Add MS 5246

Please note this manuscript contains anatomical images and descriptions of the human body that include terminology nowadays regarded as outdated. Where inscriptions on the manuscripts have been transcribed, the excerpt of text is indicated between inverted commas.

The manuscript contains a series of written observations collected by James Paris Du Plessis, servant to Samuel Pepys, concerning unusual conditions of the human body. The descriptions alternate with small watercolour drawings, each representing the person whose case is discussed in the accompanying manuscript text. The only exceptions are on folios 6, 34v. and 50, where an etching has been pasted onto the folio. The drawings are executed directly on the folios of the manuscript and all folios are framed by a red washline.

The manuscript bears the date 1730-1733 on fol. 1. However, most cases described in the book are dated as observations made primarily in London in the second half of the 17th century and early 18th century. Summary of contents:

f. 2. Manuscript title page introducing the contents of the album as "A Short History of Human Prodigious and Monstrous Births of Dwarfs, Sleepers, Giants, Strong men, Hermaphrodites, Numerous Births, and Extream old age &c."

f. 3. A letter sent by James Paris du Plessis to Hans Sloane, presenting the manuscript.

f. 6. An etching pasted down on paper, with text in English and the title in the top left corner 'Effigies of a Monstrous Tartar taken in Hungary , feb. 1664'.

ff. 4-54. Case studies described by Du Plessis, each with a watercolour drawing at the beginning of the description.

f. 34. An etching of the body of a classical statue with intersex genitalia inscribed in Latin 'Hermaphroditus ex Marmore antiquo'.

f. 50. An etching of conjoined twins in two positions.

ff. 55-163. Case studies describing men of unusual strength or men and women who have lived up to old age, among other cases. All descriptions are in English, written by different hands.