Pallas (Peter Simon Autograph letter signed ('P. S. Pallas') to 'Monsieur C. G. Gowler Peintre et Graveur' in Leipzig, in German, reading in part "As one is gradually forgotten by all young friends in old age, so it is with you. It has been quite a long time since I have seen a letter from you, and I have only seen from the newspapers that my last botanical work is already more than halfway done, although I have not yet seen a single sheet of it. I am getting old and more and more sickly; who knows, you might have to send the complimentary copy [author's copy] to me in the afterworld, and yet I would like to see it in this one. Of all your beautiful copper works that are emblazoned in the newspapers, and of which you had promised me samples, I still have ...yet to see a single sheet". The main text deals with an order for illuminations for his recent work and precise instructions on what to do " Today the manuscript and the drawings of my animal story finally leave here, and will probably soon be in your hands. At the bottom of the box with the drawings you will find some stuffed birds, some of which are to be redrawn, some of which are to serve to improve the drawings. There are in all of quadrupeds and birds 122 quarter size copper plates, for this first half of the work... I wish that all the copper plates should be provided with a uniform, neatly illuminated frame or border similar to the illuminated quart edition of the Buffon and the Tab. XIV that had been drawn by yourself beneath the birds. For the incorrect drawings I have enclosed the necessary remarks for improvement, as well as two and more drawings.... Many must also be reduced. .... The medium-sized and large birds must be reduced according to proportion, but the small ones presented in natural size". He then finishes with a request for diligence and some personal notes "For the sake of our old friendship I ask you to apply all diligence so that this work will see the light of day to your honor, and I ask that your demands for money to the Academy to be as cheap as possible, so that such a magnificent work does not fall into bad hands. The engraving can be light, so that the illumination looks the better.... I would like to ask Mr. Martini, if he sends me books, to enclose a copy of Wildenow's Systema or Species Plantarum", three pages, professional restoration to original losses and splitting, some ink bleeding, remnants of red wax seal, 4to, Kalmuk Kara, 27 May 1806. ***Peter Simon Pallas (22 September 1741 – 8 September 1811) was a renown Prussian zoologist and botanist. In 1767, he was invited by Catherine II of Russia to become a professor at the St Petersburg Academy of Sciences and, between 1768 and 1774, he led an expedition to central Russian provinces, collecting natural history specimens for the academy. Between 1793 and 1794, Pallas led a second expedition to southern Russia, visiting the Crimea and the Black Sea.
Pallas (Peter Simon Autograph letter signed ('P. S. Pallas') to 'Monsieur C. G. Gowler Peintre et Graveur' in Leipzig, in German, reading in part "As one is gradually forgotten by all young friends in old age, so it is with you. It has been quite a long time since I have seen a letter from you, and I have only seen from the newspapers that my last botanical work is already more than halfway done, although I have not yet seen a single sheet of it. I am getting old and more and more sickly; who knows, you might have to send the complimentary copy [author's copy] to me in the afterworld, and yet I would like to see it in this one. Of all your beautiful copper works that are emblazoned in the newspapers, and of which you had promised me samples, I still have ...yet to see a single sheet". The main text deals with an order for illuminations for his recent work and precise instructions on what to do " Today the manuscript and the drawings of my animal story finally leave here, and will probably soon be in your hands. At the bottom of the box with the drawings you will find some stuffed birds, some of which are to be redrawn, some of which are to serve to improve the drawings. There are in all of quadrupeds and birds 122 quarter size copper plates, for this first half of the work... I wish that all the copper plates should be provided with a uniform, neatly illuminated frame or border similar to the illuminated quart edition of the Buffon and the Tab. XIV that had been drawn by yourself beneath the birds. For the incorrect drawings I have enclosed the necessary remarks for improvement, as well as two and more drawings.... Many must also be reduced. .... The medium-sized and large birds must be reduced according to proportion, but the small ones presented in natural size". He then finishes with a request for diligence and some personal notes "For the sake of our old friendship I ask you to apply all diligence so that this work will see the light of day to your honor, and I ask that your demands for money to the Academy to be as cheap as possible, so that such a magnificent work does not fall into bad hands. The engraving can be light, so that the illumination looks the better.... I would like to ask Mr. Martini, if he sends me books, to enclose a copy of Wildenow's Systema or Species Plantarum", three pages, professional restoration to original losses and splitting, some ink bleeding, remnants of red wax seal, 4to, Kalmuk Kara, 27 May 1806. ***Peter Simon Pallas (22 September 1741 – 8 September 1811) was a renown Prussian zoologist and botanist. In 1767, he was invited by Catherine II of Russia to become a professor at the St Petersburg Academy of Sciences and, between 1768 and 1774, he led an expedition to central Russian provinces, collecting natural history specimens for the academy. Between 1793 and 1794, Pallas led a second expedition to southern Russia, visiting the Crimea and the Black Sea.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
