Papers of John Hanning Speke including observation files, 'Explorations in Eastern Africa', 1859; copies of letters from the East African expedition to Philip Lutley Sclater and Sir William Hooker, Sep 1860, and to the Royal Geographical Society (RGS), 1 Oct 1860; observations and computations, Lake region and upper Nile, 1861-1863; 44 letters to the RGS, 1857-1864, from East Africa with some information on his second expedition with Richard Francis Burton, and from Wiltshire concerning his relations with Burton and the preparations for his proposed expedition with James Augustus Grant to the source of the Nile, and from East Africa reporting on the progress of that expedition; letter to Col Rigby from Khoko, 12 Dec 1860; letter to King Rumanika of Karagwé, Mar 1862; two letters from John Petherick, 24 Feb and 15 Apr 1863 concerning the aid he expected to receive from Petherick; coloured plates of birds noted in Africa by Wilhelm Ruppell and others with original watercolour sketches by Speke and Grant on blank verso pages, Speke's signature on the inside front cover is followed by a page of notes on the use of watercolours and a sketch of King M'tesa of Uganda; reprint from the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Vol 24, 'Report on a zoological collection from the Somali country by Edward Blyth, with additions and corrections by the collector' [Speke], edited by P L Sclater, London, 1860; letter, unfinished, to Mr. Tinne, from Neston Park, 1864; sketch maps of Lake Tanganyika and of Speke's route in 1857, (11 sheets, sheet 8 has a letter from Speke to the RGS from Unyanyembe, 20 Nov 1857, written on the back); volume entitled 'Extracts', containing a collection of press cuttings relating to the discovery of the source of the Nile by Speke and Grant and to Speke's death, 1863-1864 and volume entitled 'Record', containing extracts prepared by the Royal College of Arms for the Speke family.

A calligraphic sample book, presumably compiled to demonstrate the skills of the unknown artist. Containing samples of writing and drawing styles, including some fine natural history drawings of freshwater animals.

f.1: fanciful decorative border including vignettes of indians with feather headresses, birds, snails, rams' heads, sphinxes, architectural columns, candles and paintings.

f.2: illustrations of four types of freshwater fishes: barbel (top); pike (bottom); bream (left) and gudgeon (right). With outer and inner borders of very small and patterned calligraphy.

f.3: specimen of calligraphy: Proverbs 16: 7-9 commencing "Wenn dem Herrn..." and ending "...aber der Herr allein gibt dass es fortgehe". Highly decorated 'W', using flowers, leaves and fruits.

f.4: seven lines of text with letters staggered at the line centre. Accompanied by a freely drawn bird [a swan on water?] and an illustration of a crayfish or lobster.

f.5r: three columns of written text, various styles and forms of address, commencing "Dantiscanae urbis origo"

f.5v: three coluns of written text, various styles and forms of address, commencing "Qua' tibi depictum..."

The presentation is noted in a meeting of the Royal Society of 26 February 1700/1: "Mr Owen was permitted to be present. He presented a fine piece of writing in a book done on Vellum at Dantzick [Gdansk, Poland]. He was thanked for it". [JBO/10 p.212].

The collection consists mainly of minutes, financial records, manuscripts of unpublished texts and correspondence. It provides interesting detail on what one section of society thought would provide education for another. There is much useful information on the reading preferences of the public, and on the growth and development of Mechanics' Institutes. Most of those concerned with the founding of the Society as a project in self-education were also involved in the founding of the new University of London (now University College London) and some, like Augustus De Morgan and George Long, actually taught there. There is also considerable information on the work of publishers, illustrators, engravers and booksellers and on writers, whether already established authorities in their field or young hopefuls, like G H Lewes, who sought to establish themselves through the Society's patronage.

The manuscript versions of papers published by the Royal Society in the 'Philosophical Transactions'. The series has many points of interest, which include authors' corrections to manuscripts, and the presence of original illustrations in various media (drawings, watercolours and photographs) bound in the volumes. Not all of the material printed in the 'Philosophical Transactions' relating to Society business survives, but manuscript examples of meteorological observations, lists of presents and annual indexing may be found in volumes 8, 9 and 12.
Papers are usually bound into vellum-covered volumes by year of publication, although a few (volumes 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 17, 73-75) are loose, boxed items. Several gaps appear in the collection, notably for the period 1825-1839 (volumes 18-22) and any year may lack one or more papers; these omissions are noted at the beginning of each part. Despite this, the series constitutes a large, relatively complete run.

