Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M1, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 86.04.00i

Preferred Citation:

Raffaele Steffani to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1886-04 [86.04.00i]. 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/1880-9/1886/86-04-00i-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

1
MS is a prnted circular with M's name inserted twice, found in the collections at MEL and annotated by M on verso: 'Aspidium Capense Sw.' The collection is dated 1885; however, the MS bears no connection with the material in the folder. The invitation is to a meeting held on 15 April 1886 (Age, 16 April 1886, p. 5) and the item is dated accordingly. Steffani had resumed operations in Melbourne soon after he and his wife, the opera singer Gabriella Boema, returned to Melbourne from Europe on 3 November 1885 (Argus, 6 November 1885, p. 5). It is not known whether M attended the meeting.
Signor Steffani presents his compliments to Mr Baron Von Mueller and would esteem it a favour if Mr Baron Von Mueller could attend a Private Meeting to be held at Gunsler's Cafe Collins Street East, on Thursday, the 15th instant, at 8 p.m., for the purpose of discussing his proposal to form a Company for the introduction to Australia of Grand Opera.
3 COLLINS PLACE,
Collins Street East,
Melbourne.