BANKS, Sir Joseph (1743-1820). Naturalist.
Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent ('my dear Sir'), 1½ pages 8vo with endorsement, Soho Square, 5 August 1811. Reporting on the successful sale of wool at 'our Fair at Hounslow', and itemising the various prices obtained, adding that 'thos that brought the best Price were clipd from sheep purchased on the Downs last year.

Endorsed by the recipient on the reverse with an added calculation (7 times £8 10s = £59 10s).

'... all the wool bought in Bulk was I am told sold at the following Prices
Mixd Leicester Per Tod 1.8.0
Dorset & Berks 30/ to 32/
Wilts 38/South down 38/ to 44/ one Set 46/
Our downs are of tolerable quality those that brought the best price were clipd from sheep purchased on the Downs last year....'

Banks concludes with the usual pleasantries to his sheepish colleague and to Lady Elizabeth, which would give some clue to the correspondent's identity.

The importance of wool production in general and to Banks in particular is amply illustrated by the fact that there are 1437 letters on the subject in The Sheep and Wool Correspondence of Sir Joseph Banks, 1781-1820, ed. Harold B. Carter, (1979). The present letter is not among them.
[No: 25834]