BOTANY

[Darwin's closest friend: Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, botanist and explorer, Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.] Two Autograph Letters Signed to Thomas Lister, regarding seeds and an account of 'negro' handling of poisons.

Author: 
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817-1911), botanist and explorer, Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew and Charles Darwin's closest friend [Thomas Villiers (1832-1902) of the Foreign Office]
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
Publication details: 
ONE: 6 June 1877. TWO: 14 November 1878. Both with embossed letterhead of the Royal Gardens, Kew.
£450.00
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient was the son of the novelist Thomas Henry Lister (1800-1842) and his wife, born Lady Maria Theresa Villiers (1803-1865), and later Lady Theresa Lewis, wife of the Liberal politician Sir George Cornewall Lewis (1806-1863). Thomas Lister became an assistant under-secretary for foreign affairs in 1873 and was made a KCMG in 1885. The two items are in good condition, lightly aged and folded for postage. Both addressed to ‘Dear Mr Lister’ and signed ‘Jos. D. Hooker’. Written in an oddly difficult hand. ONE (6 June 1877): 2pp, 16mo.

[William Carruthers, FRS, Scottish botanist and paleobotanist.] Autograph Letter Signed [to Bernard Piffard] in his capacity as Keeper of the Botanical Department at the Natural History Museum, London, regarding the identification of specimens.

Author: 
William Carruthers (1830-1922), FRS, Scottish botanist and paleobotanist, Keeper of the Botanical Department at the Natural History Museum, London [Bernard Piffard (1833-1916), entomologist]
Publication details: 
19 December 1888. On letterhead of the ‘British Museum (Natural History), / Cromwell Road, / London: S.W’.
£56.00

2pp, 12mo. On the first leaf of bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged (blank second leaf slightly damaged). Folded twice. Recipient not named, but is from the Piffard papers. Good bold signature ‘W. Carruthers’. Reads: ‘Dear Sir / The enclosed specimens are all certainly fish coprolites. / I would have returned them sooner but I was anxious to see Mr Etteridge who I understood from Mr Brody said they were cones. / I have only to-day been able to see him, and hee says that he has no doubt about the these [sic] specimens being Coprolites.’

[The Chelsea Physic Garden, London.] Printed invitation ‘at the Opening of the Garden’, and Laboratory andn Lecture Rooms by Earl Cadogan, made out to Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Sir William Thiselton-Dyer, and his wife.

Author: 
The Chelsea Physic Garden, London [Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer (1843-1928), botanist, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]
Chelsea
Publication details: 
At the Opening of the Chelsea Physic Garden, London, 25 July 1902.
£180.00
Chelsea

See Thiselton-Dyer’s entry in the Oxford DNB. Printed on one side of a 10 x 13 cm piece of paper, and made out in manuscript to ‘Sir William Thistleton [sic] Dyer (and Lady)’. Text size in good condition, lightly aged, with the blank reverse of the card with slight damage from mounting. The recipient has written in a close hand in red ink at top left: ‘accepted. / 18. 7. 02.’ The text reads: ‘The Chelsea Physic Garden.

[‘Mirbel the naturalist’: Charles-François Brisseau de Mirbel, French botanist.] Autograph Signature (‘Mirbel’) over printed device of the Museum d’Histoire Naturelle au Jardin du Roi.

Author: 
Charles-François Brisseau de Mirbel (1776-1854), French botanist, a founder of cytology, plant histology and plant physiology in France, on the staff of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris
Mirbel
Publication details: 
No date. [Museum d’Histoire Naturelle au Jardin du Roi.]
£90.00
Mirbel

See his entry in the Encylopaedia Britannica. The signature ‘Mirbel’ is written on a clear area of a circular printed device of 4.5 cm diameter, in grey tone, within decorative border. The text reads: ‘MUSEUM / D’HISTOIRE NATURELLE / AU JARDIN DU ROI / Entrée aux Jours et Heures / consacrés à l’Etude. / Prof. Admin.’ Laid down on a 7 x 7.5 cm piece of paper, on which is written, in a neat early nineteenth-century hand, ‘Mirbel the naturalist’. See image.

