Vigani’s Cabinet

Vigani’s Cabinet
Vigani’s Cabinet, in Queens’ College, holds a remarkably well-preserved collection of Materia Medica assembled by John Francis Vigani, first Professor of Chemistry (1703–12) in the University of Cambridge. The cabinet was made in 1704, and the collection of nearly 700 samples of Materia Medica assembled 1704–5, all at the expense of Queens’ College. The collection today survives nearly untouched, and mostly in its original condition.

Vigani’s title of “professor”, awarded 1702/3 February 10 [Grace Book Θ, p. 490], was a purely honorary one, with no specified duties and no stipend. He had been giving chemical teaching and demonstrations in Cambridge for around 20 years previously, some of them at Queens’ College. He is not known to have been a member of any college, or of the university. His income derived from charging his audiences.

In 1704, the cabinet cost £10, and the sub-set of specimens for which we have invoices cost £63 10s. 4½d. — in today’s values possibly over £10,000 [2007 pp. 76–​7]. It is not fully understood why Queens’ College made such substantial purchases on behalf of a person who was not formally associated with the college. In that period, university financial transactions were normally overseen by the University Proctors. For the academic year 1703–​4, one of the University Proctors was Poley Clopton, who was simultaneously Bursar of Queens’ College. It was Clopton (Fellow 1696–1725, died 1730) who handled the administration of the Vigani purchases. Clopton studied medicine, and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Medicine (or Physick) in 1705.

In 1707, Vigani moved his lectures to Trinity College, in the laboratory newly created by the Master, Richard Bentley:

John Francis Vigani, a native of Verona, having resided in Cambridge and taught chemistry with reputation for about twenty years, received in the year 1702 [old-style] a strong mark of the approbation of the University, by being invested with the title of Professor of Chemistry. To serve the purposes of science, and promote the celebrity of his College, Dr. Bentley resolved to transplant him and his lectures into Trinity. Accordingly he repaired and fitted up an old lumber house as an elegant chemical laboratory; and here Vigani regularly delivered his courses of lectures for some years.
[The Life of Richard Bentley, by James Henry Monk, 2nd ed., 1833, Vol. 1, p. 204] 

However, the cabinet, having been paid for by Queens’, stayed behind. Around 1708/09 Vigani ceased teaching at Cambridge. He died February 1712/3 at Newark.

Henry James (President 1675–​1717) left £40 by will towards the cost of the Materia Medica in the Lodge [Commemoration of Benefactors, late 18th C., p. 6]. Poley Clopton also left £20 by will to the college [Suffolk Manorial Families, by Joseph James Muskett, 1894, Vol. 1, p. 141].

The best account of the collection and its documentation is given in [2007 Wagner, 852 pages].

The cabinet was constructed of oak, by John Austin, a local joiner. In the cabinet, the 26 upper drawers are all 15½ inches wide by 15 inches deep, of varying heights. The three lower drawers are 32½ inches wide by 17 inches deep, of varying heights. All drawers except the bottom one are subdivided into smaller compartments by wood dividers.

The Materia Medica collection:

Drawer A

Drawer A: Gums and Resins
30: Gum Tragacanth 29: Ammoniacum 28: Bdellium 27: Galbanum 26: Sandaracha 25: Gum Guaiaci
24: Gum Elemi 23: Pix Burgundica 22: Tacamahaca 21: Gum Copal 20: Scammonium 19: Styrax non calam.
18: Sagapenum 17: Benzoin 16: Arabicum 15: Opopanax 14: Cambogium 13: Olibanum
12: Styrax Calam. 11: Mastiche 10: Gum Hedeoma 9: Gum Carannae 8: Gum Lacca in Massis 7: Gum Lacca in Granis
6: Euphorbium 5: Gum Animi 4: Labdanum Verum Antiquorum 3: Labdanum 2: Gum Senica 1: G. Saviocolla

Drawer BDrawer B is unused.

