Figures
1 Title page of Johannes Columbus (praeses) and Christopher O. Aurivillusâ (respondent, enrolled in Gestrike student nation) dissertation on fiction and fables from 1676 7
2 Ratio of Swedish dissertation defences per month 1600â1820 (by author) 9
3 Number of dissertations per decade (Uppsala, Lund and à bo University). à bo dissertations are only counted until 1809 (when Finland became a part of Russia) 9
4 Certificate signed by Professor Anders Stobaeus in Lund, 6 June 1782, certifying that Samuel Kihlgrén has been examined both pro exercitio and pro gradu at the faculty of philosophy in Lund 11
5 First Swedish dissertation written in Swedish, with parallel texts in Latin and Swedish (A. Celsius and A. Hellant 1738) 12
6 Gratulation verses from Johan Lundersteen and Casten Rönnowâs dissertation De vera origine et natura dominii rerum humani (1684) 15
7 Gratulation verse by Hedwig Sophia Paqualin to her cousin, the respondent Erik Hartwich in Peter Ekerman and Erik Hartwichâs Urbis Romas sub regibus incrementa (1762) 16
8 Different kinds of compilation bindings 18
9 Page with illustration from M. E. Gestrinius and E. U. Gavelius De stellis from 1635 20
10 The mad King Nebudchadnezzar, here depicted as a werewolf (a chapter on werewolves was also inserted into this dissertation). In the back we can also see the Tower of Babel. From J. Palmroot and E. Montheliusâ De metamorphosi Nebudcadnezaris in bestiam, 1703 21
11 Illustration of a threshing-machine from S. Duraeusâ and G. Tiseliusâ Novam machinam segetibus triturandis idoneam sistens, 1773 22
12 Illustration of a âsleigh-beaverâ from L. Norrmannus and J. Biurbergâs Castor breviter delineates, 1687. Marks found on the back of some beavers had led to the (false) belief that some beavers were used by other beavers as sleighs to transport wood 23
13 Illustrations from L. Roberg and J. G. Geringiusâ De piscibus, 1727. The illustration to the right depicts fish scales as seen through a microscope 23
14 The reproduction of older, medieval illustrations can be seen in a series of different dissertations presided by D. Solander. Here we can see an illustration from Solanderâs and Krook De praescriptione from 1745. The illustration is copied from Magnus the IV of Swedenâs City Law of the 14th century 24
15 The dissertation bibliographer Gabriel Marklinâs book owner stamp. Not too rare, but always nice to find if one collects Swedish dissertations 26
16 Lidénâs bibliography is still as an important reference work and used by book dealers. This is a page from the famous Swedish firm Björck and Börjessonâs copy (later also belonging to Björn Löwendahl), showing signs of good use 28
17 Cederhamnâs bibliography from 1765 is arranged according to titles, and thus gives a first rudimentary idea of the distribution between different topics 30
18 Johan Jakob Döbelius and Nils Retziusâ dissertation on vampires from 1727 34
19 Total number of Swedish dissertations (Ã bo, Lund and Uppsala) per decade, in relation to the number of dissertations in the collection per decade (number of dissertations are shown by staples and measured on the left axis) 36
20 The distribution of dissertations in relation to university and subject (%), 1600 to 1820 (19,273 dissertations) 37
21 The distribution of dissertations in relation to subjects 1621 to 1820 38
22 Dissertations in religion, 1611â1820 41
23 Dissertations in philosophy, 1611â1820 42
24 Dissertations in natural sciences, 1611â1820 45
25 Dissertations in medicine, 1611 to 1820 46
26 Dissertations in mathematics, 1611 to 1820 46
27 Dissertations in natural sciences, mathematics and medicine, 1641 to 1820 47
28 Dissertations in history, 1611â1820 48
29 Dissertations in languages, 1611â1820 50
30 Dissertations in literature, 1611â1820 50
31 Dissertations in law, 1611â1820 52
32 Dissertations in economy, 1611â1820 52
33 Dissertations in technology, 1611â1820 53
34 Dissertations in the social sciences, 1611â1820 54
35 Dissertations in geography, 1611â1820 55
36 Andreas Riddermarck and Jonas Norckâs dissertation on architecture from 1695 56
37 Title page of Olof Laurell and Johannes Barkiusâ De substantia from 1623 95