[Marcus Ward & Co., chromolithographic printers, London and Royal Ulster Works, Belfast.] 36 attractive chromolithographic prints of autumn leaves, each on a separate card, laid down in album by Marcus Ward & Co.

Author: 
Marcus Ward & Co., chromolithographic printers, London and Royal Ulster Works, Belfast [chromolithographs]
Marcus Ward
Marcus Ward2
Publication details: 
No date [1870s?]. In album with printed title-page of ‘London: Marcus Ward & Co., / And / Royal Ulster Works, Belfast.’
£350.00
Marcus Ward
Marcus Ward2

An attractive collection of chromolithographs, suited to display. The plates are all in good condition, laid down on the aged and sometimes damaged leaves of a small 4to (17 x 21 cm) album with good tight bevelled-edged binding in dark brown cloth, on which an embossed stylized pattern of foliage and two storks is printed in black with the word ‘ALBUM’ on the front cover and blind-stamped on the back cover. The album has an ornate title page, printed in red, with illustration of flowers, branches and a butterfly, together with the word ‘Album’ and publishers’ details.

[George Sinclair, gardener to the Duke of Bedford at Woburn Abbey.] Parts of two Autograph Letters Signed to different seedsmen, both with good content, one relating to the subscription to Sinclair’s ‘Hortus gramineus Woburnensis’.

Author: 
George Sinclair (1786-1834), Scottish horticulturalist, gardener to the Duke of Bedford at Woburn Abbey who conducted experiments under Sir Humphrey Davy
Publication details: 
One dated by recipient 1816, the other undated but also from 1816. Places not stated, but the undated letter from Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire.
£280.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Large fragments, both with interesting content, from the beginning of letters to unnamed seedsmen (both addressed to ‘Dear Sir’, but the two docketed by different individuals, suggesting different recipients). Neither has the signature present (presumably supplied to autograph hunters for placement in Sinclair’s ‘Hortus gramineus Woburnensis’, described in the ODNB as‘an expensive folio volume containing dried specimens of the grasses’). Both items in good condition, lightly aged, and with creases from having been folded up.

[Wisley Opening; Royal Horticultural Society; Printed] Invitation Ticket of Sir William Thistelton-Dyer to the Opening of the Laboratory and Experiment & Research Station at Wisley.

Author: 
[Wisley Opening; Royal Horticultural Society]
Wisley
Publication details: 
19 July 1907
£180.00
Wisley

Ticket, 18 x 13cm, very good condition, remnants of laying down on reverse, commencing The President and Council of the Royal Horticultural Society request the pleasure [...] See Image. Sir William Thiselton-Dyer was a leading British botanist, and the third director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

[Thomas Thomson, botanist, geologist and plant hunter in India with Joseph Dalton Hooker.] Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed friend, discussing their burgeoning friendship and his plans for his career.

Author: 
Thomas Thomson (1817-1878), botanist and geologist, plant hunter in India with Joseph Dalton Hooker
Publication details: 
‘8 Teviot Row / Edinboro’ / June 25th. 1859.’
£100.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 3pp, 12mo. Bivolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Addressed to ‘Dear Friend’ and signed ‘Thos. Thomson.’ Begins: ‘Having a few moments to spare, I take the opportunity of writing to you. I am sincerely sorry I shall not be back in time to see you before you leave for school, it would have afforded me much pleasure to have cemented our friendship more firmly.’ He likes the medical profession ‘better than any other’, and there is ‘every probability’ of his joining it. He would like to know the recipient’s opinion.

[Nicholas Culpeper, herbalist, botanist, physician and astrologer.] Printed list of ‘Ten several Books by Nich. Culpeper Gent. Student in Physick, and Astrology.’

