Certificate and seal from Russia, issued to Nevil Maskelyne by Catherine the Great.

Granting Nevil Maskelyne membership of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences. Signed by Sergius Domaschneff, President, and Leonard Euler, Secretary of the Academy. The parchment is very hard now and difficult to unfold. Detailed border with eight images representing mathematics, physics, astronomy and geography, natural history, mechanics, anatomy, chemistry and literature.

Red, blue/green and gold twine attaches a gold medal to the parchment, with initials ASP on the back. Like a small case, it can still be opened. It contains red wax (now mouldy). Emblem is of a bird on a table with a globe and books.

Record Details

Item reference: MSK/1/2
Catalogue Section: Personal collections
Level: ITEM
Extent: folder
Date made: 1771-03-27; 1776-12-29
Creator: Maskelyne, Nevil
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London