Drawer C

Drawer C: Seeds
35: Sem. Levistici 34: Sem. Cardui Benedicti 33: Sem. Sumach 32: Sem. Bardanae 31: Sem. Colocynthidos 30: Sem. Faeniculi Com. 29: Sem. Genistae
28: Sem. Milii Salis 27: Sem. Basilici 26: Sem. Angelicae 25: Sem. Coriandri 24: Sem. Petroselini vulg. 23: Sem. Bombycis 22: Sem. Alexandr.
21: Sem. Urticae 20: Sem. Cydoniorum 19: Sem. Portulacae 18: Sem. P?g???a Rom 17: Sem. Cochlearia 16: Sem. Carthami 15: Sem. Anethi
14: S. P???gi? nigr. 13: Sem. Lactuca 12: Sem. Hyoscyami 11: Sem. Cichorii 10: Sem. Apii 9: Sem. Santonicum 8: Sem. Anisi
7: Sem. Moschi 6: Semen Psyllii 5: Semen Ebuli 4: Sem. Cymini 3: Sem. Thlaspios 2: S. Saxifragiae 1: Sem. Cardamomi

Drawer D

Drawer D: Seeds
35: Sem. Illicium Anisatum? 34: 33: Sem. Colocynthus 32: ?? 31: Sem. Cucurbit 30: Sem. Nasturtii 29: Sem. Cataputiae
28: Sem. Seselios 27: Sem. Papaveris alb. 26: Sem. Foenugraeci 25: Sem. Staphis agria 24: Sem. Faeniculi dulcis? 23: Sem. Plantaginis 22: Sem. Ammeos
21: Sem. Endiviae 20: Sem. Amomi 19: Sem. Dauci Com. 18: Sem. Pepon 17: Sem. Cucumeris 16: Sem. Cucurbitae 15: Sem. Melonum
14: Sem. Althaea 13: Sem. Agni Castrum 12: Sem. Petroselini maced. 11: Sem. Erucae 10: Sem. Dauci Cretici 9: Sem. Paeoniae 8: Sem. Cardamomi min.
7: Sem. Acetosae 6: Orange pips 5: Sem. Lini 4: Lupini 3: Sem. Sinapisi 2: Carum Carvi 1: Semen Rutae

Drawer E

Drawer E: Minerals and Gums
30: Cinnabaris factitia 29: Cinnabaris nativi alia Species 28: Cinnabaris nativi al. Species 27: Cinnabaris nativa Hungaricus 26: Cinnabaris nativum é Guinea 25: Cinnabaris nativa Persica
24: Cerussa 23: Minium 22: Sulphur nativum Lancashiense 21: Sulphur nativum Persicum 20: Sulphur 19: Praecipitatus
18: Arsenicum citrinum 17: Ambra Grisea 16: Succinum nigrum 15: Succinum album 14: Succinum flavum 13: Succinum citrinum
12: Arsenicum Album 11: ?? 10: Talcum Venetum 9: Talcum commune 8: Amiantus 7: Alum. Roch.
6: Arsenicum Rubrum 5: ?? 4: ?? 3: Vitriolum Romanum 2: Vitriolum Viride 1: Vitriolum Album

Drawer F

Drawer F: Stones and Pearls
30: Magnes 29: Shark's Teeth 28: Selenites 27: Globuli Araneae grandioses 26: Margaritae occid. 25: Lap. Lyncis
24: Lap. Magnetis ar. 23: L. Contrayerva 22: Margaritae Orient. 21: L. Judaicus 20: L. Saphirus 19: Margaritae Scot.
18: L. Armenus sive L. Lazuli al. 17: Margaritae orient. Perlucid. 16: L. Nephrit. Levigat 15: L. Nephrit. al. 14: L. Nephriticus 13: L. Gagatis
12: L. Hyacinthus 11: L. Lazuli al. 10: L. Rubinus 9: L. Chrystallus 8: L. Granatus 7: L. Smaragdus
6: L. de Goa 5: L. Topasius 4: Bezoar orient. al. 3: Bezoar orientalis 2: L. Amethystus 1: Lapis Haematites

Drawer G

Drawer G: Peas, Beans, Seeds
50: 49: Cicor alb. 48: Portugal peas 47: 46: ?? 45: Citterne 44: ?? 43: Love is a-bleeding 42: ?? 41: Cicer? ???
40: ?? 39: Indian Cressa 38: ?? 37: Nuces ??sia 36: ?? 35: F?? sorrel 34: Yew seed 33: ?? 32: ?? 31: ??
30: ?? Lupini ?? 29: ?? 28: ?? 27: ?? 26: Water melon 25: ?? 24: ?? 23: Cianus 22: Pericanthis 21: ??
20: Portugal peas 19: ?? 18: Sugar Peas 17: Rosa Peas 16: Dwarf Peas 15: ?? 14: Smyrsca Peas 13: ?? 12: Ceder Myrte 11: ??
10: ?? beans 9: Large tinted beans 8: ?? 7: Betel? 6: Giesi? 5: 4: Spa?? 3: ? Pesa 2: 1: Caravansa

