The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: 1/10/90 ¶ ¶ It was a pleasant surprise to me, dear Miss Rolleston, to receive with your kind inscription the volume on the "History of Ballarat", ¶ a place visited by me, when it was a small lot of ...

Document information

Physical location:

RBG Kew, Archives, Miscellaneous correspondence. 90.10.01a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Mary Rolleston, 1890-10-01 [90.10.01a]. 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/1890-6/1890/90-10-01a-final.odt>, accessed June 15, 2026

Letter found in Kew Museum Library's copy of B88.12.01 and transferred to RBG Kew Archives. The book is inscribed 'To Miss M. F. Rolleston for friendly acceptance and occasional use from the writer of these pages. Sept. 1890'. A calling-card printed with M's coat of arms and 'Baron Ferd. von Mueller. K.C.M.G. M.& Ph.D. F.R.S.' is pasted below the dedication.

1/10/90

It was a pleasant surprise to me, dear Miss Rolleston, to receive with your kind inscription the volume on the "History of Ballarat",

The book has not been positively identified. The most likely candidate is Withers (1887).

a place visited by me, when it was a small lot of tents only. By this thoughtful gift of yours I am also reminded of my generous friend, Mr Oddie,

Probably James Oddie (1824 -1911); but could be his brother Thomas Ralph Oddie (1830-1927).

so that I have sent him also a private copy of the "Select plants" to Ballarat.

With regardful remembrance your

Ferd. von Mueller

There are two associated envelopes:

(a) In M's hand:

Miss Mary Rolleston

82 Nicholson- Street

Fitzroy .

[Annotated in another hand, in the top right corner above the address:

'Oct 1890. Baron von Muller | Melbourne']

(b) in an unknown hand:

Sir Ferdinand Müller

[or] Baron Ferd. von Müller

Arnold St.

St Kilda Road

Melbourne