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

By Oliver Impey, Arthur MacGregor, A.C. MacGregor

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1910807192
• ISBN13: 9781910807194
• Release Date: December 2017
• Publisher: Ashmolean Museum
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 4.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 9.1" x 11.2"