Author: 
Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654), English herbalist, botanist, physician and astrologer
Publication details: 
Extracted from ‘Medicaments for the Poor; Or, Physick for the Common People’ (London: Printed by John Streater, for George Sawbridge, 1670).
£80.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo, with verso paginated 135 and ending ‘FINIS.’ The items are described over forty-five lines. The text is complete and clear, but the laid paper is in a delicate condition, discoloured and with chipping to extremities. The longest title is the first, at ten lines: ‘I. The Practice of Physick, containing seventeen several Books: wherein is plainly set forth, the Nature, Cause, Differences, and several sorts of Signs; together with the Cure of all Diseases in the Body of Man.

[Charles Vandeleur Creagh, Governor of North Borneo and botanist.] Autograph Note Signed, requesting a price list for ‘Teacher’s Patent Lantern Microscope’ from Manchester maker of optical instruments W. J. Chadwick.

Author: 
Charles Vandeleur Creagh (1842-1917), Governor of North Borneo and botanist who donated his collection of Borneo plants to Kew Gardens, London [W. J. Chadwick, Manchester maker of optical instruments]
Publication details: 
25 December 1890; on letterhead of Government House, Sandakan [North Borneo].
£80.00

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded three times. In order to mark the request as dealt with, the recipient has written a thin ink line across the page. Reads: ‘W J Chadwick Esqre / Sir / Please send me price list of your Teacher’s Patent Lantern Microscope / Yours truly / C. V. Creagh / Governor of North Borneo / Address / Sandakan / North Borneo / via Singapore’.

[W. C. R. Watson, English botanist.] Two Autograph Cards Signed (both ‘W. Watson’), concerning botanical matters, one to F. O. Whitaker of Plumstead, and the other to C. G. Grinling of Woolwich.

Author: 
W. C. R. Watson [William Charles Richard Watson; William Watson] (1885-1954), English botanist, author of ‘Handbook of the Rubi of Great Britain and Ireland‘ (1958)
Publication details: 
TO GRINLING: No date (postmark of 6 September 1921); “The Meadows”, Saham Toney, Watton, Norfolk. TO WHITAKER: No date (postmark of 16 September 1929); 245 Southlands Rd, Bickley, Kent.
£50.00

Note to be confused with the Kew curator William Watson (1858-1925). Both cards are plain: the first with a self-printed stamp and the second with stamp affixed. Both in fair condition, lightly aged. ONE (to Grinling): He identifies the fungi he sent, adding a comment on bacteoles of mallow. Ends in the hope of attending ‘the Epping Forest foray this year’. TWO (to Whitaker). The previous Saturday he noted ‘Pyrus torminalis in the old rough lane between fences nearly opposite the Bull Inn on Shooters Hill (? Jack Wood Lane)’.

[Felix Eugen Fritsch, Professor and Head of Botany, Queen Mary College, University of London.] Autograph Note SIgned F.E. Fritsch to Crow.

Author: 
Felix Eugen Fritsch (1879–1954), algologist, Professor and Head of the Botanical Department, Queen Mary College, University of London, from 1911-1948
Publication details: 
3 June 1929; on letterhead of the Department of Botany, East London College, Mile End Road, E1. [London]
£38.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient is William Bernard Crow, and the work referred to in the letter is his University of London thesis, presumably written under Fritsch’s supervision. 1p, 4to. Aged and creased, with chipping to edges. Folded three times. Good firm signature at foot: ‘F. E. Fritsch’. He thanks him for the copy of his book on “Contributions to the Principles of Morphology”, which he hopes to read ‘when the present rush dies down’. He hopes he is ‘getting on well at Huddersfield’.

[George Jackson Flemwell, artist; Skiing] Long Autograph Letter Signed (‘G. Flemwell.’) to H. Stuart Thompson, discussing plans for his ‘Alpine Flowers and Gardens Painting’, mentioning Henry Correvon and skiing; with ALS from Thompson.

