ANTIQUARI, a name given to copiers of old books. After the decline of learning amongst the Romans, and when many religious houses were erected, learning was chiefly in the hands of the clergy; the greatest number of whom were regulars, and lived in monasteries. In these houses were many industrious men, who were continually employed in making new copies of old books, either for the use of the monastery or for their own emolument. These writing monks were distinguished by the name of Antiquarii. They deprived the poor librarii, or common scribes, of great part of their business, so that these found it difficult to gain a subsistence for themselves and families. This put them upon finding out more expeditious methods of transcribing books. They formed the letters smaller, and made use of more jugations and abbreviations than had been usual. They proceeded in this manner till the letters became exceedingly small; the abbreviations were very numerous, and extremely difficult to be read. This in some measure accounts for the great variety of hands in the species of writing called Modern Gothic. When a number of copies were to be made of the same work, it was usual to employ several persons at the same time in writing it; each person, except
Antiquary except him who wrote the first skin, began where his
fellow was to leave off.
Antiquities ANTIQUARY, a person who studies and searches
after monuments and remains of antiquity; as old medals,
books, statues, sculptures, and inscriptions; and,
in general, all curious pieces that may afford any light
into antiquity.
In the chief cities of Greece and Italy, there were
persons of distinction called antiquaries, whose busi-
ness it was to show strangers the antiquities of the
place, to explain the ancient inscriptions, and to give
them all the assistance they could in this way of learn-
ing.—Pausanias calls these antiquaries Εἰκονοί. The
Sicilians call them mylogoi.
There was an ancient college of antiquaries erected
in Ireland by Ollamh Fodhla, 700 years before Christ,
for composing a history of that country: And to this,
say the Irish historians, it is owing that the history
and antiquities of that kingdom may be traced back
beyond those of most other nations.
There is a society of antiquaries in London, and
another in Edinburgh, incorporated by the king's
charter. See SOCIETY.