Includes: Report on the value of the Reserved Collection, 1851; Dr Crisp. Museum Stores; List of Animals Presented to the Norwich Collection; Catalogue of specimens of cruise, 1849; etc. Also includes printed extracts from the Annual Reports regarding the Museum, and a printed petition to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to buy the collection. The Dr Crisp item is a list of articles purchased by him from the Museum, including the skin of a giraffe. 

Two photographs of giraffes and impalas at Belle Vue from 1970 & 1971

Manchester

March 14 1845

Sir

There is one Lion with a good and showy mane. he has a defective tail, that is to say the last three inches of it is turned up abruptly; this beast I should not like to give more than three hundred guineas for - the second Lion they say is six years old, I think he is not so old; he has less mane than the one at the Gardens, that belongs to White, he is a large beast, but has what is called a broken nose, that is to say he bears the appearance that a fighting man does - he is a larger animal than the first mentioned - the outside value of this one I should say was two hundred pounds - the first mentioned one is the same sort and looks exactly like the one at the Surrey Gardens the elephant is fine and they expect a long price. I should say he was well worth six hundred pounds - the giraffe is a female, and by far the best animal in the collection, appears in perfect health and condition, she is not as I was informed crooked on the legs, but a beast well worthy of being added to our collection, let her fetch what price she will this animals is well worth three hundred and fifty guineas to the Society - the Leopard is fine, but he lost all four canines and has got a severe cold in one eye - five pounds would be plenty of money for him - The Lion cubs are male and female about 15 inches high, they were cubbed in the collection, the point of interest about them is, that they are living on good terms in the same den with the maned Lion - one of them is what is called [Mooney?] headed they are not worth £20 the two.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient Servant
Louis Prater

If the Society feel inclined to purchase the Elephant, there is a man here I think would buy our large one. The Elephant is full 8ft high

Correspondence with Geoffrey Marr Vevers regarding queries about mammals such as an offer of a Lioness for mating, the measurements of Camels, Toto the Lesser Kudu, Mink breeders, Monkeys from East Africa, Quaggas, the gestation period of a Giraffe, Horned Hares, and domesticating the Paca and Capybara

Copies of correspondence between Mr Reynold's and Philip Lutley Sclater regarding his wife's claim for damages following a giraffe spitting milk, or milk-like fluid, on her jacket

Correspondence between Mr Ritchie and Geoffrey Marr Vevers regarding the collecting of animals from Nairobi for the Zoological Society of London, including Chameleons, Rhampholeons, Hippos and Giraffes

Correspondence between the Royal Society of Ireland and George Soper Cansdale regarding an exchange of Brown Pelicans and Canadian Black Bear cubs for Giraffes or a Camel

Correspondence between G C Sauvage and Geoffrey Marr Vevers regarding an offer of two Cow Baringo Giraffes and a pair of Thompsons Gazelles to the Zoological Society of London

Correspondence with G C Sauvage regarding animals for sale including Sitentunga, Reticulated Giraffes, a Brazza Monkey, Waterbuck, Vultures, Gazelles and Canaries

Letters from S S Tenlon to David William Mitchell regarding the New Pheasantry, a building and enclosure for the aurochs, and for an addition to the Giraffe House at the Zoological Society of London