I have had the rare pleasure of viewing the Linnaean collection housed
at the Linnean Society of London.  It is in a sealed vault downstairs in
the basement and contains numerous drawers of shells, insects and
pressed botanical specimens.  Also therein lies von Linne's own library,
containing many wonderful books important to his work.

It is quite an experience holding specimens that once rested in the
hands of the great Swede.

Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Richard Petit
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 5:28 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Old collections

There is much literature on the Linnaean collection.  For basic
information
see Dance's "Shell Collecting, an illustrated history" (or a later
edition
entitled "A history of shell collecting").  An early work on the
collection
is Sylvanus Hanley's "Ipsa Linnaei Conchyli. The shells of Linnaeus
determined from his manuscripts and collection."
        The late Henry Dodge of the American Museum wrote seven large
papers
(1952-1959) treating Linnaean mollusks (Turbo, Trochus, Murex, Voluta,
Bivalvia, etc.) but unfortunately he never finished due to blindness.
         Many authors have refererred to specimens in the Linnaean
collection which is housed in the offices of the Linnean Society of
London.
(Neither Linnaean nor Linnean are typos.  For an explanation see Dance.)

Dick

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