Artefact of the month - October
This four-page prospectus was written in March 1825 to encourage people to join the proposed Zoological Society.
| 1825 Prospectus |
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It states that the Society would have “a collection of living animals such as never yet existed in ancient or modern times”, a Museum, and a Library.
The Prospectus calls the lack of such a Society and menagerie as: “this opprobrium to our age and nation”.
The press reaction to the Prospectus appears to have been mixed. The Literary Gazette wrote about the proposed Society: “We hear a great diversity of opinions upon it. Those friendly to it re-echo the language of the Prospectus – declare it to be worthy of an enlightened country – and anticipate wonderful improvements from its being carried into effect; while those of an opposite way of thinking laugh at it as a wild speculation… attempting to make an Ark in London…”
Sir Stamford Raffles and Sir Humphry Davy managed to attract enough well-wishers and ZSL was officially founded a year later in 1826. It opened London Zoo in 1828. The sceptics were proved wrong and ZSL is now celebrating its 180th anniversary this year.