Papers of Paul Peter Piech, 1960s-1970s, mainly comprising copies of books produced by the Taurus Press, his private press begun at his home in Bushey Heath. These books include America and Selected poems, both by William Blake; several are very limited editions. There are also copies of books illustrated by Piech using woodcuts and linocuts.

Collection of papers of and relating to Samuel Palmer, 1829-1944, comprising note to George Richmond concerning works seen in London, 1872; typescript copies of letters to various correspondents, 1870-1880, relating to the printing of his plates, advice on choosing prints; letters from John Linnell (Palmer's father-in-law), concerning retouching a picture, 1829, invitation to visit, 1858; letter relating to Samuel Palmer's financial affairs, 1845; correspondence between Alfred Herbert Palmer and Martin Hardie (some copies), [1922-1930], concerning selling A H Palmer's collection of his father's works and Linnell's papers; correspondence and notes of Geoffrey Grigson, including with Martin Hardie, 1922-1923, concerning A H Palmer's collection of his father's drawings; with the owner of a Palmer work, 1944; memoirs of Isabelle Linnell, relating to her grandfather John Linnell and Samuel Palmer compiled by Geoffrey Grigson, undated; correspondence between Isabelle Linnell and A H Palmer; copy of painting notes by Samuel Palmer, [1844]; catalogues of exhibitions of Samuel Palmer's work, 1927, 1928; article by Grigson on Samuel Palmer, 1941; sale catalogues of works by George Richmond, 1897.

Minutes and notes of the judging panel of the Mother Goose Award, 1978-1986 (Clodagh Corcoran, Shirley Hughes, Jane Little, Colin McNaughton, Fiona Waters, Sally Grindley, Jan Ormerod, Kathleen Gribble).

Note-books of Arthur Layard containing sketches and drawings in pen, pencil and water-colour from a 'Course on Artistic Anatomy', and similar figure drawings, sketches for title-pages, book-illustrations, etc.

Illustrations, purchased from Barachevsky Russian Book Shop, mostly re Russia and mostly in colour from various antiquarian books including the following topics - art, objets d'art, costume, the imperial family, the military, orders and medals, religion and views of the country.

Papers of Hans Andreas Hammelmann, comprising working files, compiled [1950]-1969, arranged by artist, containing photographs of pictures, correspondence and articles, for the artists: David Allan, Peter Angelles, P Angier, William Austin, Antonio Baratti, Francis Barlow, Bernard Baron, Francesco Bartolozzi, Basire, Baumgarten, Anthony Benoist, Benoit, Thomas Bewick, George Bickham, Nicholas Blakey, François Boitard, Louis Philippe Boitard, Jacob Bonneau, F Boucher, Bowyer, Edward Francesco Burney, Charles Catton Jnr, Louis Cheron, J B Cipriani, B Cole, William Cole, John Collins, Collyer, Bartholomew Dandridge, Delacroix, John Devoto, Claude Dubosc, John Ellis, Paul Fourdrinier, Alexandre-Evariste Fragonard, Jean Honoré Fragonard, Fuseli (son), Henry Fuseli, John Gilpin, Sawrey Gilpin, Joseph Goupy, Hubert Gravelot, Simon Gribelin, Moses Griffith, Simon Grignion, Joseph Grisoni, Louis Du Guernier, Sir William Hamilton, Jonas Hanway, Francis Hayman, Joseph Highmore, William Hogarth, James Hulett, Walter Jackson, William Kent, Elisha Kirkall, Knapton, Marcellus Laroon, Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg, Thomas Major, J Marchant, Mercier, Conrad Metz, John Hamilton Mortimer, George Michael Moser, Johann Sebastian Muller, John Nixon, Pietro Antonio Novelli, Piazetta, John Pine, Arthur Pond, Ravenet, William Wynne Ryland, Paul Sandby, T Sandby, G Scotin, Robert Smirke, Stendhal, Thomas Stothard, John Sturt, Tardieu, Isaac Taylor, Sir James Thornhill, John Tinney, John Vanderbank, Van der Gucht family, Vivares, Samuel Wale, Anthony Walker, Antoine Watteau, John Webber, Richard Westall, George M Woodward, John Wootton, Thomas Worlidge;
photographs, photocopies and notes relating to eighteenth century book illustrations, compiled [1950]-1969; correspondence relating to specific artists and general matters, some with photographs and articles, 1950-1969, notably from the National Gallery of Scotland, 1950, Professor Lawrence Gowing, 1953, National Gallery of Ireland, 1969, Ashmolean Museum, 1959, 1966, British Museum, 1966, Bibliotheca Nacional, Madrid, 1968, Nottingham Museum and Art Gallery, 1951, Courtauld Institute, Witt Library, 1952, Bodleian Library, 1952, Royal Library, Windsor, 1967, Ruskin Galleries, Isle of Wight, 1967, Lewis Walpole Library, Connecticut, 1969;
papers of T S R Boase, 1953-[1974], comprising printed articles, exhibition catalogues, correspondence and two card indices, one of eighteenth century artists and illustrators, and one of authors; original prints and autographs, 1740, 1780 and undated, notably six prints of paintings in Vauxhall Gardens by Francis Hayman; three letters with autographs, 1795-1931; miscellaneous items, [1950s-1960s], including card indices on eighteenth century illustrated books and literature, cuttings from catalogues, photographs of Hammelmann 's friends/family, Victorian book illustrations; general articles and publications, 1864-1969, some by Hammelmann.

