Mary Anning Letter to return to Lyme Regis
An exceptionally rare partial handwritten letter and signature from pioneering fossil collector Mary Anning was recently offered at auction (Bonhams, 26th March), prompting an urgent, community-led fundraising campaign to bring it back to her home town of Lyme Regis.
The Friends of Lyme Regis Philpot Museum spearheaded a public appeal to raise funds to bid for this remarkable artefact – a document that offers a rare and intimate glimpse into Mary’s inner thoughts, of which very little is known.
Lyme Regis Museum is delighted to announce that the campaign has been successful, and the letter will now return to Lyme Regis. The letter was secured with a winning bid of £12,000.
Museum Director Bridget Houseago said:
“I am thrilled that we have been able to acquire this important letter fragment for the Museum. It will now return to Lyme Regis, Mary’s birthplace, where it will be displayed in our world-famous Geology Gallery. The letter provides a unique and personal insight into Mary’s life, and it is vital that such rare and fragile items are cared for within a public collection, where they can be accessible to all.
We hope to have it on display as soon as possible, ideally in time for this year’s Fossil Festival which is organised by Lyme Regis Museum.
I would like to thank the dedicated team at the Friends of Lyme Regis Philpot Museum for leading the fundraising campaign, as well as everyone who contributed to bringing this important piece of history into public care.”
The Fossil Festival will be held on 13/14th June in Lyme Regis, for more information please see www.fossilfestival.com