New exhibition highlights story of Scotland’s oldest museum

A new exhibition will celebrate the origins of Scotland's oldest museum through objects and specimens from its first visitor guide, published in 1813. This Unrivalled Collection: The Hunterian's first catalogue will celebrate one of the first museum catalogues in existence, and explore contrasts between pre-Victorian knowledge and what we know today. Many of the items will be on show for the first time in over 150 years. This room-by-room guide to The Hunterian Museum was written by Captain James Laskey (1760-1829), a soldier, dealer and collector. He carefully recorded, catalogued and commented on the cornucopia of items on display, from coins to giant clams and rare insects to Renaissance manuscripts. The exhibition will capture the atmosphere of an Enlightenment museum as well as explore the catalogue and the story of its enigmatic author. It provides a snapshot of a time before scientists such as Charles Darwin changed our perception of the world, and will allow visitors to compare the wisdom of the time with modern knowledge.