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Joseph Prestele and John Torrey correspondence, 1845-1858

by: Prestele, Joseph, 1796-1867

Publication date: 1845

Topics: Botanical specimens, Prestele, Joseph, 1796-1867 -- Correspondence, Torrey, John, 1796-1873 -- Correspondence, Ackerman, James, (Lithographer), Beckwith, E. G. (Edward Griffin), 1818-1881, Emory, William H. (William Hemsley), 1811-1887, Engelmann, George, 1809-1884, Gray, Asa, 1810-1888, Pope, John, 1822-1892, Seaman, A. G., active 1853-1857, Sprague, Isaac, 1811-1895, Stansbury, Howard, 1806-1863, Whipple, Amiel Weeks, 1817?-1863, G. & W. Endicott (Firm), Stansbury Expedition (1849-1850), United States Pacific Railroad Expeditions and Surveys

Collection: biodiversity; nybgtorrey; NY_Botanical_Garden

Contributor: New York Botanical Garden, LuEsther T. Mertz Library

Language: English

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Correspondence from Joseph Prestele to John Torrey, dated 1845-1858. Includes 17 letters (1 in German) and 6 undated botanical plates. In his first letter, dated April 7, 1845, Prestele apologizes for his lack of English (the English text is accompanied by the original German letter in Prestele's hand) and asks Torrey's advice on how he should price his artwork. This is a recurring theme throughout the correspondence; Prestele's innate modesty seems to lead him to undercharge clients. A letter dated September 16, 1851, has a note in Torrey's hand: "I have told him that $5 is too little, & that $15 should be charged." The bulk of the correspondence is taken up with issues surrounding the work Prestele did for various expedition reports, particularly for the Pacific Railroad Surveys and Stansbury's Utah expedition. Obsolete and unresolved plant names mentioned include Abronia cycloptera, Eriogonum orthocladon, Linosyris pulchella, Obione lentiformis, Perityle suffruticosa, Pinus insignis, and Poterium annuum

John Torrey Papers (PP), Archives, The New York Botanical Garden

Digitized under grant #PW-234827-16 from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), with additional support from Carnegie Corporation of New York

Finding aid for the John Torrey papers available from the LuEsther T. Mertz Library, New York Botanical Garden and online

Abstract: Correspondence from Joseph Prestele to John Torrey, dated 1845-1858. Includes 17 letters (1 in German) and 6 undated botanical plates. In his first letter, dated April 7, 1845, Prestele apologizes for his lack of English (the English text is accompanied by the original German letter in Prestele's hand) and asks Torrey's advice on how he should price his artwork. This is a recurring theme throughout the correspondence; Prestele's innate modesty seems to lead him to undercharge clients. A letter dated September 16, 1851, has a note in Torrey's hand: 'I have told him that is too little, & that 5 should be charged.' The bulk of the correspondence is taken up with issues surrounding the work Prestele did for various expedition reports, particularly for the Pacific Railroad Surveys and Stansbury's Utah expedition. Obsolete and unresolved plant names mentioned include Abronia cycloptera, Eriogonum orthocladon, Linosyris pulchella, Obione lentiformis, Perityle suffruticosa, Pinus insignis, and Poterium annuum.