Specimens of cinchona succirubra bark, probably from Peru, dated 1839, cased 1839-1860 cased, Howard collection, of English commerce

The display case (on the far right) shows samples of a species of cinchona bark known as cinchona succiruba, which are probably from Peru. It was commercially grown in huge amounts for the anti-malaria treatment quinine. These types were sold by English traders. The display cases are from the Howard Collection and were shown at a Wellcome exhibition in 1930, called the Tercentenary Cinchona Exhibition, celebrating the 300-year anniversary of the therapeutic uses of cinchona bark. The case is shown here with similar examples (A654755, A654756 and A654757).

The collection belonged to John Elliot Howard (1807-83). His father, Luke Howard, had established the first British factory to produce quinine in Stratford, east London, in 1823.