Botanical Teaching Models and Diagrams

In addition to the diagrams in the John Hope Collection, the Library holds a large collection of teaching aids used by John Hutton Balfour, Regius Keeper 1845-1880.

The Collection

A collection of 415 teaching drawings, commissioned by John Hutton Balfour, including original works by R.K. Greville and others
- Index to John Hutton Balfour's teaching diagram collection [docx], and [odt], created by Regina Davidson
The collection of published teaching diagrams includes:
- Arnold Dodel Port, Atlas der Botanik, 1878-93
  - Index to the Dodel Port teaching diagram collection [docx]
  - Index to the Dodel Port teaching diagram collection [odt]
- L. Kny, Botanische Wandtafeln (see the sample illustration on this page)
  - Index to the Kny teaching diagram collection [docx]
  - Index to the Kny teaching diagram collection [odt]
- F.G. Kohl, Botanische Wandtafeln, 1898
- A. Peter, Botanische Wandtafeln
The Library holds a collection of botanical models that were purchased from the 1860’s onwards by John Hutton Balfour for use in his lectures.

The majority of the models were made by Robert Brendel and his son Reinhold in Breslau and, later, in Grunewald, Berlin. They were made from papier mâché, with other materials added to provide detail and texture, and then painted and sealed with gelatine to produce a shiny finish.