ORLÉANS (Prince Henri) and Gabriel BONVALOT. - Lot 285

Lot n° 285
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500 - 600 EUR
ORLÉANS (Prince Henri) and Gabriel BONVALOT. - Lot 285
ORLÉANS (Prince Henri) and Gabriel BONVALOT. Autograph letter signed and dated, Tatsienlou, first July 1890, addressed to Alphonse Milne-Edwards. 12 ff. in-12, in modern wrapping. The explorers Henri d'Orléans (1867-1901) (11 ff.) and Gabriel Bonvalot (1853-1933) (the last leaf), address to the director of the Museum of Natural History Milne-Edwards, to describe him their collection of species killed during their long crossing of Tibet. It is a long and interesting enumeration of the many animals, describing their living places and the surrounding landscapes. "The long road, the means we had at our disposal made hunting difficult". "From Lah Nar to Tengui Nar, we crossed steppes of short grass and plateaus... There we met the wild yak in great numbers. I even saw it in a herd of more than 200 heads". 4 species of woodpeckers, and I hope that at least one of them is a new hope. Quite a bit smaller than Guerin's Woodpecker, it is black with a few white spots. On the head, it has some yellow feathers..." "We collected about 40ne mammal skins including 20-25 species, 240 birds, including about 120 species, 120 plant species, 60 rocks." "The abundance of food, the greatness of the species to be occupied, and the lack or at least the scarcity of hunters seem to me to be sufficient to [explain] it [the large number of wild animals.]" In 1888 and 1889, Henri d'Orléans traveled in the company of Gabriel Bonvalot, between Paris and Tonkin. After having crossed Eastern Europe and Siberia, they went to the Tibetan plateau, and thus became the first Europeans to set foot in this region of the world. Attached 2 entrance cards: one for the reception of the Prince of Orleans and Bonvalot at the Geographic Society (January 31, 1891) and the other for the exhibition of their collections at the Museum, in June 1891.
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