Re: Botanical specimens in books

[John Lienhard <jhl@UH.EDU>]

This is only a sidebar on this conversation, but it turns
out that Leeuwenhoek preserved his botanical/biological
specimens in his original documents without anyone realizing
it until they'd gone beyond microfilms of those documents.
Then the specimens proved to be immensely valuable.
Details at:     http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi549.htm
(Hope you manage to preserve the ferns! )

                                      John Lienhard


At 09:37 AM 7/26/2006, you wrote:
> 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/