Description

Description: Writing from Toxteth Park on Sept 29th, 1859, Sir Richard Owen, the Superintendent of the natural history departments at the British Museum, agrees to a conversation at the (Chamberlain) Collegiate School in London:

“Dear Sir, The best time for the conversation you wish to have with me would [?], perhaps, be next Tuesday at the Collegiate School, where I shall be between ¼ to 3 to ½ past 3 p.m. (on Tuesday, Oct. 4th.) Believe me Yours Truly Richard Owen”

Autograph letter signed written on ivory laid paper, approximately 6 ½” x 4”. Item #A01755

Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892) was a British anatomist, paleontologist, and outstanding naturalist who identified dinosaur fossils–calling them Dinosauria. He was a curator of the Hunterian collections, a professor of anatomy and physiology at the Royal Institution, and the superintendent of the natural history departments of the British Museum (1856-84). He initiated the creation of the current Natural History Museum in Kensington. He damaged his reputation in later years with his relentless criticism of Darwin’s work on the origin of species.

Condition: Has mailing fold lines, a light 1” circular stain on the lower middle of the letter. Generally in very good condition.