Author: 
George Flemwell [George Jackson Flemwell] (1865-1928), artist [Harold Stuart Thompson (1870-1940), botanist; Henry Correvon, Swiss botanist; Switzerland; Swiss alps; skiing]
Publication details: 
Flemwell’s letter to Thompson: 16 November 1910; Villars-sur-Ollon [Switzerland]. Thompson’s letter to Cox: 16 July 1938; 11 Buckingham Place, Clifton [Bristol].
£90.00

An interesting letter from Flemwell, written while working on his 1910 A. and C. Black book ‘Alpine Flowers and Gardens Painted’. In good condition, with envelope carrying Swiss stamps and postmarks, addressed to 'H. Stuart Thompson Esqre. / Forest View; / Vale Rd.; / Upper Parkstone; / Dorset.' 4pp, 12mo. Eight-six lines of text, including pencil postscript.

[Ren? Louiche Desfontaines, Professor of Botany at the Jardin des Plantes.] Autograph Letter Signed (?Desfontaines?) [to the negotiator of the Louisiana Purchase, the Marquis of Barb?-Marbois], thanking him for his ?Histoire de la Louisiane?.

Author: 
Ren? Louiche Desfontaines (1750-1833), French botanist, Professor of Botany at the Jardin des Plantes [Fran?ois, Marquis de Barb?-Marbois (1745-1837), French negotiator of Louisiana Purchase]
Publication details: 
Erroneously dated ?paris 21 decembre 1888? [1829?].
£180.00

The letter is addressed to ?Monsieur Le marquis?, and the recipient is undoubtedly Barb?-Marbois. The letter presumably dates from 1829, the year of publication of Barb?-Marbois?s ?Histoire de la Louisiane?. The other work referred to, ?Le Complot d?Arnold et de Sir Henry Clinton contre les Etats-Unis?, was published in 1816.

[A.B. Rendle, botanist; The Snowdrop] Autograph Letter Signed A.B. Rendle to Grinling [[C.H.] Grinling, socialist, editor of the Woolwich Pioneer, botanist], discussing the Snowdrop at length.

Author: 
A.B. Rendle [Alfred Barton Rendle (1865 – 1938), botanist].
Publication details: 
[Embossed] 28 Hollybush Raod, Putney, S.W., 14 March [1930?].
£80.00

Two pages, cr. 8vo, fold mark, minor repair to closed tear, text complete and legible. Text: I have no personal knowledge as to the seeding of Snowdrops in this country - the species is a very doubtful native & we are about the northern limit of its distribution. I have grown snowdrops for years but have never noticed seedlings among them & they only grow in the area where I have planted the bulbs. They would take probably several (I can't say how many off hand) years to produce flowering bulbs.

[Samuel Goodenough, Bishop of Carlisle, botanist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Saml. Carlisle') to Rev. Gilbert Ford of Ormskirk, regarding the 'Grey Pill' of his father, the Chester physician John Ford.

Author: 
Samuel Goodenough (1743-1827), Bishop of Carlisle, botanist [Rev. Gilbert Ford of Ormskirk; Dr John Ford of Chester]
Publication details: 
22 April 1808. Berners Street [London].
£56.00

See Goodenough's entry in the Oxford DNB. At the time of writing he had not been long in place: he had been consecrated in the Chapel Royal, Whitehall on 13 February 1808, having been nominated by the Prime Minister the Duke of Portland. The recipient is Rev. Gilbert Ford (1768-1835) of Ormskirk, son of the eminent Chester physician and botanist John Ford (1731-1807). (Ford was possibly related to Goodenough by marriage: the latter's wife was a daughter of Dr James Ford, sometime physician to Middlesex Hospital and to Queen Charlotte.) 2pp, 4to. On bifolium.

[Andrew Duncan the elder, Scottish physician, Professor at Edinburgh University.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Andrew Duncan Sen') to an unnamed member of the British Cabinet, recommending Patrick Neill as Professor of Horticulture at Edinburgh.

Author: 
Andrew Duncan the elder (1744-1828), Scottish physician, Professor at Edinburgh University, joint founder of Royal Society of Edinburgh [Patrick Neill (1776-1851); Caledonian Horticultural Society]
Publication details: 
4 June 1827; Edinburgh.
£150.00

According to Duncan's entry in the Oxford DNB, 'In 1809 he founded the Caledonian Horticultural Society, and in later years he was actively occupied in promoting the establishment of a public experimental garden.' 2pp, 4to. In good condition, on aged paper, creased. The recipient is not named, and the letter begins: 'Although I have already often interrupted important business of State, yet I trust you will once more, forgive an Octogenarian, when he can plead, that his principal temptation, to transgression, is an earnest desire to promote the publick good -'.

