Joshua Platt: The Belemnite

Scope and Content

Written in the hand of Platt and one other, 32 folios: 'An attempt to account for the origin and the formation of the extraneous fossil commonly called the Belemnite', dedicated to George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield, who died March 1764. The date 1765 at the foot of the title-page (fo. 1) is therefore added later, perhaps on the completion of the work. The second hand begins on fo. 14. On fos 29 and 30 are seventeen carefully drawn sectional illustrations of the belemnite, no. 1 being torn away. On fo. 1 is 'Ex dono Auctoris 1774 Aetat. 86' in Platt's hand. Below this in another hand is 'Joshua Platt. Ob: 26to Decembris 1776 Aet: 88'. Inside the front cover is the mark C+ and another mark, the numbers 13300 and 319, and 'sale lot 5858'.

Access Information

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Acquisition Information

Bequeathed by Francis Jenkinson, 1923.

Other Finding Aids

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.