Schuh’s Annotated Bio-Bibliography


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SIMSON, Archibald.

(1564? – 1628)

(Born: 1564?; Died: 1628) English/Scottish pastor.

Simson was a church minister in the Dalkeith parish of Scotland.

Biographical references: Allibone, Dictionary of English Literature, 1859-71. BBA: I 1004, 224-225. Watt, Bibliotheca Britannica, 1824. WBI.

1. Latin, 1622-4.
[Contained within a single rule box:] [ornament] | Hieroglyphi | ca Animalivm | Terrestrivm | Colatilium, Nata- | tilivm, Reptilivm, in- | sectorvm, Vegetivo- | rvm, Metallorvm, | Lapidvm: &c. | Quæ in scripturis Sacris inveniuntur; | & plurimorum alicrum, cum eorum in- | terpretationibus, ab Theologiæ | studiosos. Opus contextum Per | Archibaldum Simsonum | Dalkethensis Ecclestiæ Pastorem. | [rule] | Edinbvrgi, | Excudebat Thomas Finlason, Augusti- | ssimæ Regiæ Majest. Typographus 1622. | Cum Privilegio.

[Title of volume two reads:]

[Contained within a single rule box:] [ornament] | Hieroglyphi | ca Insectorvm | Vegetativorum, | Metallorum, & Lapidum. | Quæ in Scripturis sacris inveniuntur; | & plurimorum aliorum, cum eorum | significtionibus: per M. Archibal- | dum Simsonum Dalketbensis Ec- | clesiæ Pastorem. | Tomvs Secvndvs. | Horat. | Omne tulit punctum qui miseuit vtile dulci | Lectorem delectando pariterque morvendo. | [rule] | Edinburgi, | Excudebat Thomas Finlason, Augustissi- | mæ Regiæ Majest. Typographus 1624.

2 vols. [Vol 1, Libri 1: 1622] 4°: π43 A-M4 χ1; 56l.; [14], 1-97, [1] p. [Vol 1, Libri 2: 1623] 4°: π4 A-N4; 56l.; [8], 1-102, [2] p. [Vol 1, Libri 3: 1623] 4°: π2 A-B4, χ1; 12l.; [4], 1-19, [1] p. [Vol 2: 1624] 4°: π4 A-E4, χ2; 26l.; [8], 1-41, [3] p.

Contents: [Vol 1, Libr 1] [2 pgs/=π1, Title page, verso blank.; [3 pgs/=π2r-π3r], Dedication, signed Archibaldus Simsonus.; [1.3 pgs], "Sivdioso Lecto | ri & Benevolo."; [1.6 pgs], "Praefatio."; [5 pgs/=¶1r-¶3r], "Mvsarvm La- | chrymæ Obitu | Cancellari."; [1 pg/=¶3v], "Index Animalivm."; 1-97, Text.; [1 pg], Blank.

[Vol 1, Libr 2] [2 pgs/=π1, Title page, verso blank.; [1 pg/=π2r], "Ad Authorem."; [1 pg], Blank.; [3 pgs], "Ad Lectorem."; [1 pg], "Ad Illustrissimum."; 1-102, Text.; [2 pgs], "Index Volatilivm."

[Vol 1, Libr 3] [2 pgs/=π1, Title page, verso blank.; [1 pg], "Candido Lecto | ri."; [1 pg], "Index Natatilivm."; 1-19, Text.; [1 pg], Blank.

[Vol 2] [2 pgs/=π1, Title page, verso blank.; [2.5 pgs], Dedication to Thomæ Mel-Rosiae, signed Arch. Symsonus.; [0.5 pgs], "Ad Illustrissimum Comi- | tem Mel-Rosium."; [1 pg], "Benevolo Lec- | tori."; [1 pg], "Ad Authorem."; [1 pg], "In D. Archibaldi Symsoni, | labores Hieroglyphicos."; 1-41, Text.; [1 pg], "Index Insectorvm."; [1 pg], "Ad Lectorem Philomuson."; [1 pg], "In Zoilum."

Very rare. This work on ancient natural history includes in the first volume information on animals and in the second volume on descriptions of insects. Although the title clearly states that information on plants, metals and stones could be found in volume two, it appears that these sections were never included in the volume.

[t. 1, lib. 1] Hieroglyphica animalivm terrestrivm.-[t. 1, lib. 2] Hieroglyphica volatilivm.-[t. 1, lib. 3] Hieroglyphica natatilivm.-t. 2. Hieroglyphica insectorvm, vegetativorum, metallorum & lapidum.

Bibliographical references: BL [1015.b.9.]. STC: 22567.

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