20th Century Archive
20th Century Archive
Embedded Files
A bit of "history"
A bit of "history"
The Tea Phytologist is a "spoof" publication produced by our own Botany School, launched in 1908, edited by an anonymous Editorial Board, for reasons that shall In Due Time Be Revealed
Its name was born as a parody of alumnus Sir Arthur Tansley's New Phytologist (established 6 years prior, in 1902). We have Tansley to thank for the "ecosystem concept" (Wikipedia. Last accessed 13/03/2026.)
The first issue dates back to 1908, and the last issue to 1984. Unless we have missed anything. (Any information on the lost 1912 issue will be rewarded with one (1) biscuit.)
Disclaimer: The content of some issues might contain offensive content. We treat this as a historical piece, and we do not endorse all the content of this Archive...
Spotlight issue of the month
Spotlight issue of the month
Editorial of 1908 Lent Issue.
Issue nº1: 1908 Lent
Issue nº1: 1908 Lent
From Valentine's to Limericks.
From Carols to Adverts.
No illustrations yet.
We are happy to bring the very first Tea Phytologist issue published more than 100 years ago.
We hope you find this historical document weirdly amusing as much as we did.
A sneak peek of our Archive
A sneak peek of our Archive
Selection Tea Phytologist.pdfXX Century's Issues
XX Century's Issues
A representative selection of images and covers of issues from early 1900s to the 70s decade. Available to anyone!
If find any of these issues especially amusing, please let us know, and we will do our best to prioritise its digitalisation.
Find all the rescued issues
Find all the rescued issues
Issue nº1
Issue nº1
1908 Lent
1908 Lent
1908-Lent-crop.pdfThe very first issue of the Periodical.
You can download the digital version here.
Use your @cam.ac.uk email to allow the download.
Issue nº2
Issue nº2
1908 Easter and Michaelmas
1908 Easter and Michaelmas
1908-Easter and Michaelmas.pdfSecond issue of the Periodical after the initial "so favourable reception".
You can download the digital version here.
We are now working on digitising the 1909 issues.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse