Two original notebooks of evolutionary scientist Charles Darwin have been found in the Cambridge University Library more than 20 years after their disappearance. “They are among the most remarkable documents in the entire history of science,” said library director Jessica Gardner, whose office saw the plastic-wrapped books put in a pink gift bag in March.
One of the books includes a sketch of Darwin’s famous Tree of Life (photos below) from 1837. “There were tears,” Gardner told the BBC. “And I think there will be more to come as we are not over the emotional roller coaster yet. It means so much to us to have these books back with us.”
Missing works were noticed in 2001
After the works were photographed in the library in 2000, it was noted in 2001 that they were not in their usual place in the library. For a long time it was believed that they had been misclassified and the leather-bound notebooks were searched for among the ten million books, maps and other manuscripts.
It wasn’t until 2020 that Gardner (pictured below) reported the notebooks to the police as stolen. This led to an investigation that must continue after the discovery of the books. It is completely unclear where the works have been in recent decades and who brought them back at the beginning of March – with Easter wishes to the director of the library – and why.
The area where the bag containing the notebooks was found was not covered by surveillance cameras, they say. However, recordings from other parts of the library may provide clues. “It’s really a mystery,” Gardner says.
Notebooks are on display in the summer
In the summer, the long-missing and well-preserved notes of the famous researcher (1809-1882), who made important contributions to the theory of evolution, are displayed to the public in a special exhibition.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
