Document information

Physical location:

No. 62/802, unit 802, VPRS 28Probate and Administration Files, VA2624, Public Record Office, Victoria. M96.10.22

Preferred Citation:

William Lamb Smith to the Executors of the Mueller Estate, 1896-10-22 [M96.10.22]. 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/mentions/selected/M96-10-22-final.odt>, accessed July 29, 2026

1
The valuation forms part of the bundle of papers related to the grant of probate of M's will dated 17 June 1884 (in this edition as 84-06-17). The papers include affidavits concerning James Rudall's renouncing the role of executor and the remaining executors (Alexander Büttner, Hermann Büttner and William Potter) swearing to the accuracy of the accounts; John George Luehmann and Charles French Snr each swearing to the authenticity of the will and that the alterations in it were made before they signed as witnesses; a summary of M's assets and liabilities at death (see A. Büttner et al. to Supreme Court of Victoria, 12 November 1896 (in this edition as M96-11-12)); a statement of the executors' account in 1900 (see A. Büttner et al. to Supreme Court, 28 June 1900 (in this edition as M1900-06-28)); and the formal grant of probate, dated 16 November 1896.
Valuation of Household Furniture, Effects Books Jewellery &c
In 28 Arnold Street - South Yarra
In the Estate of the late Baron Ferdinand J. H. Von Mueller
Date of Death 10th October 1896
Melbourne 22nd October 1896
Wm Lamb Smith
Auctioneer & Sworn Valuer
No 1 Office
Linoleum
2
Deal Table
& leaves
5
"
with drawer
6
Cedar Chiffonier
15
Old Horse hair sofa
10
Small
office Table with drawers
15
"
Cedar Table
4
Set pigeon Holes
5
Waste paper Basket & measure
4
Cedar
Cupboard
5
"
Chest specimen Drawers
1
10
4
Terra Cotta flower pots
4
Cedar chest specimen Drawers
1
15
Bust of Queen
10
Pair Vases
2
3
C.S.
2
Cane Seat? Cushion Seat?
Chairs
6
3
"
& Oak Chairs
12
Waste paper Basket
1
2
Cedar Cupboards
1
Set 4 pigeon Holes
5
Small Hamper
2
pair Vases
3
Oak paper stand
2
Cedar Book case
3
Ink Stand & Twine Box
2
Alarum Clock
2
Water Jug
1
Cash Box
3
37
Wine Glasses & Tumblers
10
Tea & Coffee set
2
Afternoon Tete a Tete Set
5
2
Biscuit Barrels
3
1
Decanter
2
Odd China
3
2
Candlesticks
1
fender & irons
2
9
portraits
15
small Cedar Table
4
£
17
17
Hall
piece Linoleum & 2 mats
7
Deal Table
4
2
C.S. & Oak Chairs
8
Oval
Cedar
Table
3
Small
"
"
4
2
C.S. Chairs
2
1
8
Baron's Study
Deal Table
5
Set pigeon Holes
4
small Chest Drawers
3
2
Paper Stands
3
Table with 2 Drawers
3
3
C.S. & Oak Chairs
9
2
Wooden Cupboards
15
Letter Weight
10
Fender & irons
2
Book Stand
5
pair steps
4
Waste Paper Basket
3
2
Microscopes & 4 Boxes Objects
4
Level Rule
10
7
16
Bedroom
Wooden
Bed & Bedding
1
10
"
Wash stand
5
Deal
Cupboard
10
"
Table
8
Chest Drawers
10
2
Sets pigeon Holes
10
Gilt Clock
1
10
Hanging Glass
1
Compass
10
Box Instruments
8
2
China figures
6
7
photographs
7
5
pictures
5
Commode
4
£
7
4
Library
Linoleum
6
Fender
4
Cedar Table
10
Chest 4 Drawers
1
Cedar Table & Cover
8
Biscuit Barrel
3
Paper Stand
2
Step Ladder
4
Small Cedar Table
4
Office stool
2
2
C.S. Chairs
5
Office Table
6
2
Terrestial Globes & Stands
10
Wicker stand & Basket
3
Alarum Clock
4
2
Brass plaques
10
metal Jug
2
Copper Mug
3
9
Photo frames
3
Indian Club
5
19
Photographs
1
5
Prints
4
Large Vase
4
3
pots
3
Oak Ink & Paper Stand
4
Pole & Rings
5
Illuminated Address
5
£
7
19
No 2 Office
Step Ladder
5
Cedar Table
5
Opposum Rug
2
Sundry frames &c
10
8
photographs
8
£
3
8
No 3 Office
Cedar Chest
5
Paper Stand
2
Office Stand
8
