Aimé BONPLAND (1773-1858), botanist and explorer, explored S - Lot 13

Lot n° 13
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Result : 2 500EUR
Aimé BONPLAND (1773-1858), botanist and explorer, explored S - Lot 13
Aimé BONPLAND (1773-1858), botanist and explorer, explored South America from 1799 to 1804 with Humboldt. Autograph letter signed to botanist Alire Raffeneau-Delile (1778-1850), 4 pp. in-4. Buenos-Aires, November 7, 1819. Full transcript enclosed. Magnificent letter on his installation in South America and the crops he is developing there. He worries about her silence, especially concerning the publication of his work on the gardens of Malmaison, and asks for news of the drawings, the copperplates and the Vélin copy. Then he gives some news of his own. "My existence here is improving and would soon be very beautiful if I could penetrate the interior of the country. Although the countryside is very agitated at the moment, I hope to visit the interior soon. During this last winter, which is more beautiful than our spring, I made several excursions into Parana and I now count 8 to 900 species from this country in my plant collection. I also have a rather nice collection of insects, a few fossil shells and a fair amount of comparative anatomy, so I don't despair of soon having collections useful to my interests, whatever the future fate of this country, which is really too agitated for a country of freedom. The property I have on the outskirts of the city is becoming very interesting, and if I had been able to do everything I wanted to do there, I would already be making quite a nice living from it. Patience, my friend, I've needed a lot of it here and I've had more than I could imagine [...]. My vines are magnificent and next year I'll have an ample harvest, my fresnes (frawinus ewielsior) are beautiful, this tree is a real treasure for the country and it owes me at least that much. In two years' time I hope to have some that will bear seed. My yellow and red willows are in full multiplication and offer me great advantages, as soon as I have enough to make the basketry so useful in this country; in a few days I'll be picking raspberries from the first 26 feet that I multiplied with three miserable little individuals that I had saved. It's already been a few days since I've tasted strawberries of all months, currants and gooseberries, etc. etc.. I have a lot of work and curious observations, but I won't make use of them until it is clear whether I will stay here or return to Europe [...]". He announces the dispatch of plants and manuscripts intended for the publication of the Flora of the United Provinces, and asks him for news of Humboldt, his Flora, etc. "but would you believe, dear Delphine, that I am going to send you some plants? "But would you believe, dear Delile, that my herbarium and all my collections are still in the crates where they came from Europe, and that these crates have only been opened to assure me that everything is preserved in good condition! I beg you, dear Delile, to send me some good magnifying glasses similar to the ones we used to use, as I'm completely without them, having lost them all. Sumai seed at least a pound, Gossypium herbacium seed the same as is grown in the Levant and the south of France. Tulip onions as much as you can, and above all, pack them well. Perhaps the best way would be to wrap them one by one in paper and put them in very dry sand, which would stop vegetation and prevent putrefaction. The best-known tulips will be good for here, and ask for the scraps of our tulip crazies: I'd also like to receive other onions of any kind, and especially ranunculus and anemones. The ones you sent me were all spoiled and most of them too small, i.e. the legs. If these kinds of flowers are not very expensive, or if you can get them from Lelieur or any other source, please send me at least a thousand. You would also do well to send me seeds of these flowers, which are highly esteemed here; add to this, if you wish or if you have the time, seeds of autumn flowers, Asters especially [...]".
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