Thread-topic: RE: [EXLIBRIS] Botanical specimens in books
Susan,
I am sure a herbarium keeper would be able to advise you: at Oxford
University's Plant Sciences Dept
http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/fielding-druce_herbarium.htm, perhaps,
or the botany section of the Natural History Museum
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/departments/botany/. My
immediate feeling is that a separate album would be the best option.
Best wishes,
Jane
Jane Wickenden
Historic Collections Librarian
INM
Alverstoke
023 9276 8238
-----Original Message-----
From: Exlibris [mailto:EXLIBRIS@MAIL.ECW.NAME] On Behalf Of Susan Stead
Sent: 26 July 2006 11:16
To: EXLIBRIS@MAIL.ECW.NAME
Subject: [EXLIBRIS] Botanical specimens in books
Dear All,
I have in front of me a book on ferns , printed in 1855. A previous
(unidentified) owner has very carefully placed dried specimens of
ferns in the book. They are not glued or pinned in any way and so
could be removed. Some are labelled, most have obviously been placed
in as examples of the type described on the pages. So, should I
remove them? They have stained the book in places. But if I remove
them what should I do with them? I know nothing about preserving
botanical specimens. I've discovered odd preserved flowers in books
before but never anything as systematic as this. It seems a shame to
disturb someone's work.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks,
Susan
Susan Stead
Rare Books Librarian
UCL Library Special Collections
University College London
Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT
Tel: +44 (0)20 7679 5154 (Internal Ext. 25154)
Fax: +44 (0)20 7679 5157
e-mail:s.stead@ucl.ac.uk
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/special-coll/index.shtml
On-line exhibition:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/special-coll/moc_remember.shtml
Digital Gallery: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ls/specdig/