Glass Globe
2
3
Photographs
3
£
1
Kitchen
Table
2
Cupboard
6
Chest Drawers
4
Stretcher
4
Chair
1
Odd China
5
Iron & Wood Garden Seat
5
£
1
7
Bathroom
Wash stand & Ware
3
2
mats & glass
2
£
5
No 4 Office
2
Deal Tables
6
Set Pigeon Holes
1
Spray Bellows
4
Scales & Weights
5
Waste Paper Basket
2
£
1
17
Yard
Pestle & mortar
4
Old Tin Boxes
5
Press
5
Iron Barrow
5
£
19
No 5 Office
3
Small Tables
10
2
Sets pigeon Holes
8
Fender Stool & Chair
6
Large Set pigeon Holes
5
Fender & irons
2
10
Photographs
10
2
Poles & Rings
6
£
2
7
Coach House
Very Old Brougham in dilapidated state & Old Harness
£
8
Books
962
Vols. of Botanical Works Reports and Handbooks also a quantity of unbound pamphlets and magazines
£
69
18
6
Books at Museum
147
Vols. of Botanical Books, and a number of Pamphlets and Magazines
£
15
16
Wearing Apparel
£
3
Jewellery Ornaments & Decorations
pair gold sleeve Links
1
Gold pin & Locket
1
3
Gold studs
15
Gold ring with
one diamond stone
5
" " "
circle small diamonds
7
minature of 21 decorations
5
Ornament and 4 Stands fruit made of Jasper
20
Royal Society's
Gold Medal
24
Melbourne Exhibition
"
4
10
French Agricultural
"
4
10
do
Silver Medal
8
Melbourne International
"
15
German Leidertafel
"
8
Tasmanian International
"
3
The MS is slightly ambiguous in its placement of the ditto marks for the group of gold and silver medals. The interpretation and layout made here is based on the sequence of medals: gold, followed by silver, then gilt and bronze.
8
Decoration for Science & Art
4
i.e. Medal for Arts and Sciences, awarded by Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (see M to Friedrich Franz III, Grand-Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, 12 July 1889).
5
8
Gilt medals
5
2
Bronze "
5
£
84
19
Decorations
*Star Seal and 2 Crowns of Barony
5
At the time he was awarded his barony, M held hopes of getting married; see , for example, M to F. von Krauss, 8 October 1871. He therefore obtained, i n addition to his Baron's crown, one for his prospective Baroness. Both crowns remain in the family.
30
*Order of St Michael & St George
20
*19
Foreign Decorations
95
£
145
*All these I believe have to be returned to the different Governments who conferred the orders upon deceased.
6
M signed a covenant to return at least the KCMG and the Austrian Order of Franz Joseph; see M to R. Herbert, 29 September 1879, M to the Chancellery of the Franz Joseph Order, 20 October 1863 . In his will, M directed that his executors return the decorations to the 'various Governments, from whom I received these decorations'. Not all the decorations were returned, if any were, to the originating governments. Some are now in institutional collections (e.g., KCMG regalia, State Library of NSW, DN/M 1284, 1285; Portuguese Order of Christ regalia, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney, N15547; French Chevalier Legion of Honour, republican version State Library of NSW, DN/M 1472, imperial version Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (see Home (2017)). Others were retained within the family; see notes to M's 'Last will and testament' (in this edition as 84-06-17).
Summary
No 1 Office
17
17
Hall
1
8
Barons Study
7
16
Bedroom
7
4
Library
7
19
No 2 Office
3
8
No 3 Office
1
Kitchen
1
7
Bathroom
5
No 4 Office
1
17
Yard
19
No 5 Office
2
7
Coach House
8
61
7
Books
69
18
6
"
at Museum
15
16
85
14
6
147
1
6
Wearing Apparel
3
Jewellery Ornaments & Decorations
84
19
Decorations
145
£
380
0
6
Say Three hundred and Eighty Pounds and Six Pence Stg
Wm Lamb Smith Auctioneer & Sworn Valuer