Document information

Physical location:

Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Stuttgart. 72.03.25

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Ferdinand von Krauss, 1872-03-25. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id/72-03-25>, accessed September 11, 2025

1
MS annotations by Krauss: 'Bälge u. Eier v. Apteryx in verschiedenen Altersstufen u. [illegible] | Schädel ächter Rassen [illegible] | Gypsabguss eines | Tasmanier Schädels | Empfehlung an Alfred | Sportel 2000 fl.' [Skins and eggs of Apteryx at various stages of development and [illegible], skulls of true races [illegible], plaster cast of a Tasmanian skull, recommendation for Alfred, fee 2,000 florins] and 'Empf. d. 11. Mai 1872, R. 14 Aug. 72' [Received 11 May 1872, replied 14 August 1872]. Reply not found. Concerning some of the objects noted as received by Krauss, see M to F. von Krauss, 1 February 1872 (in this edition as 72-02-01b), in which M also notes that Krauss's son Alfred was planning to emigrate to Hongkong and mentions that the Governor and the Surveyor General there are his friends. The fee noted was required for M's elevation to the hereditary nobility; see F. von Krauss to W. Sonder, 10 April 1871 (in this edition as M71-04-10). The fee was in fact waived in M's case (see J. von Wächter to M, 30 July 1872), but he had already sent the money before being advised of this.
Melbourne im bot Garten
25/3/72.
Die Gegenstände wegen welcher ich neulich schrieb, edler Freund, sind richtig an Bord des Dampfschiffs "Northumberland" gekommen, u. sollten Sie bald nach der Ankunft dieses Schreibens erreichen. Es sind
8 Känguruhs, meistens seltner Art (alle vom Clarence River)
2 Mycteria Australis ♂ ♀
1 Aquila fucosa
1 Menura superba ♂ (zum Austausch noch wohl werthvoll)
20 seltnere Vögel
Proben australischer Seide
verschiedene Drucksachen
Leider ist der Dromaius noch nicht fertig geworden u muss in nächster Kiste folgen.
2
Marginal annotation by Krauss: 'schicken' [send].
Mein Diener hat beim Verpacken das Versehen gemacht ein Blechgefäss (in einem Kasten) mit Fischen Reptilien usw. von Port Denison mit in die Kiste zu stellen. Dies hätte frei nebenher gehen sollen. Es ist aber gut verlöthet u so hoffe ich wird das Ganze unbeschadet in Ihre Hände kommen u Ihnen annehmbar sein.
Es ist ein anderes Versehen passirt; nämlich eine neue grosse Landkarte von Queensland ist nicht mitgekommen. Solche war Herr Prof Dr Petermann zugedacht.
3
MS annotation by Krauss: 'ist mit der d. 27 Mai erhaltnen Kiste angekommen' [came in the case that arrived on 27 May].
In Ihrer Kiste befinden sich aber diesmal für gütige Beförderung
4 Päckchen Hölzer für Dr Sonder, auch ein Packet Algen für diesen Freund
ein Päckchen Sämereien für den bot Garten zu Würzburg
ein Päckchen für Hr Treichel in Berlin
ein Kistchen für Prof Virchov in Berlin
ein Packet trockner Pflanzen für Prof. Radlkofer in München, darunter ein paar seltne Sapindaceen für seine Monographie
4 Päckchen Rinde für den österreich. Apothekerverein in Wien.
Mit verehrungsvoller Ergebenheit der Ihre
Ferd. von Mueller
Sie werden bald mehr ausführlich von mir hören. Auf das Wappen bin ich wahrhaft stolz.
27/3/72
Ich hatte die Ehre eine Zuschrift von Sr Excellenz Hr Baron von Waechter zu erhalten bezüglich des Wappens, auf welches ich wahrhaft stolz bin. Es ist meine Absicht den Namen des Ministers Wächter u den meiner andern mächtigen Gönner in Stuttgart, selbstverständlich daher auch Ihren gefeierten Namen in der Geographie zu verherrlichen, wenn die Resultate der Expedition des Mr Giles mir bekannt geworden sind, da mir das Recht mehrfacher Benennungen obliegt.
4
Attached are 2 small sheets of paper listing the contents of the case, as given above by M, in the hand of one of M's assistants, the list of animals, annotated by M 'pr Northumberland', and the list of items for others included 'In Prof Krauss Kiste pr Northumberland' [In Prof. Krauss's case per Northumberland].
