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Sources for business history: plans of New Court

Sources for art history: Catalogue of the pictures of Alfred de Rothschild 1901

Sources for yachting history: Plans for Nathaniel von Rothschild's yacht Veglia 1905

Sources for natural history: Walter 2nd Lord Rothschild and his zebra carriage: c.1910

Sources for global financial history: Map of lines of the Brazil Railway Company: c.1920

Sources for business history: index cards to bank files

Sources for social history: Rothschild Hospital Paris: 1920s

Sources for business history: detail of a Rothschild bond coupon

Sources for architectural history: Halton House: 1890s

Sources for the history of travel: Lionel de Rothschild's tours of Spain: 1909

Sources for local history: Tring Park: c.1900

Sources for Royal history: shooting party with Edward Prince of Wales: 1893

Sources for political history: Lionel de Rothschild: first Jewish MP: 1858

Sources for sporting history: St Amant winner of the Derby: 1904

Sources for local history: gardeners at Aston Clinton: 1899

Sources for Rothschild family history: Lionel de Rothschild's yacht Rhodora: 1927

Sources for London history: entrance to New Court: 1965

Sources for design history: plans for Lionel de Rothschild's Rolls-Royce: 1930

Sources for business history: Rothschild gold bars produced by the Royal Mint Refinery: 1930s

Sources for business history: letters of August Belmont Rothschild Agent in New York: 1860s

Papers concerning orchid cultivation

The growing of orchids is one of the many horticultural passions of the Rothschild family.

Papers from Exbury relating to orchid cultivation

Orchids have been cultivated for more than two hundred years. In the 1830s, The Royal Horticultural Society had a glasshouse in Chiswick especially forĀ orchids and they rapidly became favorites at horticultural shows and with wealthy collectors and growers. Under William Hooker, the first Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, new species were introduced, and he encouraged exchanges of plants with amateurs and other gardens. The 6th Duke of Bedford gave his entire collection to Queen Victoria, who presented it to Kew 1844. Many members of the Rothschild family cultivated orchids in England and France, competing with one another and regularly exchanging specimens and growing advice.

000/2201: Papers from Exbury concerning orchids

1927-1938

A fascinating collection of papers concerning the cultivation of orchids on the Exbury estate of Mr Lionel de Rothschild (1882-1942), including receipt books, lists of plants, correspondence, catalogues and display cards from flower shows. A single file documents experiments in the 1920s to germinate orchids at the Rothschild Royal Mint Refinery in London.

000/2227: Papers from Exbury concerning horticultural shows

1930-2005

The majority of items are Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) show plaques (1930-1953; 1959; 1983-1992), certificates and awards for growing and showing orchids and cymbidiums, (1930-1952; 2004-2005) awarded to Mr Lionel de Rothschild, and Mr Edmund de Rothschild (1916-2007). A few awards relate to local Hampshire shows.

These accessions compliment collections already held of private papers of Lionel de Rothschild (maintained in record series of the Rothschild bank at New Court) which include files concerning horticulture (XI/15).

Cattleya Warneri shown at the Royal Botanic Society 1860

Cattleya Warneri shown at the Royal Botanic Society 1860

Gold medal awarded to Lionel de Rothschild for orchids by the RHS 1930

Gold medal awarded to Lionel de Rothschild for orchids by the RHS 1930