A RARE book owned by Mary Anning that was stolen more than 40 years ago from a west Dorset museum has been returned - in time for the legendary fossil hunter's 225th birthday.

The rare 1821 book, JS Miller’s Natural History of the Crinoidea, contains a unique personal inscription from the author to Anning, the pioneering fossil collector and dealer from Lyme Regis.

After Mary’s death her brother Joseph gave the book to Elizabeth Philpot.

In 1929 it was one of the first donations to the newly-formed Lyme Regis Museum where it was recorded in the Trustee minute book, including details of the inscription.

Dorset Echo:

The book was noticed to be missing in 1985 by former honorary curator John Fowles, the acclaimed author.

It was presumed to have been stolen between 1946 and 1979 but there was no evidence of who the thief was or when it went missing.

At this time the museum was run entirely by volunteers, and the building would be unlocked allowing the public to visit without supervision.

Dorset Echo:

In 2022, Lyme museum's geology curator Dr Paul Davis came across a YouTube video from Museums Victoria in Australia focusing on the book in question and its inscription, and learnt and that it was bought in 1985 from Blackwell's booksellers of Oxford for £300.

The unique inscription allowed Dr Davis to recognise that this was in fact the stolen book and contacted Museums Victoria.

Lyme Regis Museum said Museums Victoria "acted with complete propriety" when they realised that the book had been stolen and unwittingly purchased by them. They agreed to return the book to Lyme Regis Museum.

The book amazingly arrived back at Lyme Regis on Anning’s 225th birthday and almost 95 years to the day it was first donated to the museum.

Dorset Echo: Dr Davis said: "This is an important and significant book that belonged to Mary Anning and was donated to the museum 95 years ago.

"Mary receiving a signed and inscribed copy of the book from the author shows that she her expertise was clearly recognised and highly regarded by the scientists of the day.

"There are so few items that belonged to Mary, and it is fantastic that the book has returned home to the museum so that it can be used to tell the story of this pioneering palaeontologist in the place she lived and worked."

Hayley Webster, library manager at Museums Victoria, said: "Museums Victoria purchased the rare book from a reputable bookseller in 1985 to support museum research.

"From 1985 until May 2024, the book was cared for by the museum's experts in our collection stores to ensure its excellent condition.

"We are pleased to return this book to the Lyme Regis Museum, in recognition of the historical significance of this item to the Lyme Regis Museum’s mission and the significance of Mary Anning’s life and legacy to this region’s history."

The book will now go on public display and be available to view in the museum from Saturday, June 8.

This same weekend sees the museum organising and hosting the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival - the world’s largest free public palaeontological event where the a new biopic film on the Mary Anning premieres.

For more information on the Fossil Festival, visit www.fossilfestival.com