“Horace Binney Jr.”–William Seymour Tyler Presentation Copy · Northampton, Massachusetts
The presenter is independently identified as Horace Binney Jr. by comparison with contemporary Amherst manuscripts.
Presentation / Association
The presenter is independently identified as Horace Binney Jr. by comparison with contemporary Amherst manuscripts.
Tyler Family and Smith College
The Smith bookplate names Professor Henry Tyler, identified by accession records as Henry Mather Tyler, the recipient’s son. Acquired November 5, 1928, accession 158,218; former call number 493.117-P384. The father-to-son transfer is unrecorded.
Humboldt-Related Manuscripts and Botanical Material
An English-and-French transcript of Humboldt’s March 12, 1859 letter survives with a separate German manuscript dated February 4, 1841, signed ‘A V Humboldt.’ The latter is a probable autograph, without formal authentication. Its Berlin wrapper addresses Professor von der Hagen at Louisenstrasse No. 23, matching Friedrich Heinrich von der Hagen in the 1841 directory. Pressed botanical specimens survive.
Provenance Chain
Alexander von Humboldt [probable manuscript note, February 4, 1841] → Friedrich Heinrich von der Hagen [wrapper recipient, confirmed by exact 1841 Berlin address] → later insertion into this volume → Presenter signed "Horace Binney Jr.", New Year's Day 1859 → William Seymour Tyler → unresolved family transfer → Henry Mather Tyler → Smith College Library, November 5, 1928 → Smith College Special Collections
Sources and Documentation
Smith College catalogue, accession records, and copy photographs; Amherst William Seymour Tyler Papers; Smith Tyler House history; Clements Horace Binney Jr. Papers; Deutsche Biographie; Berlin address directory (1841).
People in This Copy
- Horace Binney Jr.
- William Seymour Tyler
- Henry Mather Tyler
- Alexander von Humboldt
- Friedrich Heinrich von der Hagen