38 A page from Magnus Celsius and Henrik Schytzâs De eclipsibus from 1671 193
39 A written dedication on the title leaf is quite common in dissertations, but are usually restricted to just the name. This is an example of a more ambitious dedication to lector Olaus Repplerus in Kalmar (also vicar in Ljungby) 206
40 A reindeer from Julius Micrander and Petrus Graanâs Delineationem rangiferi (1685) 226
41 Fold-out engraving in Johan Columbus and Johan Ahlmanâs De triumphis Romanorum, from 1679 228
42 Illustrations of coins from Gustav Peringer and Erik Benzeliusâ Siclus Judaicus (1692) 252
43 Illustrations of a beaver and an otter from Lars Normann and Johan Biurbergâs Castor breviter delineatus (1687) 270
44 Engraving by Erik Reitz from Andreas Drossander and Georg Browalliusâ De sale volatili (1687) 275
45 Illustration from Andreas Riddermarck and Lars Ekewallâs dissertation on rainbows (1696) 290
46 Illustration from Nils Celsius and Bengt Hagelâs dissertation Geodaesia from 1696 298
47 Title page of Elias Obrecht and Johannes Thingwallâs Pax Augusta (1689) 300
48 Illustration of different kinds of swords in Andrea Goeding and Nicolaus Salanâs Gladius Scythicus, from 1691 311
49 Illustration of arctic raspberry in Olof Rudbeck and Daniel Kellanderâs Rubus humilis fragariae foli (1716) 322
50 Illustration of a man in Hebrew clothes from Johan Palmroot and Carl Folckerâs Laceratione vestium apud Hebraeos (1701) 326
51 Illustration from Petrus Elvius and Jakob à rreâs dissertation on fountains from 1715 330
52 Two pages from Johannes Esbergius and Andreas Norreliusâ dissertation on signs and letters, from 1703 347
53 Fold-out illustration from Bonde Humerus and Nils Collinusâ De linea perpendiculari, from 1704 350
54 Title page from Lars Roberg and Petrus Leetströmâs De libella insecto lacustri & alato (1732) 356
55 Page from Lars Roberg and Petrus Leetströmâs De libella insecto lacustri & alato (1732) 357
56 Small dictionary in Olof Celsius and Olof A. Odheliusâ De convenientia lingvæ Persicæ from 1723, comparing words in Persian and Swedish 375
57 Fold-out map of Malta made by Eric Geringius, in Olof Celsius and Anders Geringiusâ De insula Melita from 1725 376
58 Illustration of two different hand gestures (showing an old and a new way of making the sign of the cross) from N. Bergiusâ De statu ecclesiae et religionis Moscoviticae (1704) 382
59 Illustration from Johan Hermansson and Johan Maehlinâs dissertation on the dowsing rod, from 1718 418
60 Illustration of Swedish coins by Erik Gerinigius, from Johan Hermansson and Erik Thuniusâ De moneta aereae in Svecia, rotunda, from 1725 423
61 The smaller plate of Georg Wallinâs three-part dissertation on the sword of Gustavus Adolphus (1728â1729) 475
62 Fishing equipment depicted in Anders Celsius and Anders Hellantâs De novo in fluviis Nordlandiarum piscandi modo, from 1738 479
63 Illustration from Samuel Klingenstierna and Bengt G. Forssellâs De barometro, from 1747 500
64 Pedagogic illustrations on how to make magnets, from Samuel Klingenstierna and Johan Branderâs De magnetismo artificiali, from 1752 501
65 Illustration of a Danish runestone in Kilian Stobaeus and Zacharias Kihlgrenâs dissertations on runes and rune stones from 1740 523
66 Facsimile illustration of a page in Codex Argenteus, from Johan Ihre and Erik Sotbergâs Ulphilas illustrates, I, from 1752 542
Tables
1 Day of the defence of the 453 dissertations, presided 1735 to 1774, by J. Ihre in Uppsala (according to Krister Ãstlund) 8
2 Ratio of Swedish dissertation defences per month 1600â1820 8
3 Number of dissertations per decade (Uppsala, Lund and à bo University). à bo dissertations are only counted until 1809 (when it became a part of Russia instead of Sweden) 10
4 Professors, together with their subjects and faculties at Uppsala University 1744 32
5 The distribution of dissertations in relation to subjects 1621 to 1820 39
6 Subjects used in the catalogue 62
7 Abbreviations of names, and their Latinized and Swedish versions 63
8 Swedish libraries and the abbreviations used in the catalogue 64
9 Swedish libraries with more than 1,000 catalogued Swedish dissertations from the period 1600â1820 (numbers from 2022) 66