Item number: M103

Year: AD 1839-1931

Material: Ivory

Size: 36.66 x 36.52 mm

Weight: 5.22 g

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. Bt S.H. Monks February 2006

This medal serves as a representation of membership in the Royal Botanic Society of London (AD 1839-1931). Crafted from ivory, the object features an intricately engraved inscription on the obverse, bearing the words “Royal Botanic Society of London” beneath a regal crown, surrounded by a wreath composed of roses, shamrocks, and thistles. On the reverse side, the upper portion displays the name of the owner, “HY. VAUGHAN,” while the central region bears “2551,” and the bottom portion indicates the individual’s status as a “Fellow.”

The Royal Botanic Society of London was incorporated in AD 1839 through a royal charter granted to prominent individuals, including the Duke of Norfolk, K.G., E.M.; the Duke of Richmond, K.G.; the Earl of Albemarle; Lieut-Col. Rushbrooke; Philip Barnes, Esq.; and James De Carle Sowerby, Esq. As outlined in the charter, the primary objectives of the establishment were “promoting botany in all its branches, and its application to Medicine, Arts, and Manufacture, and also for the formation of extensive Botanical and Ornamental Gardens within the immediate vicinity of the metropolis.”

The society comprised Fellows and members who were elected through a ballot, with its affairs overseen by a president and council. Fellows of the society were entitled to use the initials “F.R.B.S.” (Fellows of The Royal Botanic Society)after their names. Prospective members seeking admission to the society had to be nominated by three Fellows and subsequently elected through a ballot. Those elected as Fellows are required to pay an admission fee of £5 5s., along with an annual contribution of £2 2s., or a lump sum of £26 5s., which covered the admission fee and exempted them from further contributions.

The society’s gardens encompassed the entirety of the inner circle of Regent’s Park, held under a Crown lease until the year AD 1931. Encompassing nearly 20 acres, the principal features included an ornamental park-like promenade, an ornamental piece of water, winter garden, spanning approximately 20,000 square feet, hothouses, and a tank dedicated to tropical plants. The collections housed therein feature medico-botanical, economic, and various other plants and trees arranged in the open ground based on their natural affinities. Additionally, the gardens housed a library of botanical works and a museum, utilized as a lecture room, providing extensive illustrations for professors, students, and artists in support of their respective endeavors. Free admissions were granted to these individuals under specific regulations. The museum served as a venue for lectures on botanical subjects. Exhibitions of plants and fruits for prizes took place at stated periods during the spring and summer. On promenade, exhibition, and fete days, bands of music were engaged.

A notable feature was the large conservatory, well-stocked with exquisite plants. Seasonal promenades were organized, accompanied by splendid exhibitions of fruits and flowers. The society’s exhibitions excelled in picturesque site and overall impact, and at which prizes to a large amount are distributed. The gardens were supported by the subscriptions of fellows and members, and in respect of natural beauty are unequalled by any in London. The conservatory could accommodate up to 2000 visitors. Three annual exhibitions tool place in May, June, and July.

The society maintained a library and assumed responsibility for several scholarly publications, such as the “Quarterly Record of the Royal Botanic Society of London” (AD 1880-1909), “Botanical Journal” (AD 1910-1918), and “Quarterly Summary and Meteorological Readings, Royal Botanic Society of London” (AD 1919-1930). The society journals featured records of original acquisitions. Presently, the original design of the society’s botanical garden has been largely lost due to the impact of the Second World War. The rehabilitated section of the Regent’s Park Inner Circle now stands as Queen Mary’s Rose Garden.

Much of the original library is now held by the library of The Natural History Museum, including the diaries of James de Carle Sowerby. Many botanical specimens were acquired by the British Museum after the demise of the organization and can be identified by a slip label bearing the name of the society. The material includes British collections identified by the name of the society alone and other material, both British and foreign, from individually named collectors.

物件編號: M103

年代: 公元 1839-1931 年

材質: 象牙

尺寸: 36.66 x 36.52 mm

重量: 5.22 g

來源: 諾南斯 2022

這枚象牙製的獎牌象徵倫敦皇家植物學會（公元1839-1931年）的會員身份。正面銘刻著「倫敦皇家植物學會」字樣，上方懸掛一個皇冠，周圍環繞著玫瑰、三葉草和薊花的花環。反面的上半部分展示了擁有者的名字「HY. VAUGHAN」，中央標有「2551」，底部指示此人的身份為「Fellow」（會士）。

倫敦皇家植物學會於公元1839年經由皇家特許狀成立，該特許狀授予了一些傑出的人物，包括諾福克公爵、理查蒙德公爵、奧爾班爾伯爵、拉什布魯克上校、菲利普·巴恩斯先生和詹姆斯·迪·卡爾·索比先生。依據特許狀的規定，該機構的主要目標是「推動植物學的各個分支，以及其在醫學、藝術和製造業中的應用，同時在大都會區域附近建立廣泛的植物和觀賞花園。」

該學會由通過投票產生的會員和院士組成，其事務由一位會長和評議會監督。學會的院士可在其名字後使用「F.R.B.S.」(Fellows of The Royal Botanic Society)的縮寫。希望加入學會的候選人必須由三位院士提名，然後通過投票選舉。當選的院士需支付5英鎊5先令的入會費，以及每年2英鎊2先令的年度捐款，或者總額為26英鎊5先令的一次性總捐款，其中包括入會費，並使其免除進一步的捐款。

該學會的花園包括整個攝政公園（Regent’s Park）的內圈，租約一直持續到公元1931年。佔地近20英畝，主要特色包括一個裝飾性的公園式漫遊區域、一個裝飾性的水體、一個佔地約20,000平方英尺的冬季花園、溫室和一個專為熱帶植物設計的水槽。其中的植物和樹木收藏以其自然親緣關係為基礎，在開放地上排列。此外，花園內還擁有一個植物學作品圖書館和一座博物館，可用作講座室，為教授、學生和藝術家提供豐富的插圖，以支持他們各自的研究。在特定的規定下，這些人士獲得免費入場。該博物館亦作為植物學主題講座的場所。每年春夏季定期舉辦植物和水果的展覽活動。在步道、展覽和節慶日，音樂隊受聘參與。

一個顯著的特點是大型溫室，裡面擁有豐富的植物。季節性的散步活動，以及盛大的水果和花朵展覽同樣精彩。該學會的展覽在場地的風景和總體效果方面優越，並贏得了大量的獎項。花園的支持來自院士和會員的捐款，在自然美景方面無與倫比。溫室可容納多達2000名遊客。每年5月、6月和7月舉辦三次年度展覽。

該學會保有一個圖書館，並負責一些學術刊物，如「倫敦皇家植物學會季刊」（公元1880-1909年）、「植物學雜誌」（公元1910-1918年）和「倫敦皇家植物學會季度摘要和氣象閱讀」（公元1919-1930年）。學會的期刊刊載了原始收藏的記錄。目前，由於第二次世界大戰的影響，該學會植物園的原始設計已經大部分失去，而攝政公園內圈的修復區域現在是瑪麗皇后玫瑰花園。

原始圖書館的大部分藏品現在由自然歷史博物館的圖書館保存，其中包括詹姆斯·迪·卡爾·索比的日記。在該組織解散後，大英博物館（公元1932年）收購了許多植物標本，可以通過標有該學會名稱的標籤標識。這些材料包括僅通過學會名稱識別的英國收藏，以及來自個別命名的收藏家的英國和外國其他材料。