[John Frost, controversial founder of the Medico-Botanical Society of London.] Autograph Letter Signed to the nurseryman Thomas Gibbs of Ampthill, boasting of his activities and reporting plans of a memorial to Gibbs's son.

Author: 
John Frost (1803-1840), controversial founder of the Medico-Botanical Society of London; Secretary, Royal Humane Society; personal physician to the Duke of Cumberland [Thomas Gibbs of Ampthill]
Publication details: 
29 Bridge Street, Blackfriars [where he lived as Secretary to the Royal Humane Society] [London]; 10 February 1827.
£750.00

Frost's eventful career (patronised by royalty and blackballed by the Royal Society) is described in his entry in the Oxford DNB, in which he is described as a 'medical entrepreneur'. The letter is written from the premises in which Frost lived from 1824 to 1830, as Secretary to the Royal Humane Society. The recipient Thomas Gibbs (1771-1849), seedsman and nurseryman, of Ampthill and Brompton Lodge, Old Brompton, was the father of the agriculturalist and horticulturalist Sir Benjamin Thomas Brandreth-Gibbs (1821-1885). See his obituary in the Farmer's Magazine, March 1849. 3pp, 4to. Bifolium.

[Eugen Bleuler, Swiss psychiatrist who coined the terms 'schizophrenia', 'schizoid', 'autism' and 'ambivalence'.] Typed Letter Signed ('Bleuler'), in German, requesting information on the manifestation of 'eine psyche-artige Funktion' in plants.

Author: 
Eugen Bleuler [Paul Eugen Bleuler] (1857-1939), Swiss psychiatrist and eugenicist, who coined such psychiatric terms as 'schizophrenia', 'schizoid', 'autism' and 'ambivalence'
Publication details: 
On his letterhead, Zurich, Switzerland; 5 March 1939.
£1,000.00

1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Written a few months before Bleuler's death to an unnamed recipient ('Liebster Freund!'), regarding the possibility of consciousness within the plant kingdom. As a nonbotanist ('als Nichtbotaniker') Bleuler has no knowledge of 'die Falle, wo Pflanzen Gedichtnis oder sonst eine psyche-artige Funktion zeigen', with the exception of 'der Mimosen', and it strikes him ' dass ich eigentlich die Pflicht hatte, das Material so weit als moglich zu kennen, bevor ich etwas drucken lasse'.

[John Lindley, as Vice Secretary, Horticultural Society of London.] Autograph Letter Signed to John Hearne of St Domingo, on importing 'West Indian fruits' to English markets. With printed circular including 'Enquiries concerning the Pine Apple'.

Author: 
John Lindley (1799-1865), Professor of Botany at University College, London, and Secretary of the Horticultural Society of London [John Hearne (c.1795-1849), merchant in Haiti and St Domingo]
Publication details: 
Stamped letterhead of the Horticultural Society, 21 Regent's Street [London]. 30 April 1844.
£320.00

Two items, both in fair condition, lightly aged and worn, but carelessly extracted from the volume in which they were previously bound up, so that Lindley's letter has suffered slight damage at the edge of both leaves, resulting in repair to one of the leaves, and the loss of a tiny strip of paper from the other, with the loss of a few letters of text (all easily supplied). ONE: Autograph Letter Signed from 'John Lindley | Vice Secretary' to 'John Hearne Esq | St. Domingo'. The letter begins: 'I am directed to transmit to you the Copy of a letter [i.e.

[John Lindley, eminent botanist.] Autograph Letter in the third person, informing 'Major Abby' that the birds he 'enquires for' are not present in the Garden of the Horticultural Society.