Drawer H

Drawer H: Gums and Resins
23: 22: 21:
20: ?? 19: ?? 18: Heliotro?? ?? condens 17: Opium 16:
15: ?? 14: ?? 13: Sanguis Draconis in Calamis longioribus 12: Sanguis Draconis in calamis brevioribus 11: Sanguis Draconis as it drops fr ye Tree
10: Aloes Hepat. 9: Aloes caball. 8: Aloes rosat. 7: Succus Glucyrine 6: Myrrha
5: Terra Japonica 4: Succus Hypocistidos 3: Succus Acaciae 2: Manna in granis 1: Manna

Drawer I

Drawer I: Pigments
63: Iridicum Atramen. 62: ?? fr. 61: ?? 60: Ash colour fr 59: Brown fr. 58: ?? 57: ??
56: Venice Lake 55: Red Oker? 54: Copper col. Spec. 53: ?? 52: Lake 51: ?? 50: ?? 49: ??
48: Lem. c???'d Sp 47: ?? 46: Umber 45: Burnt Umber 44: Colens Earth Terra Lemni: 43: Sap Green 42: Jamaica Indico 41: Ivory Black
40: Cerusse 39: White fr. 38: Silver Colour'd Sp 37: Dutch Gold 36: Gold Colour'd Sp 35: French Oker 34: Gold fr. 33: Light Orange Sp.
32: Pale Masticote 31: Orpiment 30: Yellow Masticot 29: Dutch Pink 28: Masticote Deep 27: Red Orpiment 26: Deep Orange Sp. 25: Deepest Orange
24: Gaponnicum At. 23: Water? Gold 22: Gold Bronze 21: Verditure 20: Terre Vert 19: Verdigr. fine 18: Green Fr. 17: ??
16: Fine Russet 15: Armenian Bole 14: Roman Oker 13: Spanish Red 12: Indian Red 11: Red Lead 10: Vermilion 9: Carmine
8: Spanish Wool 7: Ultramarine 6: Blue Bice 5: Blue Verditer 4: Calcin'd Smalt 3: Blue fr. 2: Suptri?? 1: Deep Smalt

Drawer K

Drawer K: Fruits
25: Grana Paradisa 24: Amygdala amara 23: Piper cubeba 22: Tamarind 21: Nutmeg?
20: Galls 19: ?? dates 18: Nuces Vomicae 17: Ca?? 16: Anacardia orientalia antiquorum
15: Myrobalan Citrinae 14: Myrobalan chebulae 13: Myrobalan Belericae 12: Myrobalan Emblicae 11: Myrobalan
10: ?? 9: Cope 8: ?? 7: Chirmes Grana 6: Cocculi Indicus
5: Piper Longum 4: ?? 3: Nuces Cypress. 2: Cassic Fist. 1: Alkegengi

Drawer L

Drawer L: Fossils
25: Lapis e Vesica pu??? 24: Lapis e Vesica Lupi 23: Lapis e Vesicas Bov. 22: Lapides Plauta marino tenus filo nerae 21: Pectunculites ??
20: ?? 19: Mytiloides vulgatior Anglicus 18: ?? 17: ?? 16: ??
15: ?? 14: ?? 13: ?? 12: Ostreu minu filiatu 11: ??
10: ?? 9: Muscu?? 8: Echinites 7: Terebratulae Capsulari? 6: Cu??
5: Entrochus Cylindraceus 4: ?? 3: ?? 2: ?? 1: ??

Drawer M

Drawer M: Stones and Minerals
22: ??tid al. fr. 21: Corallium alb. Fist. opt. 20: Corallium alb.
19: Sal nitrum defaecat 18: Sal nitrum non defaecat 17: Corallium rubrum Fisculosum 16: Corallium Rubr.
15: Osteocolla 14: Lapis Spong?? 13: Terra Sigill. Lemnia 12: Terra Sigill. alb. 11: Terra Sigill. rubr.
10: Tartar alb. 9: Bolus Armenia 8: Tartar: Cremor J. Francisci Vigani 7: Bolon: Tartar: 6: ??
5: Lapis Hiberniae figura 4: Lapis Hiberniae 3: Lapis Tutiae 2: Lapis Calaminaris 1: Lapis Ætites

Drawer N

Drawer N: Barks
15: 14: 13:
12: 11: Cassia Lignea 10:
9: Cortex Winteranus 8: Cortex Citri 7: Cortex Esulae
6: Cortex Granatorum 5: Cortex Capparis 4: Cortex Esulae
3: Cortex Peruvianus 2: Cortex Tamarisci 1: Cortex Guiaci

