About the Project

The Linnaeus Link Project is an international collaboration devoted to the work of the great eighteenth-century naturalist-physician, Carl Linnaeus (Carl von Linné; 1707-1778). It hopes to provide a comprehensive bibliography of Linnaean-interest publications, reflecting the diverse output of contemporary scholarship, and the holdings of major research collections world-wide. Such works have ongoing relevance, both as practical tools to support scientists in the identification of animals, plants, rocks, fossils and minerals, and by providing an important account of eighteenth-century science and culture.

We are very pleased that the importance of this project has been formally recognised by two prominent biological organisations: the International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT) and the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN).

The Project is managed by the consortium of partners. The Linnaeus Link Co-ordinator has overall responsibility, including the continuation of the Soulsby-bibliography by assigning Post-Soulsby numbers. The Project Co-ordinator reports on progress at the Partners' meetings, which are held annually.

The Linnaeus Link Co-ordinator is Dr Isabelle Charmantier, Head of Collections at the Linnean Society of London. She is supported by the Project Administrator, Will Beharrell, Librarian of the Linnean Society of London.

The progress of the project is monitored by the consortium of partners, based on regular reports from the Project Co-ordinator.

The libraries of many institutions possess major works by Linnaeus. However, there are many more specialised collections devoted to the work of Linnaeus and his students. Many of these are important to taxonomic, historical and bibliographical research. It is the aim of this project to continue the bibliographic legacy of Basil Soulsby, pre-eminent bibliographer and collector of Linnaeus. A very brief explanation of Soulsby's own work, and its continuation by the Linnaeus Link project, can be found below.

The best enumeration of Linnaean works published before 1931 remains A catalogue of the works of Linnaeus ... preserved in the libraries of the British Museum (Bloomsbury) and the British Museum (Natural History) (South Kensington), second edition, 1933, by Basil H. Soulsby.

To view a fully searchable copy of this work available on the Biodiversity Heritage Library, please follow the link above.

Scholars might also usefully consult An index to the authors (other than Linnaeus) mentioned in the Catalogue of the works of Linnaeus preserved in the libraries of the British Museum, second edition, 1933 (1936) by C. Davies Sherborn.

Details of the arrangement of the content of the catalogue are given in the "Introduction" prepared by A. C. Townsend. Essentially, the items are grouped thematically under twenty headings and within those headings, works are listed chronologically by publication date. “Translations, adaptations, facsimiles, and indices follow in chronological order the editions of the original work to which they refer.” The catalogue covers works published up to 1931, and there is an appendix as well as addenda and corrigenda.

According to Soulsby’s system, a unique number is assigned to each book, to each edition, to each translation, to each altered edition and each journal article, which worked well with items known prior to 1931, the date of publication of Soulsby’s book.