Palaeontologist (13 results)

1-page 8vo, conjugate blank removed. He writes: "I am much obliged to you for your kind letter, which I have printed among my testimonials. It cannot fail to tell much in my favour".

The calling card is 5.5 x 9.5 cm, with 'Alfred Grandidier, | Membre de l'Institut.' in copperplate in the centre and his address '6, Rond-Point des Champs Elysées' in the bottom right-hand corner. In good condition, lightly-aged, with remains of stub adhering to the reverse. Grandidier has written across the bottom of the card: 'Very grateful to Dr. Forsyth Major for having sent him two so interesting pamphlets, sends him his best thanks and renews his heartfelt compliments for his important discoveries at Malay.' Image on request.

1p, 16mo. In fair condition, aged and grubby, with remains of glue from mount on reverse. Reads: 'Dear Mr Owen, | I have sent your note to Mr Combe & hope he may be able to send you the work - | Yours truly | Ja Clark'. The note has a light stamp at top left of page, stating that it is 'Ex. Litt. Ricardi Owen', and a gift to Sherborne from 'R. S. Owen'. The item must have been deacquisitioned, as it comes from the distinguished autograph collection of the psychiatrist Richard Alfred Hunter (1923-1981), whose collection of 7000 works relating to psychiatry is now in Cambridge University Library. Hunter and his mother Ida Macalpine had a particular interest in the illness of King George III, and their book 'George III and the Mad Business' (1969) suggested the diagnosis of porphyria popularised by Alan Bennett in his play 'The Madness of George III'.

Oblong 8vo. 2 pp. Sending Christmas greetings to Ilse Poschacher.

8vo. ½ p. "Prof. F. X. Schaffer, Geologische Forschungsreisen in allen Erdteile, Weltreisen, 1925, 1927".

A good letter, breathing enthusiasm for his field of study. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. He begins by stating that he will not be calling at the Museum that week, but writes to 'drop you a line to say that I have received a very long letter from Mr [Suett?] full of details regarding Ilrigocephalus etc and in which he mentions that he can drown you with notes on Rudists'. He also refers to 'a good paper by V. Hauren on the Structure etc of Caprina Partschi' ('a synonym of Cap. Paradoxa Matheron'). He announces: 'I leave positively for Belgium among the first days of next week, but will call on you o Monday at the Museum and bring with me the Calceoles and the descriptions of the new Terebratula of Carney in case you should wish to take a note or two from them to insert into Mr. Grays Catalogue as I will not be in London again before the beginning or end of the first week of June.' He hopes on his return 'to be able to bring all the materials to finish your notes for the part on Brachiopods in your interesting little Manual'.

8vo. Together 2¾ pp. on bifolia. Both letters written to a professor of geology at the Czech university of Prague. On 5 December 1907 Barrois informs the recipient that he will gladly introduce him as a new member to the Société géologique de France, referring to Bohemia as the second home of Joachim Barrande and to a recent trip to Prague. In the later letter, Barrois thanks the recipient for the bestowal of an honorary doctorate at the University of Prague. Barrois also promises that he will try to attend the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Czech branch of the university: "Je ferai tout mon possible pour assister au 25e anniversaire de la naissance de l'Université tchèque, qui s'est détaché après 5 siècles du vieux tronc universitaire, prouvant par ses 4000 étudiants de sa vitalité et de son avenir, pour le développement de la Bohème et de la science [.]". - On stationery with lithographed letterhead of the university of Lille. With collector's note in pencil. Well preserved.

8vo. 1 page. To an unidentified recipient ("m[on] c[her] a[mi]") about an approaching journey on the following Sunday morning, at seven o'clock at the latest. The recipient should therefore arrive at half past six, the meeting point is the "jardin de plantes", travelling companions will be Cuvier's sister Sophie and Clémentine: "Nous ne partirons que Dimanche Matin; mais au plutard à sept heures; ainsi soyez au jardin des plantes à six heures et demi. Vous seriez bien aimable de venir nous voir demain soir. C'est avec mon Soeur Sophie et Clémentine que nous ferons le voyage [.]". - Frédéric joined his brother Georges in Paris in 1797. Frédéric Cuvier was scientific director of the zoo of the "jardin de plants" in the years 1805-36. - On stationery with printed letterhead "Commission de l'Instruction publique". The "Commission", of which Georges Cuvier was chancellor and president, was in charge of the direction of national education between 1815 and 1820.