Drawer O

Drawer O: Shells and Snails
18: Neriles fl. 17: Purpura 16: Murex Marmoreus
15: 14: Nautilites complanatior. Nautilitae minoris proplasma 13: Cochlea Depressa una cum albo nautilosae minori
12: Turbines 11: Turbinitis minimis fusileatus 10: Turbo Variegabus
9: 8: Pecten 7:
6: Trochus Pyramidalis 5: Trochus Pyramidalis Depressus 4: Cochlea Cylindroides
3: Concha Longa Rondel 2: Concha Fasciata Tonst. 1: Conchites
Echinitis clunicularis

Drawer P

Drawer P: Roots
12: Alkanet?? 11: ??
10: R. Emulae — Campana. 9: R. Costi dulcis
8: R. Mei Athamantici 7: R. Aristolochiae Long.
6: R. Scorzonerae 5: R. Calami Aromatici
4: R. Turpethi 3: R. Eryngii
2: R. Angelica 1: Radix Sarsaparilla

Drawer Q

Drawer Q: Roots
20: Radix Acori 19: Rad. Azaumatica?? 18: Salap?? 17: Radix Polypodii 16: Radix Dictamni Alb.
15: Radix Behen Rubr. 14: Radix Behen Alb. 13: Radix Mechoacannae 12: Radix Tormentillae 11: Radix Ellebori Alb.
10: Radix Cyperi Rot. 9: Radix Cyperi Longi 8: Radix Bistortae 7: Radix Chinae 6: Radix Hermodactyli
5: Radix Iridis 4: Radix Jalappae 3: Radix Curcumae 2: Radix Chinae Nodosae 1: Radix Aristolochiae Rot.

Drawer R

Drawer R: Animals
18: Scinci marini 17: ?? 16: Civet 15: Hippocampus Rondeletii
14: Cornu Cervi rasp. 13: Sericum crudum 12: Cochinella 11: Oculi Cancrorum 10: Sperma Ceti 9: Sanguis Hirci
8: Scorpio 7: Ossa de Corde Cervi 6: Chelae Cancrorum 5: Ichthyocolla
4: Vipera veneta 3: Ovarium c??nunae vivipara 2: Castoreum Russiae 1: Cap. Mosch.

Drawer S

Drawer S: Woods and Barks
11: Lignum Santalum Rubrum 7: Lignum Aloes 10: Viscus Quercinus 9: Lignum Guajacum
8: Lignum Santalum Citrinum 6: Lignum Rhodium
5: Lignum Santalum Album 2: Lignum Aspalathum
Lignum Nephriticum
4: Lignum Juniperi
3: Lignum Colubrinum 1: Lignum Lentiscinum

Drawer T

Drawer T: Flowers and Fruits
13: Vanillo sive Banollo 12: 11: Radix Rapontici 10: R. Jallap.
9: Fruct. Alkekengi 8: Colocynthis 7: Fructa Acaciae
6: Folia Rosarum Rubrar 5: Flores Balaustia 4: Flores Chamaemeli
3: Flores Staechados. E horto Chels. 2: Flores Staechados 1: Flores Origani

Drawer U

Drawer U: Metals
20: ?? 19: Lapis Specularis 18: Found in great balls among ye Fuller's Earth near Rygate in Surrey 17: Bristoll Sone 16: Spelter
15: minera Auri Hungarici 14: Cuprum Americanum 13: Cuprum ex agris Lancastr. in Angliâ 12: Minera Cupri Anglicana in qua reperitur Lapis Lazuli 11: Fūligo ex iisdem offic. Antiquorum Pmpholyx??
10: Despumatio Plombi ex iisdem officinis. 9: Aureus ex iisdem offic. 8: Lithargyrus argenteus, ex officinis novi-castri in Angliâ. oritur ex Separatione Argenti a Plumbo. 7: Bismuth 6: Minera Bismuthi
5: Stibium ex Antimonio Hungarico 4: Regulus Antimonii ex Antim. Anglicano 3: Antimonium ex agris Cornub. in Anglia 2: Antimonium ex Hungariâ 1: Minera Antimonii al.

