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**with apologies for cross postings** Dear list members, Just a quick reminder about our forthcoming Annual Gerard Turner Memorial Lecture: Friday 15th November 2019 Society of Antiquaries, Mayfair, London, W1J 0BE Dr Nicolàs de Hilster, Netherlands *‘Fakes, Replicas and Reconstructions: their place in scientific research of early modern instruments’* Abstract: The depth of research of early modern instruments greatly depends on their availability in collections. For this several modern day authors have created replicas and reconstructions to assist them in it. But what is a proper replica or reconstruction? How well should it be made and what is the risk of creating a (future) fake in the process? The 2019 Gerard Turner Medal Lecture will deal with the sometimes fuzzy boundaries between these three categories. The differences between a replica and a reconstruction will be discussed as well as the chance of instruments migrating from a replica or reconstruction towards a fake. It will be shown that research and even publications can result in fakes, but at the same time can assist in detecting them. Original instruments can become fakes while period instruments can, depending on the definition, be fakes on their own. But as they can significantly contribute to our knowledge of early modern instruments, fakes, replicas and reconstructions should have a more solid basis in this kind of research. Nicolàs de Hilster is a hydrographic surveyor by education and the founding owner of a company in specialised measurements in the hydrographic and geodetic field. He is also a collector and independent researcher on nautical and geodetic instruments. The main focus of my research lies on instruments used for latitude determination at sea, from Thomas Harriot to John Hadley and their contemporaries. Part of my research is creating reconstructions and replicas of the instruments and to use them in the field for a better understanding of their capabilities. 5.30pm Doors open, tea/coffee available 6pm Lecture starts 7pm Sherry and nibbles reception until 7.45pm. *This event is free and open to all. No need to book, just turn up on the day. * All details available on our website: http://www.scientificinstrumentsociety.org/ We look forward to seeing you there! All best wishes, Louise Devoy On behalf of the Scientific Instrument Society Committee ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the MERSENNE list, click the following link: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=MERSENNE&A=1