| Description | Bound copy of offprints of papers by Joseph Prestwich, originally published in the 'Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society', mostly concerning Prestwich's research into the Antiquity of Man, comprising:
1) "On the occurrence of flint-implements: associated with the remains of animals of extinct species in beds of a late geological period, in France at Amiens and Abbeville, and in England at Hoxne", London: Taylor and Francis (1861), originally published in 'Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society', vol 150 (1860). Bound into the back of the paper is a manuscript table of the water levels of the tides and sea in various quarries in the Somme Valley, compiled at the request of Boucher de Perthes on 6 July 1859 [in French]. Also two monochrome watercolour views of a flint tool.
2) "On the geological position and age of the flint-bearing beds, and on the Loess of the South-East of England and North-West of Europe", London: Taylor and Francis (1864), originally published as: "Theoretical considerations on the conditions under which the (drift) deposits containing the remains of extinct mammalia and flint implements were accumulated, and on their geological age. - On the Loess of the valleys of the South of England, and of the Somme and the Seine", 'Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society', vol 154 (1864). Bound into the back of the paper are two black and white albumen photographs, one showing a quarry with two workers, the other a ground surface with a flint tool evident in amongst the pebbles.[see admin history] Also two mss sections by Cleer S Alger of the 'Brick pit at Hoxne' and 'Section from Moor Bridge to Fairstead Farm, Hoxne', 1860, and mss map of Hoxne by J E Amyot, June 1859. Six sheets of watercolour studies of flint tools from St Acheul, Amiens and Abbeville districts. [Note: some of the mss & photographic material relates to paper 1].
3) "Report on the exploration of Brixham Cave conducted by a committee of the Geological Society, and under the superintendence of Wm Pengelly, Esq, FRS, aided by a local Committee; with descriptions of the animal remains by George Busk, Esq, FRS, and of the Flint implements by John Evans, Esq, FRS", published in 'Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society', vol 163 (1873).
4) "Tables of temperatures of the sea at different depths beneath the surface, reduced and collated from the various observations made between the years 1749 and 1868, discussed. With map and sections", published in 'Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society', vol 165 (1875). |
| Administrative History | The photographs following paper two, depict the first flint observed by Joseph Prestwich to be in situ at Saint-Acheul, France, on 27 April 1859. In the first picture, one of the quarrymen is pointing to the flint's location, the other print shows the flint in situ in detail. According to Charles Lyell's 'The Antiquity of Man' (1863), Prestwich had a photograph taken of the flint before he removed it. For a description of the flint's finding, see paper 1. |
| CustodialHistory | Volume was in the Rare Books collection, however as it contains mss sections, drawings & photographs it was transferred to Archive in July 2018. |