Frith Hill, Godalming.
April 20th. 1886
Dear Sir
Many thanks for the information about Marcgravia. What I want is a drawing — say a copy of Fitch’s1plate — with the flowers expanded, and with one or two birds at the nectal entry and in the act of fertilisation.
The birds mentioned by Beth are 3 species of Tanagers & several Humming-birds. I suppose you have not the Zoology volumes of the "Biologia Cent. Am.” at Kew from which the birds might be inserted, but Miss Smith2 could see them at the Library of the Zool. Society or I could borrow the one required [2] and send it to Kew. I should not want it coloured as it would have to be photographed on glass, & then coloured from the description to make a lantern slide.
Will you kindly ascertain whether Miss Smith could undertake this, & what would be her charge for it.
The drawing might be made either in chalk or in neutral tint or indian-ink, the latter preferable for photographing from, & might be boldly executed in outline with just shade enough to [3] give roundness & effect, leaving all the parts which are brightly coloured unshaded to receive the colour in the photograph.
If I hear that Miss Smith can undertake it under your kind direction, & that the cost will not be more I can afford for the purpose, I will get the necessary bird-material when I go next to town wh. will be probably in about 10 days or a fortnight.
Believe me | Yours faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]
W. B. Hemsley3 Esq.
When in town I could bring the book to Kew & explain what I require.4
Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP1438.3846)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
[1]1
To W.B. Hemsley2, Esq.) Frith Hill, Godalming.
April 20th. 1886.
Dear Sir
Many thanks for the information about Marcgravia. What I want is a drawing — say a copy of Fitch's3 plate — with the flowers expanded, and with one or two birds at the nectar-cups and in the act of fertilisation. The birds mentioned by Belt4 are 3 species of Tanagers & several Humming-birds5. I suppose you have not the Zoology volumes of the "Biologia Cent[rali-]Am[ericana]"6 at Kew from which t the birds might be inserted, but Miss Smith could see them at the library of the Zool. Society or I could borrow the one required and send it to Kew. I should not want it coloured as it would have to be photographed on glass, & then coloured from the description, to make a lantern-slide.
Will you kindly ascertain whether Miss Smith could undertake this, & what would be her charge for it.
The drawing might be made either in chalk or in neutral tint or indian ink, the latter preferable for photographing from, & might be boldly executed in outline with just shade enough to give roundness & effect, leaving all the parts which are brightly coloured unshaded to receive the colour in the photograph.
If I hear that Miss Smith can undertake it under your kind direction, & that the cost will not be more (than) I can afford for the purpose, I will get the necessary bird-material when I go next to town wh[ich]. will be probably in about 10 days or a fortnight.
When in town I could bring the book to Kew & explain what I require.
Believe me | Yours faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace. [signature]
Status: Draft transcription [Transcription (WCP1438.4241)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
[1]1
To W.B. Hemsley2, Esq.) Frith Hill, Godalming.
April 20th. 1886.
Dear Sir
Many thanks for the information about Marcgravia. What I want is a drawing — say a copy of Fitch's3 plate — with the flowers expanded, and with one or two birds at the nectar-cups and in the act of fertilisation. The birds mentioned by Belt4 are 3 species of Tanagers & several Humming-birds5. I suppose you have not the Zoology volumes of the "Biologia Cent[rali-]Am[ericana]"6 at Kew from which t the birds might be inserted, but Miss Smith could see them at the library of the Zool. Society or I could borrow the one required and send it to Kew. I should not want it coloured as it would have to be photographed on glass, & then coloured from the description, to make a lantern-slide.
Will you kindly ascertain whether Miss Smith could undertake this, & what would be her charge for it.
The drawing might be made either in chalk or in neutral tint or indian ink, the latter preferable for photographing from, & might be boldly executed in outline with just shade enough to give roundness & effect, leaving all the parts which are brightly coloured unshaded to receive the colour in the photograph.
If I hear that Miss Smith can undertake it under your kind direction, & that the cost will not be more (than) I can afford for the purpose, I will get the necessary bird-material when I go next to town wh[ich]. will be probably in about 10 days or a fortnight.
When in town I could bring the book to Kew & explain what I require.
Believe me | Yours faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace. [signature]
Status: Draft transcription [Transcription (cc) (WCP1438.1217)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
Please cite as “WCP1438,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on