Two distinct notebooks were found by the scientist Charles Darwin, who mysteriously disappeared from the University of Cambridge in 2000. Anonymously left the brochures in a pink bag in the library of the same university.
The unique brochures are worth millions and include an “evolution tree,” a drawn family tree that shows the structure of the animal kingdom and the lineage of organisms.
Darwin had just returned from the Galapagos aboard the Beagle when he painted it. “It is one of the most fascinating documents in the entire history of science,” university history professor Jim Secord told the BBC.
A year and a half ago, the university made an appeal in hopes of finding the books again. Librarian Jessica Gardner described the disappearance as “heartbreaking”. She told the British broadcaster that she was afraid she would never see the books again. The discovery was a huge relief. “I cried,” she says. “And I’m going to cry even more because we haven’t been on this emotional rollercoaster yet.”
The message on the envelope
The two brochures were in the original blue box, which again came in a pink bag. There was also a brown envelope in the bag. On it was written a short message: “Librarian, Happy Easter X.” The bag was found in a public part of the library.
