Specimens from the Robert Kidston photograph collection

BGS image ID: P687055

Neuropteris obliqua (Brongniart). Kidston negative number: Kidston 1246. Quarter plate. Box 3. 

BGS image ID: P685913

Lepidodendron veltheimianum Sternberg. Kidston negative number: Kidston 38. Half plate. Box 1  1899

The Kidston Collection of fossil plants is one of the finest in the world with over 7,000 specimens including many Type and Figured specimens. Some were collected by Kidston himself and others carefully chosen from other collectors over a period of 50 years. The collection was bequeathed to the Geological Survey and Museum (now British Geological Survey). In addition to the actual specimens, Kidston created a large photograph collection of c. 4000 glass negatives of selected specimens which are also housed in BGS. They were recently scanned and are now available on the BGS image resource Geoscenic.

In 2012, the whole Kidston Collection of specimens underwent new digital photography. The specimen names are being checked and revised when appropriate. The full collection of new photography will be made available c. 2014.

Bob McIntosh