A Special AdoptLINN Appeal: Help us Conserve our Books of Travel and Exploration
Help us preserve the stories that changed our understanding of the natural world
Published on 15th August 2026
Some of science's most compelling accounts of travel and exploration can be found in the library of the Linnean Society. Their pages tell of remarkable expeditions across continents, revealing plants, animals and landscapes previously unknown to European science. These rare books shaped our understanding of biodiversity and inspired generations of naturalists, including many of our own Fellowship.
Today, however, these irreplaceable volumes are at risk. A number of books from our significant travel collection have been damaged by mould, threatening both the objects themselves, and the knowledge they contain. While the affected volumes have been carefully isolated to prevent further contamination, they require specialist conservation before they can be safely handled, studied, and enjoyed.
With your support, we can save these incredible witnesses to the history of exploration.
Your donation will fund the work of an accredited salvage and recovery firm, Harwell Restoration, who will carefully remove mould, sanitize affected volumes, and sensitively handle each item to the highest professional standards. Every book conserved is another piece of our shared cultural and scientific heritage protected for the future.
More than just beautiful historic books, they reveal how our understanding of the natural world has evolved over centuries, and continue to support academic research into the history of science, colonial exploration, biodiversity and environmental change, while also contributing to exhibitions, teaching and public engagement.
Every contribution, large or small, brings us closer to preserving this unique collection for future generations. More information about the appeal can also be found in the FAQ section below, and further enquiries can be sent to the Collections Team.
Frequently Asked Questions
A recent condition survey identified active mould across 48 metres of rare and books and journals dating from the 17th to 19th centuries. While these volumes are currently isolated to prevent contamination from spreading, mould poses a continuing threat to the paper, bindings, and neighbouring collections. Without swift professional intervention, the deterioration will advance, leading to irreversible loss of priceless historical material and substantially higher repair costs in the future.
This collection documents the intellectual and scientific history of global travel, exploration, and geographical discovery. They provide vital primary sources for academic research into biodiversity, environmental change, colonial exploration, and the history of science. Furthermore, these works directly connect to the legacy of naturalists whose discoveries shaped biological science, including many Linnean Society Fellows. Highlights from the collection—such as Sparrman’s Voyage to the Cape of Good Hope (1785)—also directly enrich our public engagement and exhibition programming (including our recent exhibition, Homo sapiens: Classifying the Human Animal).
No. Because the mould poses a health and contamination risk, these volumes are currently off-limits to researchers, academics, and visitors. Conserving them is the only way to safely restore public and scholarly access.
Although the Linnean Society holds sufficient reserves, most of them are tied up in assets such as our physical building, our collections and restricted permanent endowments. Therefore, we do not have the capital available in our current operating budget to cover the full cost of this urgent, specialist conservation work.
Following a competitive bidding process from accredited firms, the total project cost has been set at £11,332.50.
We are hoping to reach this total via several means:
- Grant Funding: We are applying for a £5,000 grant from a charitable grant-awarding body.
- Individual Giving Campaign: We hope to raise the remaining balance through individual donations from supporters like you.
- Match Funding: Any outstanding balance will be met by the Society, by identifying savings from our current operating budget for the year. However, by doing so, we will be limiting our ability to deliver other planned activity.
Every pound raised goes directly toward safeguarding this collection and making it accessible. Specifically, funds will cover:
- Specialist Conservation: Hiring an accredited salvage and recovery contractor, Harwell Restoration, to safely treat 48 metres of affected books.
- Long-Term Preservation: Housing and stabilizing volumes to prevent future environmental degradation.
- Enhanced Access: Enhancing public cataloguing and developing collection interpretation so researchers and the public can easily discover and study these works.
- Knowledge Sharing: Disseminating our conservation findings and best practices with partner libraries and heritage institutions.
The primary criteria for success will be the physical stabilization of 48 metres of vulnerable material, allowing us to safely reopen the collection to researchers. Success will also be measured by updated cataloguing records, increased research requests, public engagement through exhibitions, and shared conservation knowledge across the heritage sector.
All donors to the campaign will feature in our roll call of AdoptLINN donors on the Linnean Society website (unless they choose to remain anonymous). Additionally, all donors will receive a commemorative certificate signed by the Society’s CEO and Head of Collections, as a thank you for their generosity. Donors pledging above £500 will also be eligible for a complimentary, exclusive tour of the Linnean Society for themselves and up to five guests.
If you have further questions about this appeal, please feel free to email library@linnean.org.
The easiest way to donate is via the red button above.
Please write "2026 AdoptLINN Appeal" in the "Item for Conservation" box to ensure your gift is directed correctly.
