THE ZARAFA GIRAFFE. PRÉVOST Florent (1794-1870).... Lot 38
Result :
Not available
Estimate :
Subscribers only
[THE ZARAFA GIRAFFE]. PRÉVOST Florent (1794-1870). Autograph bill signed, [Paris] October 26, 1846. 1 p. in-8 oblong.
It announces "Calignan is charged to go and fetch the skeleton of the Giraffe with his car."
Florent Prévost naturalist and illustrator, was a colleague and a pupil of Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire. Arrived in France in 1826, this gift from the Pasha of Egypt to King Charles X, triggered a real "giraffe mania". Zarafa1 took 41 days to arrive on foot in Paris (spring 1827) accompanied by Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire. After her presentation to the king, the "beautiful African" took up residence in the Jardin des Plantes and delighted the curious. She died at the age of 22, in 1845.
This giraffe set off all the scientists of the time, Darwin, Lamarck...
Its skeleton is visible (naturalized), in the Museum of Natural History of La Rochelle. 1 The name of the giraffe comes from the Arabic Zerafa (graceful, charming).
We use cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience, perform site traffic analysis, and deliver content and advertisements most relevant to your interests.
Cookie management:
By allowing these cookies, you agree to the deposit, reading and use of tracking technologies necessary for their proper functioning. Read more about our privacy policy.