Charles Bessey, Letters, 1891

The Harvey Herbarium.

In our last issue of the BULLETIN we advertised the fact that we hold for sale the Herbarium of that distinguished botanist, the late Professor W. H. Harvey, of Triaty College, Dublin. We have had some inquiries about this Hebarium from parties considering the question of it purchase. For its contents we refer to the resume given in last BULLETIN. For its character, quality and value we can only repeat that this is one of the most celebrated botanical collections which has ever been before the public. It long held in Great Britain the position (due to its comprehensice fullness) and the reputation which Dr. Gray's celebrated Herbarium at Harvard holds in this country.

Professor W. H. Brewer, the well-known botanist and naturalist of Yale College, says:

"Professor W. H. Harvey was one of the most noted botanists in the generation just preceding this, and when Systematic Botany was the subject of vastly more study than now, and when a large number of collectors and explorers were in the field gathering in the species for comparison and study. He took advantage of the time, to gather a Herbarium representing the vegetation of various lands. He was a standard writer, and the results of his work occupy an important place in botanical literature. For such a work as his an Herbarium as extensive as the whole boundary of science was necessary. Some of the very first specimens from Arizona and Southern California found their place in this Herbarium. (See Bot. California, vol.[ ], p. 555.)

This noted Herbarium would be a treasure for any college where Systematic Botany is taught. Beyond the great expense and the long years which were required in its making, it has a notable value in connection with the history of Botanical Science."

We hold this celebrated Herbarium still on sale. It is carefully mounted and labelled by Harvey himself, and contains no less than seventeen thousand species, with a total of over seventy-thousand specimens. These from all parts of the world. For its contents and range, see page 16 of our last BULLETIN.

Price of Herbarium, . . . $3,000.

Price of Herbarium, $3,000.

16 WARD'S NATURAL SCIENCE BULLETIN.

A LARGE, VALUABLE AND CELEBRATED HERBARIUM.

There has been placed in our hands for sale, the immense and valuable Herbarium of the late distinguished Botanist, Professor WILLIAM HENRY HERVEY, of Trinity College, Dublin.

This collection is in six large cases, containing three hundred and sixty bendles of standard-sized botanical paper, with sixteen thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven (16,977) species, from all parts of the world. There are generally four or five specimens of each species, thus making a total of over seventy thousand specimens. There is a seventh case of supple mentary specimens, not counted.

The following is a list of the Orders, with the number of Species in each: _____________________________________

Species Amaryllidae..............................86 Abietineae................................41 Amarantaceae.........................129 Aristolochieae...........................19 Apocynaceae.............................67 Asclepiadeae............................106 Asperifoliae..............................232 Acanthaceae...............................82 Ampelideae................................43 Acerineae...................................36 Anacardiaceae............................48 Amygdaleae................................35 Anonaceae..................................40 Buttneriaceae..............................40 Cyperaceae................................378 Cammelynaceae..........................69 Cupuliferae................................154 Chenopodeae..............................191 Compositae...............................2187 Campanulaceae...........................167 Convolvulaceae...........................124 Corneae........................................38 Crassulaceae................................103 Cruciferae....................................558 Capparideae...................................48 Cabombeae....................................28 Cistineae........................................77 Caryophylleae...............................524 Clusiaceae......................................26 Celastrineae....................................31 Daphnoideae...................................27 Dipsaceae........................................69 Droseraceae.....................................23 Diosmeae.........................................37 Ericauloneae....................................10 Epacrideae.......................................45 Ericaceae........................................205 Euphorbracea..................................289 Frankeniacea.....................................50 Gramineae.....................................1125 Guetaceae..........................................46 Gentianeae.......................................117 Geraniaceae.....................................170 Homalineae.......................................53 Hypericineae.....................................88 Irideae.............................................187 Ilicineae............................................ 57 Juncaceae..........................................49 Jasmineae..........................................22 Liliaceae...........................................294 Laurineae...........................................13 Lonicerae...........................................27 Labiatae............................................631 Lineae................................................37 Lythrarieae.........................................71 Leguminosae...................................1535 Melanthaceae......................................85 Menispermaceae.................................1[] Malvaceae..........................................227 Malphigracea.......................................48 Melastomaceae....................................87 Myrtaceae..........................................134 Orchideae...........................................279 Oleaceae............................................ 76 Orobancheae........................................40 Oxalideae.............................................80 Ocnothereae........................................108 Pandaneae............................................32 Piperaceae............................................55 Polygoneae............................................90 Proteaceae...........................................119 Plantagineae..........................................66 Plumbagineae........................................80 Polemoniaceae.......................................97 Primulaceae...........................................66 Papaveracea...........................................62 Passifloreae............................................90 Polygaleae..............................................73 Pomaceae...............................................95 Papilionaceae........................................ 46 Rubiaceae..............................................289 Ranunculaceae.......................................337 Residaceae...............................................23 Rhamnea.................................................66 Rosaceae................................................383 Smilaceae.................................................46 Scitamineae..............................................33 Salicineae................................................136 Santalaceae.................................................8 Solanaceae...............................................183 Scrophularineae.......................................536 Sapotaceae.................................................52 Saxifragaceae...........................................115 Sapindaceae...............................................39 Tiliaceae...................................................113 Ulmaceae...................................................77 Urticaceae..................................................50 Umbelliferae.............................................405 Utriculariae................................................30 Valeriancae.................................................71 Verbenaceae..............................................130 Violarieae....................................................53 Mixed bundles...........................................598 Total......................................................16,977

The above Herbarium contains specimens selected from most of the important European Cabinets (Royal and private), by Professor HERVEY, by whom the naming of the specimens has been most carefully revised and brought to the front line of Botanical classification. This Herbarium would place any Museum of College or University, or School of Science, on a level with most of the leading European collections in Botany; for there are very few (less than half a dozen) Herbaria in this country, which contain so many species. Such an authentic collection, named with such care by so celebrated a Botanist, has probably never been offered before in America.

PRICE, - - $8,000.00

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TRANSCRIPT OF PREVIOUS LETTER BY LIBRARY STAFF

August 3, 1891

Edwin E. Howell

48 Oxford St. Rochester N.Y.

Dear Sir,

We can pay you five hundred and ten dollars for the Harvey Herbarium, that is at the rate of Three cents per species. Foreign herbaria are often sold in this country for less than that. Let me know soon your decision, as we have another collection in view.

Very truly,

Charles E. Bessey.

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