With the support of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Andy Tindle and Peter Sleep have produced digital copies of Rashleigh’s “Specimens of British Minerals vol 1 & 2” and his mineral catalogue, together with transcripts and photographs of many of the illustrated specimens. These books together with a transcribed copy of Aikin’s catalogue can be viewed and downloaded from the Russell Society webpage: The Rashleigh Archive.
Phillip Rashleigh’s collection of minerals was unparalleled. Major parts of his collection now reside at the Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro, and at the Natural History Museum in London. Its most valuable portions are described in the two volumes of Specimens of British Minerals from his cabinet (1797 and 1802). By 1794 he had acquired over 4,000 mineral specimens and started to look for a “a good clever man to draw and colour some of my minerals”. He settled on the well known Cornish enamel painter, Henry Bone (1755-1834), to produce the paintings of the hand coloured engravings showing 194 specimens. He then sought other artists for a second volume in 1802, with 21 hand coloured plates illustrating 48 specimens.
Three Rashleigh-related projects have been completed, with more in the pipeline. These are excellent publications, and congratulations go to Andy and Peter, and thanks go to the Russell Society for making them publicly available.
