The Johann Reinhold Forster Manuscripts

These manuscripts, transcribed and translated from the original Latin, have been in the Society's archives since their acquisition among the papers of Sir James Edward Smith. All are in Forster's hand: all bear some relationship to publications prepared by Forster, though none are identical to any of his published works.

These manuscripts serve as a reminder of the precocious place occupied by Forster amongst the natural historians of the later eighteenth century.

They were first described and placed in context by Arthur MacGregor, FLS, in:

'Five unpublished manuscripts of Johann Reinhold Forster (1729-1798) in the archives of the Linnean Society of London', Archives of Natural History 42 (2015), pp. 314-30.

We are very grateful to Arthur MacGregor for making his excellent transcriptions and translations of the manuscripts available for research.

The transcriptions and initial translations of the above were prepared by Arthur MacGregor. The translations of nos. 1-4 were kindly corrected and improved by John Spencer. The translation of no. 5 was completely revised by Philip Oswald. Other specialist collaborators are listed in the published commentary: all of their contributions are gratefully acknowledged by the principal author.

1. Index Animalium. English.pdf (translation)

1. Index Animalium. Latin.pdf (transcription)

1. Index Animalium. Original manuscript.

2. Fragmentary list of birds. English.pdf (translation)

2. Fragmentary list of birds. Latin.pdf (transcription)

2. Original manuscript.

3. Description of 36 animals. English.pdf (translation)

3. Description of 36 animals. Latin.pdf (transcription)

3. Description of 36 animals. Original manuscript (LM/MA/FOR/2).

4. List of insects. English.pdf (translation)

4. List of insects. Latin.pdf (transcription)

4. List of insects. Original manuscript (LM/MA/FOR/1).