Library and Information Services

Titles restored through the Sponsor A Book Appeal

Charles Bunbury's 'Journal of a residence at the Cape of Good Hope' (1848)

This volume was sponsored by Professor Richard J. Howarth and restored by Aquarius Book Restorers of Kent.

The book, which was completely missing its spine, was returned to the Library in February 2009 fully resewn with a new leather spine, gold lettering, and its original boards preserved.

Pierre Lacoste's 'Lettres minéralogiques et géologiques sur les volcans de l'Auvergne' (1805)

Mr John Henry sponsored the restoration of this volume, which was returned to the Library in February 2009 with new boards. The work was carried out by Aquarius Book Restorers.

Georges Cuvier's 'Recherches sur les ossemens fossiles de quadrupèdes' (1812)

The £2000 needed to restore this five volume title, which had cracked spines and perished leather and was in urgent need of repair, was reached by the generosity of Mr Anthony Brook, Mr Phil Clarke, Mr Warren Jones and Dr Richard Symonds. It was collected from the Library by Aquarius Book Restorers in April 2009.

'Oeuvres de Bernard Palissy, revues sur les exemplaires de la bibliotheque du Roi'

This edition of Bernard Palissy's 'Oeuvres', published in 1777 with notes by Barthélemy Faujas de Saint Ford and Nicolas Gobet, was presented to the Society by George Bellas Greenough. Its restoration in late 2009 was made possible through the donations of Dr. Michael Price and Dr. Michael Simms.

James Nicol's 'Guide to the geology of Scotland; containing an account of the character, distribution, and more interesting appearances of its rocks and minerals' (1844)

This book, shown before and after restoration, was sponsored by the Donations Committee of Maersk Oil North Sea UK Ltd. in February 2010 and was returned fully restored in March, with its covers refixed and spine delicately retooled, and its many loose and torn pages repaired.

Roderick Murchison’s ‘Siluria’ (1855) and two editions of Edward Hull’s 'Coal-fields of Great Britain' (1873 and 1881).

Dr Christopher Howells sponsored the restoration of these three items. Now that it is fully restored we can see the striking pattern on the Murchison volume, known as ‘Spanish style’ 

W.T. Blanford’s 'Observations on the geology and zoology of Abyssinia, made during the progress of the British expedition to that country in 1867-68' (1870)

Blanford’s account of the British Army Expedition to Abyssinia is an engaging narrative of the journey, with various illustrations including beautifully coloured lithographs of birds. The Library thanks Dr Christopher Toland for his donation in December 2011, allowing us to conserve this title with its original cloth binding.

Richard Owen's 'British fossil reptiles' (1849-1884)

The four volumes of Owen's seminal work were conserved in early 2012 thanks to the generous donation of The De Laszlo Foundation and Mr Damon De Laszlo.

Charles Lyell's 'The geological evidence of the antiquity of man: with remarks on theories of the origin of species by variation' (1863)

Lyell's important later book was carefully conserved in June 2012.  Its restoration was made possible through the donation of Francis Lees.

Rene Just Hauy's 'Traité des caractères physiques des pierres précieuses, pour servir à leur détermination lorsqu’elles ont été taillées' (1817)

The Library thanks Professor Paul Henderson for his donation which has allowed us to conserve this volume.  The volume was returned fully restored in early 2013.