The Results

Titles restored through the Sponsor A Book Appeal

Above: 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.

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 mineralogiques et geologiques 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 fossils 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.

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’ (picture left).

'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 Silk Buckingham's 'Travels among the Arab tribes inhabiting the countries east of Syria and Palestine, including a journey from Nazareth to the mountains beyond the Dead Sea, and from thence through the plains of the Hauran to Bozra, Damascus, Tripoly, Lebanon, Baalbeck, and by the valley of the Orontes to Seleucia, Antioch, and Aleppo' (1825)

This fascinating travel memoir was sponsored by Dr John Davey in April 2011.  The book was very popular when published in 1825 and we are pleased that the Geological Society's copy can now be similarly enjoyed by future generations.