Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M199, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 76.03.08

Preferred Citation:

Wilhelm I, King of Prussia to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1876-03-08. 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//letters/1870-9/1876/76-03-08-final.odt>, accessed May 15, 2026

1
MS is a certificate with printed and decorated heading; the remainder of the text is handwritten, M's name being written larger than the rest. A royal seal is impressed next to Wilhelm's signature.
Wir Wilhelm
von Gottes Gnaden
König von Preussen etc:
haben dem Dr Baron Ferdinand von Mueller zu Melbourne, Botaniker Ihrer Majestät der Königin von Grossbritanien und Irland, den Rothen Adler-Orden dritter Klasse verliehan, und ertheilen demselben über den rechtmässigen Besitz dieser Auszeichnung das gegenwärtige Beglaubigungs-Schreiben mit Unserer eigenenen Unterschrift und dem beigedruckten Königlichen Insiegel. Berlin, den 8. März 1876.
Wilhelm
We, Wilhelm, by God's grace King of Prussia etc., have conferred the Order of the Red Eagle, Third Class, on Dr Baron Ferdinand von Mueller of Melbourne, Botanist of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and give him the present certification of the lawful possession of this distinction with our signature and the impression of the Royal Seal. Berlin, 8 March 1876.
Wilhelm
2
The award appears to have been at the instigation of John Booth, nurseryman of Hamburg and Berlin. Booth wished to reward M by 'honour & fame' for the transmission of the giant specimen of Todea barbara that he received via Joseph Hooker in 1871. He expected to be able to procure a 'higher class' of a Prussian order, and obtained from 'official quarters … a list of things they want for which he gets very likely "Aquila rubra" which he has not'. See J. Booth to J. Hooker, 26 June 1871 (in this edition as M71-06-26); J. Booth to J. Hooker, 30 July 1871 (in this edition as M71-07-30); and J. Booth to J. Hooker, 15 March 1872 (in this edition as M72-03-15).