Drawer W

Drawer W: Fossils
14: Equus Caballus tooth 13: Tophus Bovinus 12: ?? 11: Lapis Spinalis
10: VIII: Echinoids 9: VII: Ammonite Calcite
or a Nautiloid
8: VI: ?? 7: V: Iron Pyrites Marcasite
6: IV: Echinoids 5: III: Echinoids 4: II: Echinoid 3: Conchites I:
Cast of Lamellibranch
2: Concha Veneris 1: Mater Margaritarū

Drawer X

Drawer X: Plants
14: ?? 13: ?? 12: ?? 11: ??
10: ?? 9: ?? 8: Scaenanthus 7: Visnaga (Toothpick plant) 6: Coram?a 5: Isla?andba???
4: Polium Montanum 3: Fungus Sambuci. 2: Cascuta Dodder 1: Dictamnus Creticus

Drawer Y

Drawer Y: Pills, Creams, Syrups
20: Unguent: Apostolor: 19: Num Mercur dulcis;
Troch. Fledychr.;
Troc? ??? Sc??le?
18: Emplast Diackyl: Simp:;
Empl ??milog;
Empl: E: Mucilag:
17: Cons: Al. korm: S: M: 16: Emplast: Paracels:;
Emplast Adherniam;
Emplast ??
15: Troch: Alkandal:;
Troch: de Myrhae;
Troche: de Carabe;
Pil: Starkaei: Sen? Mathaei;
Pil: Ē: Styrace
14: Powdered Myrrh of Carlisle;
Pil: Coch: Major
13: Ungt Aegyptiacū 12: Ungt: E Gum: Elemi 11: ??
10: ??m?? Ox feroc.;
Antihectium Poterii;
Extract Rudii;
Sacra??
9: El: De Bacc: Laur. 8: El: ???cord: 7: Elect: Caryocos?? 6: ??uent ethaea
5: ??;
??;
Spec: Aromat Rosat:;
Pulv Rad: Ari comp:
4: Balsam: Lucatell;
Troch.
3: Ung’t: Basilicon 2: Suger of Leade;
Pil: Stom: cit Gum
1: Tamarinds

Drawer Z

Drawer Z: Roots
17: Balsamum Tolutanum 16: Radix Serpentariae Virginianae 15: Radix Filipendulae 14: Radix Rhapontici 13: Ipecacuanha 12: Radix Rhabarbari 11: Radix Galangae minoris
4: Radix Ellebori Nigri 10: Radix Gentianae 9: Radix Pyrethri 8: R. Cassa? minoris? 7: Radix Rubiae Tinctorum 6: Radix Zedoariae 5: Radix Asari
3: Radix Phu 2: Radix Contrayervae 1: Tacamahaca

Drawer 1

Drawer 1: Balsams, Oils
36: 35: 34: 33: 32: 31: Balsamum Peruanum
30: 29: 28: 27: 26: 25: ??
24: 23: 22: 21: 20: 19:
18: ?? 17: 16: Bals. Gillead 15: Trageum?? 14: Terebinthina Cypria 13: Terebinthina è Chio
12: ?? 11: Venice turpentine 10: Venice turpentine 9: Terebinthina Com. 8: Terebenthina Strasb. 7: Assafoetid
6: Ol. Palma 5: Ol. Palmelio 4: Balsamum Capivi 3: Ol. Laurinum? 2: Succus Kermis 1: Styrax Collat.

Drawer 2

Drawer 2: Oils, Balsams, Salts
48: printed label 47: ??si 46: ?? 45: ?? 44: ??lic 43: ?? 42: ?? 41: Bezoar Minerale
40: ?? 39: ?? 38: ?? 37: ?? 36: Sulphur Antinon. 35: ?? 34: ?? 33: ??
32: ?? 31: ?? 30: ?? 29: ?? 28: ?? 27: ??f orche?a?? 26: ?? 25: ??
24: ?? 23: ?? 22: Syr Balsam 21: ?? 20: ?? 19: Oleum G??niae 18: ?? 17: ??
16: ?? 15: ?? 14: ?? 13: ?? 12: ?? 11: Ol Anisi 10: Ol Caryophylli? 9: ??
8: Ol Terebinth. 7: Ol Anisi 6: Ol. Petr. Nigr. 5: Ol. Pet. Alb. 4: Bals. Gilead 3: Bals. Americ. 2: Bals. Capivi 1: Bals. Peru

Drawer La1

Drawer La1: Oils, Solutions of Salts, Alcohols
48: 47: 46: 45: 44: 43: 42: 41:
40: 39: 38: 37: 36: 35: 34: 33:
32: 31: 30: 29: 28: 27: 26: 25:
24: ?? 23: ?? 22: 21: ?? 20: 19: 18: 17:
16: ?? 15: Acet. Bargtes 14: ?? 13: ?? 12: 11: 10: 9:
8: ?? 7: ?? 6: Prus. Oils Paf? 5: ?? 4: 3: 2: 1:

