Object Status:
Unlocated
Accession Date:
October 1766
Primary Source Reference:
"Catalogue raisonné des morceaux d'Histoire Naturelle que j'ai l'honneur d'envoyer ci-joint à Monsieur du Simitierre," Du Simitière Scraps, Library Company of Philadelphia, no. 50, p. 4
Additional Source Text:
"J'ai ajouté au tout des grains d'ambre dont on faisoit autrefois des colliers fort en vogue dans nôtre ville;, ils pourront peut-etre vous Servir à troquer avec des Sauvages contre de bons morceaus d'Histoire Naturelle. Vous trouverer aussi tout ce qui mon [List?] de médailles dont je Souhaite que vous puissiez tirer quelque parti."
Trans.: I have added grains of amber to the whole, which were once made into very fashionable necklaces in our town; they may perhaps serve you to barter with Indians for good items of Natural History. You will also find everything on my [list?] of medals that I hope you can take advantage of.
Notes:
The donor was a man named Frey, of Basel, Switzerland. He may have met Du Simitière during miltary campaigns in Flanders. The men corresponded and exchanged natural history specimens in 1765 and 1766. Frey's covering letter for his shipment of fifty fossils and other natural history specimens was dated at Basel, 1 Oct 1766. Du Simitière Papers, Library Company of Philadelphia.
