Description

Description: In this three page autograph letter signed, Ansted agrees to write an article about the objects displayed in Class I of the Exhibition (we assume The London International Exhibition of 1862) “without much danger of failure.” Regarding illustrations, he admits that he doesn’t draw “but dare say[s] there will be no difficulty.” He also admits to have forgotten the names of the gold mines (Clozan St. David and Gwynfyabd) near Dolgelly (a town which was the center of the gold rush in 1860). He suggests that Mr T. Allison Readwin (who wrote the Outlines of Science and Art. . . 1858) would allow him “to use what is to be seen.” Trying to identify an object Ansted says, “I fancy it is Cwm Eisen a Doll–Frw-y-nog but not sure –these Welsh names escape the memory.

Yours faithfully/D T Ansted.”

A postscript adds, “I suppose about 12 pp for the article will be right.”

Dated 19 July 1862 and written on a folded sheet of 8” x 10” ivory laid paper with watermark “A Pirie & Sons 1860.” It was probably written to William Tooke who was the President of the Royal Society of the Arts, of which he and Ansted were life members. The Society of the Arts organized The London International Exhibition of 1862. Item #A01849

David Thomas Ansted (1814-1880) was an English geologist and worked as a professor of geology at King’s College London. At the Addiscombe Military Seminary, he trained officers of the East India Company and influenced the study of geology in the colonies. He wrote several books on geology including In Gold-Seekers Manual (1849)in which he attempted to improve the prospects of emigrants to the California gold rush. With Charles Atherton, he wrote detailed proceedings of the London International Exhibition of 1862 for the Journal of the Society of Arts, Oct 1862.

Condition: Mailing fold lines, otherwise very good condition.