Drawer La2

Drawer La2: Metals, Pigments, Resins, Stones
22: Oyster Shell 21: ?? powder 20: Manganese 19: ?? metal ore;
?? transparent whitish crystal;
?? semi-transparent white mineral;
?? yellowish stone;
?? dark brown glass
18: ?? metal in crystal shape;
?? brown stone;
?? greenish-yellowish stone
17: ?? large white transparent crystal;
?? metal in shape of long needle
16: Manganese 15: Roman Oaker;
French Oaker;
Boll-Almenick;
Burnt Umber;
Cullens Earth;
Vine Black;
Blew Black;
fine-Roset;
Ross-Pink;
Super fine Calsind Smalt;
Sapph Green;
Crimson Culler Spekels;
Salop
14: ?? cast metal stick;
Deep Strown Smalt;
Flatt Oaker;
Jamaco Endico
13: ?? metal foil;
3x ?? cast metal;
?? white mineral with long needles
12: ?? red stone;
?? transparent mineral;
?? ore;
?? stone with crystals;
2x ?? cast metal;
2x ?? metal foil
11: 4x ?? cast metal
10: Salt Petre;
Sperma ceti;
Zaffre
9: Purified Zinc 8: Bark of Sassafras;
Shell Lac;
White Lead
7: ?? yellow resin;
2 ?? stones
6: ?? fossil;
?? metal
5: ?? stone;
indog Cood
4: Allum;
Arnotto;
Assafaetida;
Gum Tragacanth
3: S. Benzoin;
Arsenic;
Lapis Calaminari;
Soap Cerate;
Gypsum Ponderosum
2: Seedlack & Shellack;
Arrow Root
1: Venice Vipers;
?? stone

Drawer La3Drawer La3: Documents

Selected documentation

Invoice for specimensInvoice for specimensMS Vig. 2

Invoices from Francis Porter dated 1703 March 7, for specimens.

This “1703 March 7” was an old-style date: the year was 1704 by modern reckoning.

Totals:
£11 19s.  8½d. for 62 items;
 £2  0s.  9d.   for 12 items.
£14  0s.  5½d. for 74 items.

Invoice for specimensInvoice for specimensMS Vig. 4

Invoice from Henry Colchester dated 1703/4 February 18, enclosed within a note dated 1704 April 11.

Left: Columns 1 and 2 of 7.

Right: Column 3 of 7.

Invoice for specimensInvoice for specimensLeft: Columns 7 and 4 of 7.

Right: Columns 5 and 6 of 7.

Grand total £20  2s. 11½d. for 321 items.

Receipt for cabinet paymentMS Vig. 6

Receipt signed by John Austin for payment of £10 for cabinet, dated 1704 August 8th.

Invoice for specimensInvoice for specimensMS Vig. 8

Invoice from Francis Porter dated 1704 January 16, for specimens.

This “1704 January 16” was an old-style date: the year was 1705 by modern reckoning.

Total £1  2s.  9d. for 30 items.

Statement on costs from ViganiMS Vig. 9

Statement on total costs from Vigani, dated 1704/5 February 6, in his handwriting and poor English. Counter-signed by Poley Clopton.

Totals:
£51 07s.  4½d. from invoices, due to him from college;
£22 03s.  0d.   previously paid to him for other items.
£73 10s.  4½d. total cost.

Credits

All photographs by Brian Callingham, taken 2003 for the doctoral dissertation of Lisa Wagner.

References and Further Reading

1682: Medulla Chemiæ. Authore Joanne Francisco Vigani Veronensi. (Gdansk) (OCLC 504895945)

1683: Medulla Chemiæ, of ’t Merg der Scheikonst, in welke kortelijk de gansche Chemie afgeleid werd, by Johannes Franciscus Viganus Veronensis. (Amsterdam) (OCLC 69034578)

1683: Medulla Chymiæ, Variis Experimentis aucta, multisq[ue] Figuris illustrata, by Johanne Francisco Vigani Veronensi. (London) (OCLC 38269160)

1684: Acta Eruditorum, 1684 August, pp. 394–​5. (OCLC 1460878) [Review of London 1683 edition of Medulla Chymiæ] 

