Hopkins Charleston: Richard Eden of London, John Moultrie of Charleston, and the Discovery of the New World: The Most Important Rare Book at Johns Hopkins University

Hopkins Charleston

This illustrated talk will focus on what is arguably the most important book in the vast rare book and manuscript collections of JHU. It is the copy text used by the translator Richard Eden as the basis of the first English-language history of Columbus’ discovery of the World, and one of the first books ever to publish the notion that Britain should imitate Spain and build a world-wide empire. It is completely covered in original manuscript annotations—including drawings of the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola, notes on cannibals and ferocious beasts of the jungles, and an extremely early reference to Copernicus’ De Revolutionibus, the book that began the Scientific Revolution.

Just as interesting is the provenance (i.e., the history of personal ownership) of this inaugural book of the British Empire, which can be traced through 10 generations, from Richard Eden himself, to several prominent Oxford and Cambridge dons, to a Federal Appeals court judge appointed by George Washington, and most importantly to Charleston’s own John Moultrie, and founding member of the Charleston Society Library and in many ways the fulfillment of Richard Eden’s vision, for he also served as the last provincial British Governor of East Florida.

This talk will be lead by Dr. Earle Havens, Nancy H. Hall Curator of Rare Books & Manuscripts, Sheridan Libraries; Adjunct Associate Professor, German & Romance Languages & Literatures, Johns Hopkins University

A reception will follow with light appetizers and beverages.