In a follow up to the Little Darwin recent post about British mineralogist John Mawe , who in the early 19th century issued a guide to collecting the wonders of the New World , including seashells , he having bought the collection of Captain William Bligh's widow, is a circa l811 advertisement for a business he ran in London for those keen to climb aboard the collecting craze, which included royalty . He personally collected minerals for the King of Spain and his wife, Sarah, advised Queen Victoria .
MINERALOGY.
The study of this useful science has been much retarded by the difficulty of obtaining a Collection, and the high prices generally asked for peculiar Specimens. With a view to obviate this, Mr. MAWE has been induced to form Portable Collections, classed and arranged, with a Catalogue, at Twelve Guineas; larger Cabinets, containing two hundred and fifty Specimens, at Fifteen Guineas; others, containing upwards of three hundred Varieties, Twenty Guineas. Collections, consisting of five hundred larger and fine Specimens (without Cabinet) Fifty Guineas.
Any Specimens may be exchanged, if required; and the Collection may be formed peculiarly rich in any given Class.
Large, elegant and rare Minerals at reduced prices. Precious Stones, Minerals and Shells, purchased.
A great Variety of elegant Vases formed and enriched after the Antique.
(Collecting. Royalty.Minerals.)
