Sketch of the eclipse of the sun, 1820; handwritten "explanation of plate"; sketches including grain worms, root worms, dust brands of wheat; title jacket for "Prospectus Operis Botanici" by Joseph Plenck (1788); short note describing Bauer's sketch of 2 December 1829.
Bauer , Franz Andreas , 1758-1840 , microscopist and botanical artistManuscript volume, dated 1471: Sammelhandschrift, a collection of miscellaneous texts, comprising
(1) Calendar for the year 1471 (German), followed by instructions for use and chapters on the zodiac, the seven planets, the four 'complexions', blood-letting, etc, with plain and coloured ink illustrations (some incomplete) (ff 1v-92v);
(2) Aristotelis Brief Am Kunig Alexander (letter purported to have been written by Aristotle to King Alexander, offering advice on his health, in prose and in verse, in fact part of one of Aristotle's suppositious works, the Secreta Secretorum) (ff 93r-106v);
(3) Calendar for 1439, 1458, 1477 and 1496 (Latin), accompanied by astronomical chapters, with tables and instructions for use (ff 109v-130r);
(4) Elucidarus (a summary of Christian theology by Honorius Augustodunensis, in the form of a dialogue) (ff 131r-159r);
(5) Epistel Des Juden Samuel (epistle of the Jew Samuel) (ff 160r-186v).
The content of the two calendars, (1) and (3), is nearly identical.
Folios 107r-109r, 130v, 159v and 187r-187v are blank.
Signed by the scribe, Nicholas Pfaldorffer (f 106v).The guards in the centre of each quire consist of strips cut from a 13th-century manuscript. Folio 188r has a 16th-century house charm, consisting of words taken from the Antiphon of St Agatha.
Correspondence, mainly to Martin Folkes on a large variety of subjects, including administrative matters for the Royal Society.
Folkes , Martin , 1690-1754 , antiquaryPapers of Professor Alfred Fowler, 1903-1935, including observations on the sun, 1903-1910; laboratory notebooks, 1906-1913; telescope design, 1906-1910; miscellaneous correspondence, 1916-1935.
Fowler , Alfred , 1868-1940 , astrophysicistThe correspondence and papers of Thomas Gold, astrophysicist, 1920-2004. The papers that comprise this collection provide a fascinating insight into Thomas Gold's research, views and life as an academic. They relate to almost very aspect of his career from his work at the Admiralty Signal Establishment, research into the theory of hearing and controversy over his proposal that the surface of the moon would be covered with a layer of fine-grained rock powder, to his advocacy of the contentious theory that oil and gas deposits are non-biological (abiogenic) in origin and his proposal, proved correct, that microbial life exists deep beneath the earth's surface.
Gold , Thomas , 1920-2004 , astrophysicistKew Observatory Sunspot measurements from 24 January 1864 to 9 April 1872.
Kew ObservatoryPapers of Professor Raphael Meldola, [1866-1907], comprising notes on experiments in qualitative analysis at the Royal College of Chemistry, [1866]; physical lectures by Dr Tyndall, [1867]; course on physics by Dr Guthrie, 1873; notes as a Demonstrator at Science Schools, 1877-1878; research notes, 1879, 1900; diary of eclipse expedition, 1875; lecture notes on organic chemistry, 1885-1890, including coal tar products, 1890; laboratory notes, 1904-1906; correspondence concerning the portrait fund for Sir John Evans, 1899-1900; Perkin Memorial Fund, 1906-1907, including letters from several German chemists; correspondence about a Maccabeans Dinner, 1905; general correspondence, 1862-1915; correspondence concerning a memorial for Herbert Spencer, 1904-1908; and a memorial for James Sylvester, 1897-1900; correspondence on the subject of thinnings in Epping Forest, 1894-1895; a scientific autograph collection, 1864-1907; plus additional autographs and press cuttings 1889-1915.
Meldola , Raphael , 1849-1915 , chemistCopy notes and diagrams, 1988, on 'General theory of colour', and planetary motion, with diagrams and covering letters; paper, Jul 1988, on 'The foundations of knowledge', listing an ideal syllabus.
Sheppard , William Henry , b 1914'Analysis of language, and the symbols of the worship of the Sun' by John Skinner, author's holograph MS. Profusely illustrated with pen- and wash-drawings of Egyptian and other antiquities, etc, c 1830.
Skinner , John , 1772-1839 , Rector of Camerton