IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0117 LBO
Held at: Royal Society
Title: Letter Book Original
Date(s): 1661-1740
Level of description: Collection (fonds)
Extent: 31 volumes
Name of creator(s): Various
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Copies of letters received by the Royal Society, the originals of which are in the Early Letters collection. The Letter Books were copied (as were the Journal and Register Books) for security reasons. The numbering of the volumes and their chronological range is slightly eccentric. Volumes numbered 1-18 are letters of 1662-1727; within this group, Volume 11 has been extended into two volumes. No Volume 17 was created in order to leave a gap in the series for retrospective copying of original papers. The succeeding Volumes 19-26 overlap in time, giving correspondence for the years 1720-1740. There are also five supplementary volumes providing fair copies of letters omitted from the main run; these are labelled A-B, B-C, D-G, G-H and H-S, the letters being arranged in order of author.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English, Latin, French, German and Italian
System of arrangement:
Volumes 1-18 cover 1661-1727; Volumes 19-26 cover 1720-1740; five supplementary volumes arranged alphabetically A-S.
Conditions governing access:
OPEN.
Conditions governing reproduction:
No photocopying. No microfilm available.
Physical characteristics:
Leather bound volumes.
Finding aids:
Volumes 1-19 (1661-1730) are indexed by name of author. Volumes 1661-1695 are indexed in Waller's general subject index to the Journal, Register and Letter Books, and its copy. The five supplementary volumes are indexed letter by letter in the Archive Card Catalogue, giving details of author, recipient, date and location.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
Related material:
Letter Book Copy. Originals of letters in 'Early Letters'.
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Archivist's note: Copied from the Royal Society catalogue by Sarah Drewery.
Date(s) of descriptions: Feb 2009.