COLOMBIA - PORTRAIT "A DON JOSE CELESTINO MUTIS,... Lot 49

COLOMBIA - PORTRAIT "A DON JOSE CELESTINO MUTIS, Chief Director of the Botanical Expedition of the Kingdom of New Zealand. Granada, Royal Astronomer in SANTA FE DE BOGOTA / As a small token of admiration and gratitude, A. de HUMBOLDT & Aimé BONPLAND". 19th century. Anonymous engraving with dotted line. Proof on wove paper, bearing on the reverse the collector's mark of Albert Richard ( 1908-1996), publisher and collector in Pari, Lugt 3083. Small margins. Don José Mutis, Spanish physician and naturalist (Cadiz 1732-1808 Bogota), taught mathematics and led a scientific expedition to New Grenada (now Colombia). He settled there and contributed to the diffusion of Linnaean theses in South America. In 1801 he met and welcomed Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland to his home in Bogota during their voyage of exploration. 42.3 x 33 cm. State A (Rare light freckles on the edges).