Albert GAUDRY (1827-1908), geologist and paleontologist, pro - Lot 34

Lot n° 34
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Result : 3 200EUR
Albert GAUDRY (1827-1908), geologist and paleontologist, pro - Lot 34
Albert GAUDRY (1827-1908), geologist and paleontologist, professor at the Muséum, president of the Académie des Sciences. 4 autograph letters signed, 12 pp. in-8. Paris, October 1857 - February 1858. On the sale of the library of Alcide d'Orbigny (died June 30, 1857), whose assistant Albert Gaudry was. He has just seen M. Matignon, grandfather of Alcide d'Orbigny's eldest daughter. "He has come to me to ask you to draw up the catalog of M. d'Orbigny's library, on the conditions you have set, i.e. 10% of the sale price. This discount will include the writing of the catalog, its printing, and distribution costs, both in Paris and in foreign departments and countries [...]. M. d'Orbigny's books and scientific collections are the only fortune he is leaving to his children". He sent the proofs back to her, but something unexpected happened. "I beg you, decidedly, not to include any copies of Paléontologie in the catalog. M. Masson, without formally opposing it, sees some inconvenience in it; and as I have ceded everything without reserve, I must abstain from what does not suit him. As for the 4 volumes of painted birds, I would like them to remain in the catalog, unless I buy them back at the auction, which is preferable in the interests of the estate. About ten years ago, Mr. Gide was the depositary of 40 copies of Bolivia, and 40 copies of Foraminifères: he has promised me his account, which will tell me what he is keeping and what he is not. It can't be much. I don't think there are any [lithographic] stones. They must have been removed when the work on Bolivia was interrupted. It seems to me that the few copies that may still exist should not prevent the definitive printing of the catalog [...]. It is understood that in the catalog, no mention will be made of the prodrome edition, which the family has kept in its entirety [...]". The last letter (4 pp. in-8), very interesting, concerns the sale to the British Museum of "M. d'Orbigny's manuscript containing the official documents of the foundation of the cities of Bolivia": he determines the price and conditions.
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