In 1768 Joseph Banks and Dr Solander accompanied Captain Cook on a voyage to the South Seas, and returned to England, after an absence of nearly three years, with a large collection of specimens illustrative of natural history. He also made a voyage to Iceland with the same object. He died in 1820, leaving a widow (see image DCHQ200176) but no family. Overton Hall in Ashover was his summer home. This image is one of a collection by the famous local antiquarian, Thomas Bateman, of Middleton by Youlgreave. (1821-1861). Bateman organized his collection by inserting them into a 4 volume copy of Lysons Magna Britannia, Derbyshire, creating a fascinating and unique illustrated record of the county. The purchase of the collection for Derbyshire Libraries was made possible by the generous bequest of Miss Frances Webb of Whaley Bridge, well known local historian, who died in December 2006.