Old Paper Roots: How to Grow a Library

The beautiful smell that comes from centuries-old books is the aroma, in part, of slowly decaying paper: of plant matter having a long life after death. St John’s College, alma mater of the great botanist Erasmus Darwin, invites you to the stunning 17th-century Old Library for an exhibition on paper and plants, held within a veritable forest of oak bookcases.

Encompassing depictions and samples of botanical life ranging from religious symbolism to pressed flowers, items on display will include medieval manuscripts, rare printed books, and select contents of a 1740s ‘materia medica’ cabinet. We will be joined by the Cambridge Colleges’ Conservation Consortium, who will offer a show-and-tell experience about the different materials and techniques that go into growing a book.

Please note that the Library is, unfortunately, accessible only via stairs. An online version of the exhibition will follow.