Wilhelm Sonder reported in a letter to Krauss dated 8 July 1872 that he had forwarded the case sent per Northumberland by train to Stuttgart together with M's list of contents, adding that 'Three parcels are not mentioned in Mueller's list, but in the letter to me: 1 for Dr Beckler in Immenstadt in Bavaria; 2 Professor Petermann, Gotha and 3, one for the museum in Leiden, which you will have the goodness to send on' (Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Stuttgart). Sonder had not opened the crate before sending it on and so did not realise that, as M explains to Krauss, the package for Petermann had inadvertently been omitted. Krauss's annotation quoted above indicates that he delayed replying to M's letter until after the crate had been received.
Two other sheets of paper attached to the present letter, with queries by Krauss and M's answers, do not belong here; they deal with material in a case that M had sent earlier on Somersetshire (see M to F. von Krauss, 1 February 1872 (in this edition as 72-02-01b)) that Sonder told Krauss on 20 May (in this edition as M72-05-20) he had forwarded by train and that arrived in Stuttgart on 27 May (see preceding note).
Melbourne Botanic Garden,
25 March 1872.
The articles, about which I wrote recently,
5
M to F. von Krauss, 1 February 1872 (in this edition as 72-02-01b)? M also refers, in M to F. von Krauss, 8 October 1871, to specimens he was expecting from the Clarence River.
noble friend, have been duly taken on board the steamer Northumberland and should reach you shortly after the arrival of this letter. It contains
8 kangaroos, mostly rare species (all from the Clarence River
6
NSW.
);
2 Mycteria australis,
7
Jabiru.
♂ ♀
1 Aquila fucosa;
1 Menura superba,
8
Superb Lyrebird.
♂
20 rarer birds;
samples of Australian silk;
miscellaneous printed matter.
The Dromaius was not ready in time
9
See M to F. von Krauss, 1 February 1872 (in this edition as 72-02-01b).
and will have to follow in the next case.
10
Marginal annotation by Krauss: 'schicken' [send].
My servant made a mistake in packing by placing a tin container (in a box) with fish, reptiles, etc. from Port Denison
11
Now Bowen, Qld.
into the case. This should have gone separately, accompanying the case. However, it is well soldered, so I hope it will all reach you undamaged and that you will find it acceptable.
Another mistake occurred, in that a new large map of Queensland was not included. It had been intended for Professor Dr Petermann.
12
Map of Queensland 1872 compiled from the latest official government surveys (Brisbane, 1872), the National Library of Australia's digitized version of which is at http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-231416105 )? MS annotation by Krauss: 'ist mit der d. 27 Mai erhaltnen Kiste angekommen' [came in the case that arrived 27 May 1872]. See also M to A. Petermann, 26 March 1872 (in this edition as 72-03-26b).
In your case this time are, however, for your kind forwarding:
4 packets of timbers for Dr Sonder, also a parcel of algae for this friend;
a packet of seeds for the botanic Gardens in Würzburg;
a packet for Mr Treichel in Berlin;
a small case for Professor Virchow in Berlin;
a parcel of dried plants for Professor Radlkofer in Munich, among them a few rare
Sapindaceae

Search for Sapindaceae in

for his monograph;
13
Radlkofer (1879). See M to L. Radlkofer, 14 August 1869 (in this edition as 69-08-14b).
4 packets of bark for the Austrian Pharmaceutical Society in Vienna.
Respectfully your humble
Ferd. von Mueller.
You will soon hear from me at greater length. I am truly proud of the coat-of-arms.
27 March 1872.
I had the honour to receive a letter from His Excellency, Baron von Wächter, concerning the coat-of-arms,
14
See J. von Wächter to M, 8 January 1872.
of which I am truly proud. It is my intention to glorify, in geography, the name of Minister Wächter and those of my other great patrons in Stuttgart, therefore, of course, also your celebrated name, when the results of Mr Giles's expedition have become available to me, as I have the right of naming several features.
15
M named Mt Krauss from Ernest Giles's second expedition in Central Australia. No geographical feature appears to have been named after von Wächter. See also M to J. von Wächter, 27 March 1872 (in this edition as 72-03-27a), and the marginal annotation on the draft copy of J. von Wächter to M, 30 July 1872.