Accession No

6234

Brief Description

cabinet of 199 geological specimens (minerals, rocks, fossils and shells), with examination sheets, off-print journal articles, and catalogue (part manuscript), arranged by James Tennant, English, 1872

Origin

England; London

Maker

Tennant, James

Class

earth sciences

Earliest Date

1872

Latest Date

1872

Inscription Date

1872

Material

wood (mahogany); hide (leather); metal (brass); paper (paper, cardboard); stone (various)

Dimensions

Cabinet: height (200mm); width (380mm); depth (250mm)

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Christies, 85 Old Brompton Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 3LD on or before 23/04/2008. Lot no. 273.

Inscription

Description Notes

Cabinet of 199 geological specimens (minerals, rocks, fossils and shells), with examination sheets, off-print journal articles, and catalogue (part manuscript), arranged by James Tennant, 1872.

A collection of 199 geological specimens (of 200, the sample of asbestos not present) in five trays inside a mahogany case with leather straps. The specimens are housed in small cardboard boxes within the trays, many still with their original numbered labels.
The case also contains the original padding between trays and printed mineralogy and geology examination sheets from mid 19th century pasted onto the padding in between the corresponding trays (x5).

Also present in the cabinet are eight mineralogical off-prints reprinted for Tennant, six of which were done so by W. Trounce.
- Facts from the Diamond Fields of South Africa
- On the Duties of An Architect
- Mineral Statistics of Victoria
- The Australian Colonies
- Gold-Mining and its Prospects in Nova Scotia
- On Colonization: Its Aspects and Results
Plus two further pieces directly related to Mr Tennant - they appear to be advertisements for Tennant’s services, both as a tutor and for his sets of geological specimens.

The case also contains a catalogue (part manuscript, part print) of the contents in each tray written by James Tennant in 1872. It has a front and back board but is otherwise unbound. In the same volume is a catalogue of minerals, rocks and fossils and a further catalogue of fossils found on the British Isles, both written by James Tennant.

References

Events