Author: 
John Lindley (1799-1865), eminent botanist, Assistant Secretary of the Horticultural Society of London, Professor of Botany at University College, London
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Horticultural Society of London, 21 Regent Street. 17 April 1841.
£120.00

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with a two fold lines. Ornamented engraved letterhead. Reads: 'Dr Lindley presents his Compts to Major Abby & begs to inform him that there are no such birds as he enquires for in the Garden of the Horticultural Society, nor has there ever been. There is only a couple of gulls & a duck, which were presented by the Zoological Society'.

[ Leopold Hartley Grindon, Manchester botanist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Leo. H. Grindon'), explaining his aims in founding the 'Manchester Field-Naturalists' Society'.

Author: 
L. H. Grindon [ Leopold Hartley Grindon ] (1818-1904), Lancashire botanist whose collections served as the basis of the Herbarium at Manchester Museum on its foundation in 1860
Publication details: 
20 Cecil Street, Greenheys, Manchester. 17 December 1885.
£40.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. The recipient is not named. Grindon's handwriting is difficult and the reading is in parts tentative. The letter begins with a references to 'The Secretary of our “Manchester Field-Naturalists' Society', who appears to have placed a communication from the recipient in Grindon's hands. Grindon agrees to bring the matter 'very distinctly before our members', but explains that there are difficulties. 'Our members reside, almost wholly, in the town, or, if a few miles away, they come into town by train by 9 a.m. Or so, & remain till eve.

[ Sir George Murray Humphry, Cambridge Professor of Anatomy. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('G. M. Humphry MD - F.R.S. | Professor of Anatomy in the University of Cambridge.'), a letter of recommendation on behalf of 'Mr. Henslow' [ George Henslow ].

Author: 
Sir G. M. Humphry [ Sir George Murray Humphry ] (1820-1896), University of Cambridge Professor of Anatomy and Physiology [ George Henslow (1835-1925), Royal Horticultural Society Professor of Botany ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of The Keys, Cambridge. 19 December 1867.'
£60.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. The words 'Professor Humphreys [sic]' have been written at the head in a Victorian hand. Humphry's letter of recommendation reads: 'Mr. Henslow's good reputation as a botanist inclined the University authorities to appoint him one of the Examiners for our Natural Sciences Tripos; & he has admirably fulfilled the duties of the Office. My personal knowledge of him assures me that he would spare no pains to justify his election as Professor of Botany and render his lectures acceptable to the members of the University of Oxford'.

[ Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ] Autograph Note Signed ('W. T. Thiselton Dyer') informing an unnamed party where to get information regarding 'the Establishment' from.

Author: 
Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [ Sir W. T. Thiselton-Dyer ] (1843-1928), British botanist, third director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Publication details: 
Kew, on embossed letterhead of 'Royal Gardens Kew'). 2 January 1886.
£80.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. He refers him to 'the Post Office Directory' for a 'list of our scientific staff', and to 'the Official Guide which is on sale at all the Gates' for 'the principal facts as to the objects etc. of the Establishment', and concludes: 'The other information you ask for is embodied in our annual report which is not at present issued'.

[ Rev. Thomas Arthur Preston of Marlborough College, botanist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('T. A. Preston') to J. Ramsay, regarding 'the connection between Vegetation & Climate', a subject 'in its infancy'.

Author: 
T. A. Preston [ Rev. Thomas Arthur Preston ] (1833-1905) of Marlborough College, botanist
Publication details: 
On letterhead of The College [amended by Preston to 'Green'], Marlborough. 28 May 1881.
£250.00

12pp., 12mo. On three bifoliums. In good condition, lightly aged. A long speculation - of great interest in the light of subsequent developments - on 'the connection between Vegetation & Climate', beginning with a discussion of 'the case of the Hawthorn'. 'The whole subject', he notes, 'at present is in its infancy and there are so many varied questions for wh. we seek answers that at present I do not think we can state any certain conclusions. | Botanically, the constitution of each species is an interesting source of investigation.

