WCP681

[1]

44. Great Russell Street,

(Late of Museum and Little Russell Streets.)

London, 28^th July 1903.

A. R. Wallace Esq.

Dear Sir

We received your letter of the 23^rd. There have been very extensive collections made in Burma by ^{the late} Mr W. Doherty some 10 years ago & also by Mr Fea some 4 or 5 years back & many of their specimens are still in the market. At present there ^are a few Resident Indian Civil Service Officials sending small lots from time to time.

British Guiana has not been so extensively collected ⁱⁿ, being no doubt owing to the difficulty of getting <MS burned>distance inland, we have<MS burned>[2] containing many good things but as is usual in collections made haphazard in very poor condition.

We do not think the ordinary run of Insects fetch as much as they did years ago, owing to the facilities that exist for collecting — Railways Parcel post &c, — specimens are sent home in much greater numbers now than formerly, but fine, new & rare things certainly fetch as much or more than ever.

Of course a collector would do much better in an unexplored region such as many parts of S. America, interior of N. Guinea, Bogainville in the Solomons &c &c but we think a careful collector would do very well in Brit. Guiana (up the River Essequibo) & might make it pay in Burma.

We see you ask us to the <MS burned>[3] mention — but for the last year or two owing to increased taxation & business depression both public & private buyers have had to curtail the amount they devote to the purchase of specimens.

We are, Dear Sir, | Yours very truly | O. E. Janson¹ & Son [signature]