The Collection contains examples of his design work for commercial companies, many commissioned through The Curwen Press for example, Transport for London. The largest section contains works for Fortnum & Mason department store, Piccadilly, London.

Papers of William Cheselden, 1749-c 1990, comprising a deed of sale for the copyright of Anatomy of the Human Body by William Cheselden, to the publishers, Charles Hitch and Robert Dodsley for £200, dated 8 Apr 1749; two receipts for shares, dated 19 Oct 1771 by W Woodfall, for one 16th share in Cheselden's Anatomy to Mr Dodsley, and dated 22 Oct - 25 Nov 1778 by the trustees of Mr William Nicoll, also for one 16th share of Cheselden's Anatomy to James Dodsley; and photographs of the original drawings for Cheselden's Osteographia, 1733. The drawings for the vignettes in the Osteographia were by Jacobus Schijnvoet of Amsterdam, and the drawings for the plates were by Gerard van der Gucht. The photographs are mounted on card and numbered on the back.

Records comprising:

papers of Frances Mary Buss including scrapbook of articles, notes, anecdotes, pamphlets, [1886 1881; Queen's College Teaching Certificate 1848-1849; sketch of family tree; volume containing copies of Girton Songs, [1890]; letters to and from FMB, [1870s], and letters from friends, colleagues and former pupils, including Dorothea Beale, Emily Davies, Jane Storrar, Annie Ridley, Sara Burstall, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Maria Gray, Anne J Clough and David Laing;

letters out copybook of Alfred J Buss, 1882-1889, 1897-1906 (2 vols); letters to AJB, [1870s];

illustrated journals of Septimus Buss, 1860-1875 (3 vols), continued in 1935 by Francis Fleetwood Buss; watercolour;

scrap book of Jane Buss, including photographs, illustrations, printed drawings etc, 1878-1894;

papers and art work of Robert William Buss including scrapbook of prints of engravings of titled 'Illustrations of University Life', 1842; volume of sketches, drawings and etchings by RW Buss (owned by Mary Caron Buss, 1914); sketchbook (undated); 'RWB extemporary compositions and sketches' (1845) - related to a sketching club, containing works by various members of the club; 5 portraits by R W Buss, in pen and ink; pastel portrait of FMB as an infant; and two oil paintings; file of papers, 1859-1909; photos, 1850s; designs and prints;

Buss family papers including volume of press cuttings, relating to the death of Frances Mary Buss, 1894; scrapbook compiled by F F Buss, 1854-1922; Frank Fleetwood Buss chronicle of the Buss family, (undated); List of persons named Fleetwood who have served in the naval and military forces, compiled by Robert Woodward Buss, 1920 (privately printed); The family of Fleetwood of Calwich co. Stafford with a pedigree, by RWB, London, 1908; The ancestry of William Fleetwood..., 1926; papers relating to the Fleetwood family history, 1908-1926 (13 printed booklets); letters photos, family memorabilia, notes on family tree, printed papers, 1860s- 1980; photographs of FMB and family members including Mary Caroline Buss, and Mary Caron Buss; and sketches and watercolours, [1870s-1920s].

Papers of Edward Bawden comprising correspondence, and scrapbooks, 1920s-1980s.

Drawings and watercolour paintings of fossil fish by Joseph Dinkel, J C Weber, Cécilie Agassiz, Jacques Bourkhardt, G A H Köppel and Sixtus Heinrich Jarwart and others, commissioned by Jean Louis Rudolphe Agassiz for his publications 'Recherches sur les Poissons Fossiles' (1833-1844) and the follow up 'Monographie des Poissons Fossiles du Vieux Grès Rouge' (1844-1845). Also includes drawings commissioned by Lord William Willoughby Cole (1807-1886), later the Earl of Enniskillen, and Sir Philip de Malpas Egerton (1806-1881) of their own fossil cabinets.