Ɛpsilon

WCP3528

Transcription (WCP3528.3420)

[1]1

London

17. Feb. 1860

Dear Sir

Many thanks to you for the torch of "Rajah Dammar2" which Mr. Stevens3 handed me yesterday. I have made a little slit in the palm-leaf in order to see the Dammar within and ascertain if it resembled any of that found in the London market. However the resin was too much broken to afford much information.

We much require information on Dammar, or rather as to what trees afford the particular sorts found in commerce[.] What, for instance, yields Dammar batu or Dammar puti and what Dammar Selan? The latter is largely imported here.

I remain &c. | D H.4 [signature]

Mr. A. R. Wallace, care of Mr S. Stevens

1
This letter is the author Daniel Hanbury's copy, transcribed into his out-letter book. (Wellcome Trust MS5304). The word "Wallace" is written in the left margin. The original has not been found.
2
Dammar (Malay for resin, or a torch made from resin) gum is obtained from the Dipterocarpaceae family of trees in India and East Asia. Varieties are used in the manufacture of varnish and other products.
3
Stevens, Samuel (1817-1899). British entomologist and dealer in natural history specimens; agent of ARW.
4
Hanbury, Daniel (1825-1875), British botanist and pharmacologist.

Editorial information

Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Transcription (WCP3528.3420)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Catchpole, Caroline [2012-08-16] Transcription checked by Catchpole, Caroline [2013-01-15] Transcription checked by Lucas, Paula [2018-10-26] Transcription checked by Chua, Christine [2026-04-18]

Please cite as “WCP3528,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP3528