The Origins of Museums: The Cabinet of Curiosities in Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century Europe - Hardcover

Edited By Arthur Macgregor; Edited By Oliver Impey

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1910807192 ISBN 13: 9781910807194

Publisher: Ashmolean Museum, 2017

Synopsis

• A reprint of the original 1985 edition with updated photographs
• Thirty- three essays from scholarly contributors on the evolution of collecting, and how this lead to the formation of the modern museum
• One of the first books to explore how collectors live with their objects, a subject which has become increasingly studied and popular

History Today carried a feature in 2015, describing The Origin of Museums as "a cult book [that] spawned a new discipline in the history of collecting". Indeed, the first publication of this book in 1985 undoubtedly marked a propitious moment in the development of interest, in what has since grown to be a dynamic subject-area in its own right.

That an appetite for such matters was already there is confirmed by the fact that the first impression sold out within a few months, a second impression a year or two later, and the third in 1989. There was to be no further printing by the original publishers, Oxford University Press. However in 2001 a new edition appeared with a new publisher. Demand again proved buoyant, but within a few months the company failed; having operated on a print-on-demand basis, it left behind it no unsold stock. The Origins of Museums reverted to a scarce (though much sought-after) volume. With original copies now selling for hundreds, if not thousands of pounds, the Ashmolean is proud to make this important volume readily available again.

About this title

Product Description:

History Today carried a feature in 2015, describing The Origin of Museums as "a cult book [that] spawned a new discipline in the history of collecting". Indeed, the first publication of this book in 1985 undoubtedly marked a propitious moment in the development of interest, in what has since grown to be a dynamic subject-area in its own right. That an appetite for such matters was already there is confirmed by the fact that the first impression sold out within a few months, a second impression a year or two later, and the third in 1989., There was to be no further printing by the original publishers, Oxford University Press. However in 2001 a new edition appeared with a new publisher. Demand again proved buoyant, but within a few months the company failed; having operated on a print-on-demand basis, it left behind it no unsold stock., The Origins of Museums reverted to a scarce (though much sought-after) volume. With original copies now selling for hundreds, if not thousands of pounds, the Ashmolean is proud to make this important volume readily available again.

About the Author:

The late Oliver Impey and Arthur Macgregor were both Assistant Keepers at the Ashmolean Museum, and both were involved with the Journal of the History of Collections.

About this edition

• Publisher: Ashmolean Museum
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1910807192
• ISBN 13: 9781910807194
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 352