Description
ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT PUBLISHED PROLIFICALLY THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE. HE WROTE SPECIALIZED WORKS ON PARTICULAR TOPICS OF BOTANY, ZOOLOGY, ASTRONOMY, MINERALOGY, AMONG OTHERS, BUT HE ALSO WROTE GENERAL WORKS THAT ATTRACTED A WIDE READERSHIP. HERE, IN A WONDERFUL CONTENT LETTER, HE HANDWRITES ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH HIS NEW PUBLICATION, TO GEORG SCHOLL (1751-1831) THE GARDENER, BOTANIST, ILLUSTRATOR, AND EXPLORER, WHO WAS PROBABLY HELPING WITH THE ARTWORK.
ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT (1769-1859) HANDWRITTEN LETTER SIGNED, “Your very humble servant Humboldt”, 4.75 X 7.25, postmarked June 1, 1812, to Monsieur Scholl in Paris, by the German polymath, geographer, naturalist, explorer, and the first person to describe the phenomenon and cause of human-induced climate change (1800 & again in 1831). His 1799, 6,000 mile expedition through Central and South America doing quantitative work on botanical geography laid the foundation for the field of biogeography. He spent over 20 years publishing his findings. Later in life he worked on his multi-volume treatise, Kosmos, in which he sought to unify diverse branches of scientific knowledge and culture. This handwritten letter in German, with full translation: “I have not reviewed a single sheet of the Introduction since I brought you what there was to add. For this very reason I have not released any drawing to be made for the last sheet. It will be some kind of confusion from Mr. Stone. I do not have a sheet of this Introduction. I understand Mr. Stone has monstrous ideas of coloring all the plates at home so let me draw it. So it will be a waste of effort.” There is also a handwritten postscript “Could I ask you dear friend to get me by 3 pm tomorrow an example of the small banking tables from Mr. Ottmanns one of the large ones in quarto. I have just found some in my house.” (He has crossed out the postscript). Comes with his handwritten envelope that has an opening tear and the letter is in fine condition with age toning and some light staining.
$1500 #12901ZURA
