Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M6, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 93.04.19

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Johann Eckert to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1893-04-19. 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/93-04-19>, accessed September 11, 2025

1
Letter said to be accompanied by two sheets of drawings marked: 'Drawn by J. P. Eckert; Kirchheim 19.4.93'. Source is a photocopy placed in the library some time ago without any record of the specimen folder from which it came. Neither the original nor the drawings mentioned have been found.
Letter annotated by M 'Bassia Eckertiana', but no publication of this name has been found, nor any other using 'eckertiana' as an epithet.
Kirchheim Apr 19. 1893
Sehr geehrter Herr Baron!
Mit abgehender Post schicke ich Ihnen die analytische Zeichnung von der gewünschten
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. Glücklicherweise bekam ich Ihren Brief am vergangenem Freitag Abend und somit konnte ich gleich am folgenden Sonnabende mit der Arbeit anfangen und die mikrskopischen
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mikroskopsichen.
Zeichnungen vollenden.
Der wievielste Band Ihrer Iconography of Aust. Salsolaceous Plants ist bis jetzt erschienen? Ich habe acht Decaden davon. Es schient als sei bereits die neunte erschienen. Ich habe mehreremals in der Committee-meeting der Minyip Mechanics Institute angetragen wegen Ihrer Werke an den Chief Secretary zu schreiben, allein ohne Erfolg. Es scheint mir, dass ob diese Institutes ihren Zweck ganz und gar verfehlten! Statt dem Publikum eine wahrhaft bildende Lecktüre zu darzubieten, wird in denselben nur ein verzweifelt "leichtes Lesefuttes" für die gedenkenlose Menge geliefert. Ich bin daher jetzt mehr darauf bedacht meine eigene Biblioth. mit Werken von bleibendem Werte zu bereichern und kann sagen, dass ich die gediegenste hier in diese Gegend besitze, welcher sich noch eine wertvolle naturhistorische Sammlung anreiht.
Eine meine Wünsche noch ist der in den Besitz der vollständigen Eucalyptographia zu kommen. Ich habe mich an verschiedenen Stellen danach erkundig, doch ohne Erfolg.
Von der
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kann ich einige gute Exe. liefern, wenn gewüncht.
Mit herzlichstem Gruss
Ihr
J. P. Eckert
Explanation of Drawing
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Annotated by M: Bassia Eckertiana.
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Leaves.
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One developed Flower.
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ditto.
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Longitudinal section of same
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Pistil
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Front view of stamen
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Back view of stamen
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Pollen Grain
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two fruits, front view
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the same back view
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section of fruit
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fruit, calyx removed
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seed
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longitudinal section of seed showing the embryo and albumen.
Kirchheim
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Vic.
Apr 19. 1893
Esteemed Baron!
I am sending you the analytical drawing of the desired
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by the outgoing post. Fortunately I received your letter last Friday evening
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Letter not found.
and therefore I was able to begin the work right away on the following Saturday and complete the microscopic drawings.
How many volumes of your Iconography of Aust. Salsolaceous Plants have appeared so far? I have eight decades of them. It seems that the ninth has already appeared.
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B91.13.24, the last of 9 Decades published. Seven additional plates, of Salicornia, had been prepared and are included in a bound volume of assorted botanical illustrations in the library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, covering Ectrosia to Zea.
I have offered several times in the committee meeting of the Minyip Mechanics Institute to write to the Chief Secretary on account of your works, but without success. It seems to me as if these institutes are not at all achieving their purpose! Instead of offering the public really improving reading matter, only a despairing "light reading fodder" is supplied for the unthinking crowd. I am therefore now more intent on enlarging my own library with works of lasting worth and can say that I possess the most valuable here in this region, which in addition joins a valuable natural history collection.
One of my wishes still is to get in my possession the complete Eucalyptographia.
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There were 10 Decades published, the last being B84.11.02.
I have asked at various places for it, but without success.
I can supply some good specimens of the
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, if desired.
With heartiest greetings
your
J. P. Eckert.