Articles of Agreement between ZSL and Marshall-Andrew and Co. Ltd. for executing alterations and additions to the existing Giraffe House. Includes 3 Giraffe House Alterations plans G5/100-102. Includes memo from F. A. Stengelhofen and the Bill of Quanti

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

Letters from Decimus Burton to Edward Turner Bennett regarding his brother's giraffe, the location of the parrot cage, drawings of the museum, the risk of fires, and the meeting of the creditors of the Colosseum

Letter from R Walford stating that his carpenter is preparing specifications and an estimate for a temporary Giraffe House. Requests that Edward Turner Bennett ask Mr Burton to attend a Council meeting

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