Huntington MS 106 | Manuscript Verse Miscellanies

Title	Verses
Archive	Huntington Library
Call Number	Huntington MS 106
Complete	Yes
Description	Robert Beere, ca. 1740s. Very good example to look at organizing systems because he uses thematic, length, alphabetical, etc. to varying degrees throughout the book. 338 items. Many items are short aphorisms or epigrams; much in nature of advice literature; various pieces on the nature of man (the human state).
Format	Quarto
Book Size	20.7cm x 16.8cm
Filled Page Count	369 pages
Item Count	338
Poem Count
Periods	1731-1760
First Line Index	Yes
Digitized	No
Region	[Unknown]
Additional Genres	Prose - miscellaneous
Print Sources	Gazetteer and New Daily Adv...
Major Themes	Conduct, morality Death, afterlife Devotional writing, religio... Literature Public affairs Major themes prominent among the manuscript contents in alphabetical order.
Minor Themes	Alcohol, other beverages, t... Animals, pets Courtship, marriage Historical subjects Illness Satire - social Other themes of interest among the manuscript contents in alphabetical order.
Links	firstlines.folger.edu
Bibliography
Citation	“Huntington MS 106.” Manuscript Verse Miscellanies, 1700–1820, edited by Betty A. Schellenberg, Simon Fraser University, https://mvm.dhil.lib.sfu.ca/manuscript/284. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Created	2019-09-04 1:13:45 PM
Updated	2023-07-25 11:27:16 AM

Contributor	Role
Robert Beere	Primary compiler Major author
Ann Beere	Owner Possibly also the Recipient.
Aaron Hill	Major author

First Line	Context
I took Pen, Ink, and Paper too	p. 369. Local title: n/a Attributed author: n/a Adaptation: n/a Other variants: n/a Other: original to this manuscript.

First Line

Context

p. 369.

Local title: n/a

Attributed author: n/a

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: n/a

Other: original to this manuscript.

Feature	Note
Author attributions	Rare.
Binding	Vellum.
Decorations - hand-drawn	Sometimes whimsical artistic elements, see p. 9.
Hands	Single.
Indications of use	Final little poem indicates that a reader is expected/ hoped for.
Item formatting	Separating lines between poems ruled in red ink. Item titles are in large, decorative print with variable fonts, as though imitating a printed book.
Organization	Titling, where there are titles, takes a topical approach, like a commonplace book (eg. On Wine; On Poets; etc.) Organised thematically, alphabetically, and/or by length to varying degrees throughout the book.
Original poetry	Yes. Seller’s note suggests that most poetry is original, a few items are attributed to "R.B." or "Robert Beere," and the First Line Index doesn’t identify many of the other contents.
Ownership mark	Inside front cover says "Anne Beere/ Her Book." "Robert Beere fecit" signed throughout the book, implying he was the copyist and perhaps the author of most of its contents.
Page layout	Paginated. Left-hand margins in red ink.