Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M198, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 96.09.18a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Otto Tepper, 1896-09-18 [96.09.18a]. 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/96-09-18a>, accessed September 11, 2025

1
Both the German text and the English translation are in Tepper's hand, with the annotation: 'Copy of last Communication to J.G.O.T. on margins of separate print of "A New Gnaphaloid Plant from West Australia" (Chemist & Druggist of Austr. 1 Oct.1896) [i.e. B96.10.01] received Sept. 19. 1896 in letter addressed by Sir Ferdinand himself', and 'Envelope dated Sept. 18. 1896'.
Haben Sie Freunde im Innern welche die kleinste Pflanzen für mich sammeln würden? in diesem Frühling. Im nächsten Jahre lebe ich vielleicht nicht mehr.
1897 werde ich mein 50 jähriges Doctor-Jubilaum feiern wenn die göttliche Vorsehung mein Leben so lange erhält.
Have you friends in the interior who would collect the smallest plants for me in this spring? In the next year I may perhaps live no more.
In 1897 I shall celebrate my 50 years’ doctor-jubilee, if divine providence preserves my life thus long.
2
Tepper had saved M's letters to him and later bound them together. The immediately preceding page in the resulting volume is the printed programme of hymns sung by the Melbourne Liedertafel at M's funeral, with two newspaper clippings pasted on the back, namely a report of M's funeral from the Australische Zeitung, 21 October 1896, and a report of the meeting of the Royal Society of South Australia at which M's death was formally noted, published in the Advertiser (Adelaide), 4 November 1896. Beneath this Tepper wrote: 'Last letter (folio) and separates to J.G.O.T. dated 18 September 1896'. The folio letter to which Tepper refers appears here as M to O. Tepper, 18 September 1896.