Belfast Natural History Society - The Library

The Library

With the tumultuous years of 1789-1815, European culture was transformed by revolution, war and disruption. By ending many of the social and cultural props of the previous century, the stage was set for dramatic economic, political and social change of the Late Enlightenment of which the development of learned societies was a part. One of the most important developments that the Enlightenment era brought to the discipline of science was its popularization. An increasingly literate population seeking knowledge and education in both the arts and the sciences drove the expansion of print culture and the dissemination of scientific learning. Popularization was generally part of an overarching Enlightenment ideal that endeavoured “to make information available to the greatest number of people”. As public interest in natural philosophy grew during the 18th century, public lecture courses and the publication of popular texts opened up new roads to money and fame for amateurs and scientists who remained on the periphery of universities and academies. Books owned by the Belfast Natural History Society reflect such changes, although some of the more expensive works were the gift of Thomas Fortescue and Arthur Hill. They included:

• Georges Cuvier, 1829 Regne Animalium, in English, The Animal Kingdom, published by Chez Deterville at Paris; 1832 Class Insecta Whitaker, London
• Justin Pierre Marie Macquart, 1834-1835. Histoire naturelle des insectes. Dipteres Paris : Roret.
• Pierre André LatreilleGenera crustaceorum et insectorum, secundum ordinem naturalem ut familias disposita (4 vols., 1806 1807 1807 1809)
• Peter Simon Pallas Zoographia Rosso-asiatica
• Friedrich Wilhelm Martini Neues systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet;
• Emanuel Mendez da Costa A Natural History of Fossils (1757), Elements of Conchology, or An Introduction to the Knowledge of Shells (1776), British Conchology (1778)
• Gilbert White The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne (1789)
• Thomas Pennant History of Quadrupeds
• Johannes Allart, Afbeeldingen der fraaiste, meest uitheemsche boomen en heesters. Amsterdam, Johannes Allart, 1802 ;
• William Smith Strata by Organized Fossils (1815);
• Louis Agassiz Recherches sur les poissons fossiles (1833–1843);
• Philipp Franz von Siebold Fauna Japonica: Birds or Aves, 1844-1850 12 vol.; Fish or Pisces 1842-1850 16 vol.; Crustaceans or Crustacea 1833-1850 8 vol.; Mammals or Mammalia 1842-1844 4 vol
• Pierre Barrère Ornithologiae Specimen Novum, sive Series Avium in Ruscinone, Pyrenaeis Montibus, atque in Galliâ Aequinoctiali Observatarum, in Classes, genera & species, novâ methodo, digesta (1745);
• Julius Theodor Christian Ratzeburg Die Waldverderber und ihre Feinde, Berlin, 1841