Manx Society

The prospectus of The Manx Publication Society, was issued in February, 1858. Its object was to be the publication of all the valuable and scarce Books, or Parts of Books, relative to the History and Antiquities, the Religion and Laws, the Charities and Education, the Fishery and Agriculture, the Interests and Rights of the Isle of Man." The first general meeting was held in the following month when it was decided to call the Society " The Manx Society, for Publication of National Documents of the Isle of Man,"

Members paid an annual subscription of £1 - a not inconsiderable sum in those days, approximately equivalent to £50-100 in today's money which means that the full set would cost the equivalent of some £1500 which is comparable with the current auction price for a complete set! The list of members shows the list of the great and the good.

Over a 25-year life the society published some 33 volumes - see publication list. The society would appear to have drifted somewhat in its later years - A.W.Moore published a strong criticism in Some Account of the Manx Society in Manx Note Book vol 8 p174 et seq in 1886 in which he called for its re-formation; however nothing happened and the society was wound up - the final days are told in the 1908 IoM Examiner Annual.

The Manx Society.

In the year 1858 there was formed the Manx Society for the Publication of National Documents. In the course of years the Society issued some thirty-three volumes. bearing on the history, language, folklore. constitution, etc., of the Island. From 1892 no business meetings of the Society took place until October 10th, 1907, when, at a meeting specially called, a proposal was made to disband, and to transfer the stock of books on hand to the Manx Museum and Ancient Monuments Trustees This has been carried out, and, by arrangement with the Trustees, the publishers of the Examiner are able to offer the following works of the Society at the prices shown :

The £10 investment then would probably be worth some £1000 today!