What Lyall says is actually important for translating 19th century
museum labels, especially given the alternative and confusing meaning of
Nota Bene. But what he means perhaps should be further amplified for
those of us who are not Scots.
This was a usage to indicate the Scottish part of Britain, common in the
18th and 19th century, when Britain was seen as the coming thing
(Industrial Revolution, economic boom and all that). We often see it in
postal addresses, specimen labels (Lyall and I encountered this on
Charles Peach labels of the mid-late C19 here at NMS, if I recall
rightly), and things like the North British Railway (founded 1846) and
its associated station hotel the North British (Edinburgh's poshest: now
alas renamed the Balmoral).
I had not thought about the timing before. I wouldn't be surprised at
seeing it in the mid-C19 but I would look hard at anything supposedly
dated well into the C20. My own provisional impression is that the usage
had died out more or less by the Great War, if not well before (apart
from such things as offshoots of existing companies). Interestingly,
when the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art (one of our precursors) was
renamed in 1903, partly to take into account Scots sensibilities of the
time, it was to the "Royal Scottish Museum". For what it is worth, a
Wikipedia article seems to concur.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Britain. Not much help for David's
problem alas, except to reinforce (but not confirm) the possibility that
it may be from an old collection.
The theory was of course that the English would call themselves the
South British - though for some reason it doesn't seem to have been
popular. But at least we also have a possible explanation for any "S.
B." on museum labels.
Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: The Geological Curator's Group mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lyall Anderson
Sent: 20 August 2009 09:20
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Graptolite collectors - Image
This image has now been posted on the GCG Flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31948013@N04/3838683937/
I notice that the label has 'N.B.' after Moffat, which translates as
'North Britain'. Such name usage might help to pin down a period for the
original collection.
Kind regards,
Lyall
Craven, David wrote:
> A couple of people have pointed out that an image would help. I do
have
> one, but can't currently access the GCG flickr account (the council
have
> banned access to flickr and we're having to appeal on an
> account-by-account basis).
>
> If anyone would like an image of the label, just email me. Or if any
> kind volunteer could take the image and upload it for me, that'd be
kind
> too.
>
> David
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Geological Curator's Group mailing list
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Craven, David
> Sent: 17 August 2009 14:04
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Graptolite collectors
>
> Hi,
>
> I'm hoping someone may be able to suggest a possible identity for a
> collector.
>
> There's a handwritten label with a graptolite specimen (Diplograptus
> foliaceus Murchison, Moffat). Part of it says "FHB March 1910
Purchased
> from IB Coll."
>
> Now, I'm sure FHB is Francis Butler, the collector bough a lot from
him.
> I'm assuming IB (could also be JB, maybe even LB, but I think it's IB)
> was the original collector who Butler got the specimen from.
>
> I always like a thorough history, so if anyone has any ideas of a
> (possibly Scottish) collector of graptolites with the initials IB, I'd
> appreciate your thoughts.
>
> Cheers,
>
> David Craven
> Bolton Museum and Archive Service
>
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