Guthrie's Grammar With Maps

Author William Guthrie (1708 - 1770)

Date1787

Object number00009087

NameBook

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 223 x 142 mm

ClassificationsBooks and journals

Credit LineANMM Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds

Terms

DescriptionA book by William Guthrie titled 'A New Geographical, Historical and Commercial Grammar; and present state of the several kingdoms of the world'. The book would come to be known as 'Guthrie's Geography' or 'Guthrie's Grammar'. Tenth edition. Printed for Charles Dilly, G.G.J. and J. Robinson, in Pater-Noster Row, London.HistoryAs knowledge of the world expanded for Europeans so too did their interest in documenting and capturing any newly acquired information. Britain was a leading publisher of books relating to the changing face of the world and Guthrie’s Geography is a wonderful example of this. The book was updated several times and made its way across the world. It is recorded that later editions were so popular even Abraham Lincoln was a subscriber, although to the revised American edition which was slightly altered to suit the newly independent country. John Rennie Short made reference to Guthrie in his analysis of how thse published works could be used to promote nationalist ideals: "William Guthrie was born in Brechin in Scotland. He was an eager educator who wrote general histories and translated Cicero. His most famous work was his geography text. His first geography book was entitled 'General View of Geography...or an attempt to impress on the mind of a school-boy a general idea.' It first came out in 1769 and proved very popular. A second edition entitled 'A New Geographical, Historical, and Commercial Grammar; and present state of the several kingdoms of the world.' Illustrated with large maps soon followed. The title soon became known as Guthrie’s Geography' and numerous editions appeared. The third edition in 1771, the 24th in 1827 and even as late as 1842 new and revised editions were sold. 'Guthrie’s Geography' survived long after William Guthrie died. The name recognition assured publishers of a steady market for updated versions. It grew to a massive text, the 1795 (15th edition) had 956 pages and 25 maps and contained chapters on planets, the earth, empire, climate and history of nations. The largest section was a description of the different countries of the world. To keep up with the expanding geographical knowledge, subsequent editions lead off with the latest discoveries. The 1795 edition for example, had 164 pages of 'New Discoveries'. In later editions there is an explicit acknowledgement of an interconnected world and a global economy. "In considering the present state of nations, few circumstances are more important than their mutual intercourse. This is chiefly brought about by commerce, the prime mover in the economy of modern states. The global connections are still being described from a particular place. The writing is centred in Britain in two ways. First, Britain is proudly raised: "the people are opulent, have great influence, and claim, of course, a proper share of attention". The reference to "proper share of attention" is to head off any ideas the country is suitable or ripe for revolution; social stability is assured by the "proper share of attention". Second, the world is centred on London by the establishment of the prime meridian in London. At the end of almost all of the editions of the book there is 'A New Geographical Table', an early gazetteer giving the name of places and alongside their province, country, continent, latitude and longitude. London is the first meridian." [Rennie Short, John.' A New Mode of Thinking, Creating a National Geography in the New Republic' in Carter, Edward Carlos 'Surveying the Record: North American Scientific Exploration to 1930, volume 231. American Philosophical Society, 1999.] Significance'Guthrie's Grammar' was a well received and popular book that was reissued numerous times. Here in one volume was a concise view of an ever expanding world from a British point of view.