Fonds TPP - Papers of Thomas Pell Platt

Identity area

Reference code

GB 891 TPP

Title

Papers of Thomas Pell Platt

Date(s)

  • [1815] - 1826 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

1 archival folder

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Thomas Pell Platt was born in London, attended school in Norfolk, before entering Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1815. He became a scholar there in 1818, graduating in 1820 and gaining his Masters in 1823. Whilst at Cambridge he became involved in with the British and Foreign Bible Society and for some years acted as its Librarian. In 1823 Platt published a catalogue of Ethiopian biblical manuscripts in the Royal Library of Paris and in the library of the British and Foreign Bible Society; and in succeeding years collated and edited for the Society, texts of the New Testament. In 1829 he prepared an edition of the Syriac Gospels, and in 1844 edited an Amharic version of the Bible.

He became a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society in 1825 and served on the Committee of the Oriental Translation Fund. He was also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in London. He died at Dulwich Hill, Surrey, in 1852

Archival history

These Papers were written by Thomas Pell Platt and donated to the Society.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

In the Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society it is recorded that T.P. Platt Esq., presented five items to the Society, including these, on 17 June 1826.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

These papers consist of two items presented to the Society by Thomas Pell Platt. They are:

  • Fasti Sacri Ecclesiae AEthiopicae
  • Computus Temporum Ecclesiae Aethiopicae

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The Papers were catalogued as two files.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open. Please contact the archivist using the email address given here. The archive is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 10-5, and Thursdays 2-5. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone or email. Please bring photo ID

Conditions governing reproduction

Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.

Language of material

  • Amharic
  • English
  • Latin

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    Finding aids

    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

    Related units of description

    Platt's donation consisted of five items. It appears that only these two remain within the Collections. The other items were:

    • A Catalogue of Ethiopic Biblical MSS. London, 1823, 4to.
    • The Ethiopic Originals of the Fasti and Computus temporum. MS.
    • Translation of the Ethiopic Mode of ascertaining the Hour by the Length of a Person's Shadow. MS.

    There are some of Platt's published works within our Library Collection . These are:

    • Novum Testamentum Domini nostri et Servatoris Jesu Christi Aethiopice, published London, 1830
    • Psalterium Davidis Amharice, published London, 1833.

    Related descriptions

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    Description control area

    Description identifier

    gb891-tpp

    Institution identifier

    Rules and/or conventions used

    Status

    Level of detail

    Dates of creation revision deletion

    Language(s)

      Script(s)

        Sources

        Archivist's note

        These Papers were catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2019.

        Accession area