1685: Medulla Chymiæ, Variis Experimentis aucta, multisq[ue] Figuris illustrata, by Johanne Francisco Vigani Veronensi. (London, with index) (OCLC 318557093)

1687: Chymia, Jam Variis Experimentis aucta, multisque Figuris illustrata, by Johann. Francisci Vigani. (London, with index) (OCLC 634034936)
1688: another edition (OCLC 181692362)

1693: Medulla Chymiæ, by Johanne Francisco Vigani Veronensi, commentary by David Stam (1633–​1711) (Leiden) (OCLC 1222776161)

1693: Κερας Aμαλθειας, seu Thesaurus Remediorum è triplici regno, vegetabili, animali, minerali, ed. Emanuel König, pp. 135–​148. (Basel) (OCLC 14296072) [146 recipes reprinted from Medulla Chymiæ] 

ca.1699: Cours de Chymie. Joan: Francis: Vigani. Veronensis. University of Cambridge Library MS Dd.12.53. [Transcription in Wagner 2007] 

1705: Seignior Vigani’s Course of Chymistry at CAMBRIDGE, Coll. Regin. die Novembr 19 1705. University of Glasgow Library GB 247 MS Ferguson 62.

1707: A Course of Chymistry under Signior Vigani Professor of Chymistry in the University of Cambridge at the Laboratory in Trin. Coll Novbr & December 1707. QC Library MS 62, pp. 1–​122. [Found by George Salt in Stockton-on-Tees 1935 December 31; acquired by Ernest Saville Peck, who donated it to this college 1938 October 10. Transcription in Wagner 2007] 
1707: another version: MS Eng 685, Houghton Library, Harvard University.

1709: Advertisement for medicines, by Mr. Vigani, Professor of Chymistry (OCLC 1125436475)

1718: Medulla Chymiæ, Variis Experimentis Aucta multisque Figuris illustrata, by Jo. Francisci Vigani Veronensi. (Nuremberg) (OCLC 504207710) [reprint of 1685 ed.] 

1730: A course of lectures, upon the Materia Medica, Antient and Modern, by Richard Bradley. (OCLC 14301900) [references Vigani’s collection at Queens’] 

1748: Tables of specific gravities, extracted from various authors, with some observations upon the same, by Richard Davies M.D.[Fellow], in Phil. Trans. R. Soc., Vol. 45, No. 488, pp. 416–489. (ISSN 0261-0523, eISSN 2053-9223) [references Vigani’s collection at Queens’ pp. 435–​6]

1894: John Francis Vigani: First Professor of Chemistry in the University of Cambridge, by John Ferguson. [read to Cambridge Antiquarian Society 1894 May 16, but never published: typescript carbon copy, on 10¼″ by 8″ paper, watermarked “Excelsior Extra Superfine British Make BCM/SH”. Originated from University of Glasgow (Peck 1934)] 

1899: Vigani, John Francis, by John Ferguson, in Dictionary of National Biography, Vol. 58, pp. 305–​6.

192x: Substances in cabinet drawers (the “Old Inventory”), anonymous, undated. [Probably by Ernest Saville Peck, around 1922–33, typescript on 10″ by 8″ paper, watermarked “Winterton Bond”]

1933: Some 200 year-old specimens of drugs, by Norman Evers (1887–​1972), in The Pharmaceutical Journal and Pharmacist (1933 March 18):219. (ISSN 0301-5432) [Vigani samples]

1934: John Francis Vigani, first Professor of Chemistry in the University of Cambridge (1703–​12), and his Materia Medica cabinet in the Library of Queens’ College, by Ernest Saville Peck (1866–​1955), Proc. Cambridge Antiquarian Society, Vol. XXXIV (1934):34–​49. (ISSN 0309-3603) [Read 1933 February 13] 

1936: Catalogue of a loan exhibition of historic scientific apparatus in Cambridge, by Robert William Theodore Gunther, p. 25, item 153. (OCLC 55865226)

1937: Early science in Cambridge, by Robert William Theodore Gunther, p. 333, item 252, & pp. 472–​81. (OCLC 2682655) [Vigani himself pp. 221–​4, 330–​1]

1952: John Francis Vigani: First Professor of Chemistry in the University of Cambridge, by Leslie James Moger Coleby (1904–​71), in Annals of Science, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, pp. 46–​60. (ISSN 0003-3790 eISSN 1464-505X) [Vigani’s cabinet of Materia Medica survives in Queens’]

