[EDNote: I remember seeing a bust of John Ray at the Trinity College
library. Ray's likely significance for VN has been mentioned in
various studies; bibliographic contributions would be welcome at this
point (the first of course was Appel's annotations or, maybe, Proffer's
Keys to Lolita?.~SB]
Moreover, a John Ray Society has been around since the 19c (see
below). Notice it's lodged in the Natural History Museum in London. I
wonder if VN joined?
The John Ray Society
Instituted in 1844 and named after John Ray, the 17th century
naturalist, this is a scientific publishing charity whose activities
are devoted mainly, though not exclusively, to the British flora and
fauna. So far the Ray Society has published 166 volumes. For the most
part, these are academic works which are of particular interest to
naturalists, zoologists, botanists and collectors.
The Ray Society publishes books on natural history with special but not
exclusive reference to the British flora and fauna. The Society's works
are original monographs on particular groups and topics, facsimiles of
historically important works and translations of existing works. Works
or proposals for works may be submitted to the Honorary Secretary of
the Society. These works should be complete treatments of a particular
subject and should not form part of a series of works on a particular
group or topic. Works which are being considered by the Society should
not be under consideration elsewhere. Further details on submissions
are available from the Honorary Secretary.
Those wishing to join the Ray Society can obtain application forms from
the Honorary Secretary. The membership subscription is £6.00 per year.
Apart from supporting the objectives of the Society, members can
acquire its publications at special discount. Volume 164, available
now, is entitled Systematics and Evolution of Littorina.
Enquiries regarding membership should be addressed to:
Dr N. J. Evans, Honorary Secretary, The Ray Society, c/o The Natural
History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, U.K.
I've just emailed the John Ray Society to see if VN was a member while
at Cambridge.