Title: Catalogue of specimens and travel narrative by the naturalist Ludwig Kumlien while on the Howgate Expedition
Author: Kumlien, Ludwig
Description: 174 leaves with manuscript writing, a number are blank. 6½x4, cloth wrapped in seal skin. Plus some ephemeral items: One silverprint photograph (does not appear related to the journal), one typed letter signed by L.D. Roberts (friend of Kumlien), and 5 manuscript identification tags, each signed Kumlien and with the original strings that were once tied to the specimens.Ludwig Kumlien (1853-1902) was a naturalist for the Smithsonian, and was employed upon the ship Florence to collect specimens on the Howgate Preliminary Polar Expedition of 1877-1878. On the first leaf he writes his name, and "Arctic Schr Florence-July 1877." On verso of leaf one, he begins with the catalogue of zoological, botanical and anthropological specimens, starting with No. 1, and ending with No. 1659. Then, after a dozen or so blank pages, he begins anew with a "List of pkg's to be landed from Schr. Florence at New London, Conn. & checked. To be sent to the Smithsonian." Then he lists things like a small coffer box of bird skins or skeletons, etc. Then he writes a list of items "Furnished the ship by me," such as tobacco, canned meat, etc. After this comes a 5 page travel narrative on how to get to Kennedy Lake, through the use of a dog team and help from reputable Eskimos. Fascinating account through the eyes of a scientist who was particularly excited to collect marine species. For specimen No. 586 he writes, "Four small crustaceans-Young!..." Four of the identification tags appear to be written at the same time as the entries into the catalogue and were tied to their specimen by the original string still present, the fifth one was written at the Smithsonian National Museum on a museum tag. The important data collected by Kumlien was published in 1879, and presented as part of the collection of Natural History and Ethnology belonging to the Smithsonian Museum. Perhaps the only journal aboard this ship to survive.
Heading: (Howgate Polar Expedition)Place Published:
Publisher:
Date Published: [1877-1878]

Wear with age to seal skin; first and last leaf smudged, and some smudging or marks within, as well as 22 pages with circular stickers at the four corners (some of which were removed); else very good.