1953: Three Early Materia Medica Cabinets in Cambridge, by Ernest Saville Peck (1866–​1955), in Medicine Illustrated, Vol. 7, iss. 2, February 1953, pp. 122–9. (ISSN 0266-982X)

1994: The Vigani specimen cabinet by John Austin, a Cambridge joiner, by Adam Bowett, in Regional Furniture, VIII (1994), pp. 58–​63. (ISSN 0953-0800)

2002: ‘Boltheads and Crucibles’ : A Brief History of the 1702 Chair of Chemistry at Cambridge, by Christopher David Haley, pp. 3–​6. (OCLC 51482640)

2003: Vigani and his cabinet, by Lisa Wagner and Brian Callingham [Fellow], in Queens’ College Record 2003, pp. 14–​16. (OCLC 265498993)

2004: Vigani, John Francis (c.1650–1713), by Antonio Clericuzio, in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

2005: Vigani and after: chemical enterprise in Cambridge 1680–1780, by Simon Schaffer and Larry Stewart, in The 1702 chair of chemistry at Cambridge : transformation and change, edited by Mary D. Archer & Christopher David Haley, pp. 31–​56. (ISBN 978-0-521-82873-4)

2007: Fine Art Materials in Vigani’s Cabinet, 1704, of Queens’ College, Cambridge, by Lisa Wagner, doctoral dissertation, Academy of Fine Arts, Dresden. (OCLC 888712742) [4 vols + DVD-ROM] 

2008a: Dr Bentley’s Laboratory, by Robin Carrell, in Trinity College Annual Record 2008, pp. 71–​6. [to which Vigani moved his teaching 1707] 

2008b: Twenty-first-century Vigani, by Brian Callingham [Fellow], in Queens’ College Record 2008, p. 29. (OCLC 265498993)

2008c: Vigani, John Francis, by A. Rupert Hall, in Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography, vol. 14, pp. 26–​27. (ISBN 978-0-684-80588-7 eISBN 978-0-684-31559-1)

2009: Fine Art Materials in Vigani’s Cabinet, 1704, of Queens’ College, Cambridge, by Lisa Wagner, in Sources and Serendipity : Testimonies of Artists’ Practice, Third Symposium of the Art Technological Source Research Working Group, pp. 79–​86. (ISBN 978-1-904982-52-4)

2011: Natural resins and balsams from an eighteenth-century pharmaceutical collection analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, by Gundel Steigenberger and Christoph Herm, in Anal Bioanal Chem (2011) 401:1771–​1784. (ISSN: 1618-2642 (print), 1618-2650 (online))

2013a: The Vigani Cabinet – Analysis of historical resinous materials by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy, by Gundel Steigenberger, doctoral dissertation, Technical University, Dresden. (OCLC 854842314)

2013b: Some early eighteenth century geological Materia Medica, by Christopher J. Duffin, in A History of Geology and Medicine, edited by Duffin, C. J., Moody, R. T. J. & Gardner-Thorpe, C., Geological Society, London, Special Publications, Vol. 375, 209–​233. (ISBN 978-1-86239-643-2)

2014: Natural resins and balsams from an 18th century pharmaceutical collection characterized by Fourier-Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy, by Christoph Herm & Gundel Steigenberger, in 11th Infrared and Raman Users Group Conference Abstracts, pp. 47–​52.

2015: A Survey of Artificial Pharmaceutical ‘Stones’ — Part 1, by Christopher J. Duffin and Rachael Pymm, in Pharmaceutical Historian, Vol. 45, No. 1, pp. 2–​9, at p. 5. (ISSN 0079-1393)

2016a: Amber as a Component of Palaeontological Pharmacology, by Christopher J. Duffin, in Amber in the history of medicine : Proceedings of the International Conference, eds. I.A. Polyakova, C.J. Duffin, T.J. Suvorova, pp. 95–​132. (ISBN 978-5-903920-43-3)

2016b: Investigation of coloured lead glass glitter from an early eighteenth century material collection, Cambridge, by electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray analysis, by Gundel Steigenberger & Christoph Herm, in Heritage Science 4:24. (ISSN 2050-7445)

2019: British Eighteenth Century Materia Medica Collections, by Christopher J. Duffin, in Collection in the space of culture : Proceedings of the International Conference, eds. I.A. Polyakova, C.J. Duffin, T.J. Suvorova, pp. 105–​125. (ISBN 978-5-903920-52-5)

2020: VIGANI, Giovanni Francesco, by Antonio Clericuzio, in Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, Volume 99. (ISBN 978-88-12-00032-6)