Botanic Museum
Melbourne, 2 October 1873
Sir
I have the honor to solicit that you will be pleased to sanction the printing of 500 copies of the title and of 20 labels for the first part of the educational collection of plants, to be issued this season. The manuscript follows hereby.1
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller.
Having alluded to this intended issue in a former communication, I anticipated that it met with your approval.2
F. v. M.
The Honorable the Chief Secretary3
On 7 September 1873 Francis asked: 'What are 500 copies of the Title wanted for just now?'. M replied in a minute dated 9 September: 'I respectfully submit, that the main expense in printing is always to set up the types; therefore — though 100 copies are only wanted at present, it would be wise to print off a few hundred copies more to be laid bye until the Department has the means of bringing out additional sets of this educational collection'. Francis reiterated his question on 11 September: 'My question above given is what are the "Titles" wanted for now? (I assume the "book" is not ready)'. M replied on 14 October: 'I am anxious to bring out the first set of these prepared plants by Christmas, containing 50 species in 100 specimens each, therefore in all 5000 specimens. As a good deal of the material is ready I have submitted the first 20 labels, providing also for future issues. The title may stand over for a few weeks, though its shortness involves but little expense.'
M had raised the matter earlier with his then Minister, J. Casey; that letter has not been found, but see M to J. Casey, 16 August 1872. He had also mentioned it in M to J. Francis. 10 July 1873.
Francis minuted on 18 October: 'Does Mr Odgers yet understand what is wanted. I admit I do not — is it 20 labels or 20 setts of 30 each?'. Odgers replied: 'I am not at all clear but I think 500 copies of the Sheet containing 20 labels are asked for'. On 20 October, Odgers asked M: 'Will the Govt Botanist be so good as to explain a little more precisely what he wants. It is not clear how many copies of each of the 20 labels he requires nor whether he wishes to have them printed in sheets or separately To what specific purpose are they to be applied when printed.'
A fuller account was given in M to J. Francis, 23 October 1873, and the request approved. See Lucas, Maroske and Brown-May (2006), pp. 34-6, and Maroske (2007).
MS written by Georg Luehmann with signature and postscript by M.
Please cite as “FVM-73-10-02,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on