ANTIQUARY, a person who devotes himself to the study of ancient learning and "antiques"; i.e., ancient objects of art or science. In 1572 a society was founded by Bishop Matthew Parker, Sir Robert Cotton, William Camden, and others for the preservation of national antiquities, and existed till 1604, when it was abolished by James I. on account of its alleged political character. Papers read at its meetings are preserved in the Cot tonian library and were printed by Thomas Hearne in i 7 20 under the title A Collection of Curious Discourses, a second edition appearing in 1771. In 1707 a number of English antiquaries began to hold regular meetings for the discussion of their hobby and in 1717 the Society of Antiquaries was formally reconstituted, finally receiving a charter from George II. in 1751. Its head quarters are now at Burlington House, Piccadilly.
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland was founded in 1780, and manages a large national antiquarian museum in Edinburgh. In Ireland a society was founded in 1849 called the Kilkenny Archaeological Society, holding its meetings at Kilkenny. In 1869 its name was changed to the Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland, and in 1890 to the Royal Society of Anti quaries of Ireland, its office being transferred to Dublin. In France La Societe Nationale des Antiquaires de France was formed in 1814 by the reconstruction of the Academie Celtique, which had existed since 1805. The American Antiquarian Society was founded in 1812, with its headquarters at Worcester, Massa chusetts. It has a library of upwards of ioo,000 volumes and its transactions have been published half-yearly since 1849. In Ger many the Gesamtverein der Deutschen Geschichts- and Altertums vereine was founded in 1852. La Societe Royale des Antiquaires du Nord at Copenhagen is widely known.