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Sir John Ritblat Gallery: Treasures of the British Library: Science

Notebook sketch by Leonardo from the Codex ArundelItems listed on this page are normally on display in the Sir John Ritblat Gallery: Treasures of the British Library at St Pancras, London.

You can find out more about selected items online. You can also check opening times and get an overview of what the gallery contains.

  • Herbal in Latin. 15th century, from Lombardy
    Sloane 4016, ff. 29v - 30
  • A volume detailing the habits, breeding patterns and importance of insects. 1590
    Sloane 741 & 4104 ff. 11v - 12
  • Chinese botanical paintings, circa 1700
    Add. MS 5292, ff. 422 - 424
  • Manuscript volume containing the naturalist John Ray's sketches of fish. 1680s
    Add. MS 5308C ff. 5v - 6
  • The Florilegium novum by Theodor de Bry - a flower book published in 1612
    442.g.11
  • Hans Sloane A Voyage to the Islands - contains an account of 'drinking chocolate'
    443 I 8-9
  • Anton van Leeuwenhoek's (1632 - 1723) letters concerning the use of microscopes
    Sloane 4064 f. 240
  • Chinese volume giving the pharmaceutical uses for 1000 plants and 1000 animals. 1603
    15251.e.2
  • Joannes de Ketham - first illustrated medical book. Published in Venice in 1500
    IB 21148