Document information

Physical location:

VPRS 805/P000O/169/92-1943, inward and outward correspondence — subject, VA 913 Public Library of Victoria, Public Record Office, Victoria. 92.11.11

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Thomas Bride, 1892-11-11. 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/1890-6/1892/92-11-11-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

11/11/92
Do you think, dear Dr Bride, that the trustees will secure the plaque of Columbus?
1
At the grand celebration held on 12 October 1892 by the Victorian Branch of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia to mark the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's discovery of America, among the items displayed was 'De Bry's reproduction of Columbus's portrait, a large bronze plaque, nearly life-size, surrounded by two mermaids' (Transactions and proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, Victorian Branch, vol. 10 (1893), p. 102). The report continued: 'It is stated that the original of this picture was painted by order of King Ferdinand; subsequently it was abstracted from the Indian archives in Spain, and found its way to the Netherlands, where it was copied and engraved by De Bry, in 1593. This is considered the oldest portrait extant.' The plaque does not appear in the catalogue of the State Library of Victoria, or in that of the National Gallery of Victoria.
I think, that it is really very valuable, and I should be sorry to let it go out of the colony, but my worldly affairs are at present such, that I cannot keep it myself, as I much wish, or to make a present of it.
Will you kindly allow me the question, do you get the Acta Acad. Caesar. Leopold-Carolina
2
Leopoldina: Amtliches Organ der Kaiserlichen Leopoldinisch-Carolinischen Deutschen Akademie der Naturforscher? In former times, the Academy's journal had been published in Latin under the title Acta, then Nova Acta.
by interchange or purchase?
Regardfully your
Ferd von Mueller.
I urged a geogr. Council 's meeting for next week, to start our new triennial work.
3
That is, to consider the Branch's programme of exploration and other activities for the next three years.
Do kindly attend if you possibly can.