [C?...]. 1753 July 3. Value received - 1: [?] : [?]".
  • c. Various flourishes and scribbles in inside of rear cover, including "Saluta honoratissima E. Tew", the name "R. Walter ...", and the phrase "Semper Avarus ege[?]".