An interesting item in the field of Victorian Egyptology. The subject is what Owen describes here as 'one of the oldest Statues of an Egyptian Notable in the British Museum'. Its current Museum Number is EA103, and it has been in the Museum since 1835, but the details of its acquisition are unclear. In his translation Birch calls the sitter 'the Royal Scribe, Amenhelp', but the current BM description begins: 'Scribal statue of Amenhotep son of Hapu: of black grano-diorite. Hieroglyphic texts are inscribed on the papyrus unrolled on his lap and on the statue plinth. His right hand, now broken, held a pen, as if writing, while his left hand holds the papyrus roll. [.]' At the time of writing Owen and Birch were colleagues at the British Museum, Owen as Superintendent of the Natural History Department, and Birch as head the Egyptian and Assyrian branch (see the entries on both men in the Oxford DNB). The recipient of Owen's covering letter to Birch's translation is Lady Ann Cullum (1807-1875), widow of Sir Thomas Gery Cullum (1777-1855) of Hardwick House. As a palaeontologist, Owen opposed Darwin's theory of evolution with a biblical view of creation, and his interest in Ancient Egypt, bound up with his Christian beliefs, is apparent in the letter in an elegant assessment of the significance of the statue, and in his annotation of Birch's translation. The letter and translation are on four 4to pages of the same paper. In good condition, with light signs of age and wear. The letter is on the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium, and the first page of the translation on the recto of the second leaf, but they have now been inverted by folding, with the two leaves carrying the other two pages of the translation tipped-in at the front, resulting in the material being presented in reverse order. ONE: Covering Autograph Letter Signed from Owen to Lady Cullum, with good firm signature, addressed from 'Sheen Lodge, Richmond Park, | 5th May 1867.' 1p, 4to. The letter reads: 'Dear Lady Cullum, | I have the pleasure to send, agreeably with my promise, a copy of the Translation of the hyeroglyphic [sic] Inscription on one of the oldest Statues of an Egyptian Notable in the British Museum. It affords a suggestive insight into a social position, of one of the earliest historical civilized & organized Communities. The date is probably anterior to that which may be assigned to the visit of Abram to Egypt. Gen. XII. | Retaining a lively recollection of the pleasure of the day spent at Hardwick, I remain, | Your Ladyship's very truly, | Richard Owen.' TWO: Manuscript translation described in Owen's letter. 3pp, 4to. Written out in an unknown hand, with the first of the five sections titled: 'Translation of the Inscription on the Garment and Papyrus which he is unrolling.' The other four sections of the translation are: 'Inscription In Front of the base', 'Running to the left of the figure', 'right Side' and 'Left side'. At the head of the first page, in Owen's autograph: 'Hyeroglyphics [sic] on the Statue of the Seated Royal Scribe "Amenhelp," in the British Museum.' On the third page, at the end of the translation and in the same unknown hand, is written out a 'Copy of letter from Samuel Birch, Esqre: F.S.A. &c. | Keeper of Antiquities in the British Museum, enclosing the above Translation to Professor Owen: -'. Birch's letter is dated from the British Museum, 9 July 1860. It reads: 'My dear Professor, | Enclosed is the Translation of the Inscriptions on the Granite Statue of the Seated Scribe. It Consists of the Dedication of the Statue to the Royal Scribe, Amenhelp, and of his prayers, to the God, Amen-Ra the Theban Jupiter. | Believe me, | Yours very truly | (signed) Samuel Birch'. The translation carries tem marginal annotations in Owen's autograph, indicating an interest in and knowledge of the subject. The two of Owen's annotations read: 'His territorial Title: Baron Shamer, like all the Nobility of Egypt, was a priest: the condition is now parallel'd at the Court of Rome.' and 'the Upper & Lower Provinces of Egypt paralleling the Heavens & the Earth.' See Image of Owen's letter.

8vo. 1 page on bifolium. With remnants of autograph address on verso. To the painter and geologist Thomas Richard Underwood (1772-1835) in Paris, asking him to assist an aspiring doctor during his sojourn there: "A friend of mine Mr. C. Bishop M.A. of our University is coming to reside some time in Paris for the purpose of studying Medicine. Will you allow me to request of You the favor to give him any Assistance that may be in your Power to facilitate his Views in this Department, & As He is a stranger at Paris you will also probabl[y] be able to give him many friendly hints that may be of service [.]". - Part of the address clipped. With 3 strips of old mounting tape on verso. Previously in the collection of the English novelist Catherine Hutton (1756-1846), with a few annotations in her handwriting. Enclosed is a clipping of an envelope with an autograph address, mounted on thin cardboard.

4to. 1 p. Affixed to a larger card. Signatures of Richard Owen, the English geologist John Phillips (1800-1874), the British economist Bonamy Price (1807-1888), the English mathematician Bartholomew Price (1818-1898), the English academic who was one of the earliest professors of English literature in Great Britain Henry Morley (1822-1894) and th British churchman and orientalist Professor Thomas Jarrett (1805-1882) affixed to a larger card titled rofessor and Lecturer" and on the back side a signature of the American scientist Lorenzo Niles Fowler (1811-1896).

92 : 98 mm. Signed full length pose of the renowned English biologist, anatomist and palaeontologist, known for coining the term dinosaur. . - Photograph by Maull & Polyblank, London.Signed Rd. Owen" on the foot of the cdv and Richard Owen" on the reverse.

8vo. 1 p. on bifolium. With autograph envelope. To H. W. Horwill at Wadham College in Oxford: "I beg to thank your for obliging letter and am gratified by the attention which you have thought my 'Paleontology' worthy of receiving. I shall not fail to make the corrections which you have kindly called my attention in the next Edition, & to make due acknowledgement of the source [.]". - Owen, a supporter of Lamarck and scientific opponent of Darwin, was well-known for creating (with the support of Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins) the first life-size sculptures depicting dinosaurs as they might have appeared: some of them were initially created for the Great Exhibition of 1851. - With printed letterhead.