9 May 2005

Unique 18th century correspondence collection on show

Note: The open day runs from 10am to 4pm but the best time for a photograph, if required, will be 11am.

Parts of the remarkably well-preserved collection of correspondence from Carl Linnaeus - "The Father of Modern Botany" - will be placed on show at the University of Dundee tomorrow (TUESDAY MAY 10TH).

The eighteenth-century Linnean Correspondence collection will be available to view by an invited audience at an open day being staged by the Book & Paper Conservation Studio within the Main Library at the University.

The Linnean collection is still intact with plant specimens that Linnaeus's colleagues, admirers and "disciples" sent to him from travels in Europe, America, Asia and Africa. Linnaeus described his 600 correspondents as "the most learned and curious in Europe" and his admirers included the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Also on show will be work recently conserved by the Studio for clients all over the UK, including Turner's illustrations for his treatise on landscape depiction; the Liber Studiorum, mediaeval parchment, rare books and pastel portraits.

Representatives from museums, libraries, archives, trusts, and members of the public with interesting objects have all been invited to attend the studio's open day.

"People are always fascinated when they visit the studio. I think it is the way that conservation fuses art and science, and the rarity and significance of the things we get to work on, that fires the imagination," said Ylva Player-Dahnsjö, Chief Conservator at the Studio. "It is certainly what we conservators get excited about, and this is a wonderful opportunity for us to share our enthusiasm with others."

Those attending will also be able to receive the conservators’ advice on items they have brought in themselves. The Book & Paper Conservation Studio provides services to anyone in need of expert conservation and preservation, in state of the art premises within the Main Library of the University.

The open day runs from 10am to 4pm. For more information, please contact the Chief Conservator Ylva Player-Dahnsjö on 01382 34 4094

www.dundee.ac.uk/conservation

By Roddy Isles, Head of Press 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, r.isles@dundee.ac.uk