[ Dawson Turner, botanist and antiquary. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mr Sowerby' [ the naturalist and illustrator James Sowerby ], regarding his last paper in the Linnaean Transactions, specimens he is sending, and other matters.

Author: 
Dawson Turner (1775-1858), botanist and antiquary [ James Sowerby (1757-1822), naturalist and illustraton ]
Publication details: 
Yarmouth; 29 June 1805.
£220.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and creased paper. Begins: 'By some strange, almost unaccountable, accident, the plates of my last paper in the Linnaean Transactions, accompanied by your kind favour of yr chromatic scale, have just found their way to my hands, tho' they have been some weeks in my house.' He asks what he is 'indebted for these plates', so that he may pay this and the 'subscription for your book on colors'. He describes specimens he is sending 'for English Botany', 'which you will be glad to figure.

[ Auguste Broussonet; Joseph Banks ] Autograph Note Signed "Aug. Broussonet" to an unnamed correspondent about receipt of seeds from Charleston (America).

Author: 
Auguste Broussonet [Pierre Marie Auguste Broussonet (1761–1807)], French Naturalist, friend of Joseph Banks.
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£180.00

One page, 12mo, small corner missing with loss of short word (unknown), mainly good condition. "Je recois a l'instant quelques grains toutes fraiches de Charleston et je [m'empresse?] de vous en faire [passer?] une parties. J'ignore si vous avez recu les paquets [?] que je vous ai adresses il y a deja quelques [temps?]". Postscipti (corner lost), "il [leur ...?] de la terre de [possibly loss of short word] Bruyere , legere, du frais et le [word lost?] l[ombre?]."

[ Carleton Rea and Joseph Hill White of the Worcestershire Naturalists' Club. ] Two Autograph Letters in the third person from Rea, and one Autograph Letter Signed ('J. Hill White') from White, all to Sir Richard Harington

Author: 
Carleton Rea (1861-1946), mycologist, botanist, naturalist, President of the Worcestershire Naturalists' Club; Joseph Hill White [ Sir Richard Harington (1835-1911) of Whitbourne Court ]
Publication details: 
Two of the three on letterheads of the Worcestershire Naturalists' Club, 51 Broad Street, Worcester. One of Rea's from 34 Foregate Street, Worcester. All three from 1902.
£120.00

The three items in fair condition, with light signs of age and wear. ONE: From Rea, 4 June 1902. 1p., 8vo. On WNC letterhead, amended by Rea with his Foregate Street address. Requesting permission to view Harington's 'historic mansion on Thursday the 12th. June next: The Club will on that day walk down from Ham Bridge via Tedney & expect to be near Whitbourne Court between 4.30 & 5 o'clock They desire only to see the historic portion of the buildings & to in no way intrude on Sir Richard Harington's privacy'. TWO: From Rea, 6 June 1902. From Foregate Street. 1p., 12mo.

[ William Carruthers, Scottish botanist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Wm Carruthers') to 'Dr Miller', regarding paying a visit with 'our stones'.

Author: 
William Carruthers (1830-1922), Scottish botanist, Keeper of the Botanical Department at the Natural History Museum, London
Publication details: 
British Museum [ London ]. 5 July 1870.
£80.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He will have 'much pleasure in breaking our stones o'er again on Thursday', and will 'try & bring some sections with me - several specimens are in the lapidary's hands'. He ends by asking for confirmation of the hour at which he should call on him.

[ Francis Henry Hill Guillemard, English botanist. ] Elegiac Autograph Letter Signed ('Henry Guillemard'), writing movingly to 'Annie & her coadjutors' on his impending death.

Author: 
Henry Guillemard [ Francis Henry Hill Guillemard ] (1852-1933), English botanist and traveller
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Old Mill House, Cambridge. 11 August 1933.
£200.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. He begins by stating that he has of late found the act of writing almost impossible, but that when he goes into his garden, 'there are various things determined that you should not be forgotten; above all those beautiful white Turks' Cap lilies'. He has not been able to enter his garden, and now realises 'that old Charon is in the offing with that low, flat boat of his, ready to convey me, not entirely unwilling, to the other side.

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