Accession No
6624
Brief Description
‘Seed Source Indicator’ set of 25 microscope slides, [English], c. 1900
Origin
[English]
Maker
Class
biology
Earliest Date
1870
Latest Date
1930
Inscription Date
Material
Wood (pine); glass; paper; organic material (seeds)
Dimensions
370mm (height) x 180mm (width) x 23mm (depth)
Special Collection
Provenance
Purchased from Charles Miller Ltd., Suite 6, 3/11 Imperial Road, London, SW6 2A6 on or before 06/06/2016. From the sale of Maritime and Scientific Models, Instruments & Art, 10/05/2016, Lot no. 269.
Inscription
The Origin of Seeds Source Indicators
Description Notes
‘Seed Source Indicator’ set of 25 microscope slides, [English], 19th century
Wooden case box containing 25 slides, each with four numbered samples. In total, slides contain 100 different samples of seeds from seven different regions: South Europe; West Europe, Great Britain, Northern France and Holland; North America; Australia; Asiatic Provinces; East Europe, Russia and Hungary; South America.
On the inside of the lid is handwritten label in English which numbers and lists the seed species contained in each slide and denotes their source indicators alongside. No maker is listed on any labels.
Slides are glass and card with four indents for seeds. They are contained in wooden box with lid that slides away so all are visible. Slides are held in place with small piece of wood that can be removed or locked in place.
In fair condition, complete. The label on the back is peeling away in the bottom left corner. The piece of wood containing the slides has a small crack, and there is a small crack in the right hand side of the frame. It was very difficult to remove the lid, they are now stored separately.
References
Events
Description
Seed collectors could use this seed source indicator to identify the origin of seed samples that they have collected by comparing them with the seeds in the indicator, that are of a known species and location. In the 19th century this would have been the only real way for amateurs to identify seeds that they had never come across before unless they could get someone who was an expert to look at their sample. The indicator contains samples from all over the world including Europe, America Australia and the Asiatic provinces.
Label written by Jack Rajack, Work Experience Student
08/06/2017
Created by: Rosanna Evans on 08/06/2017
Description
This enigmatic collection of seeds, organised by country of origin as well as a set of indicators, is a tool to assist in the identification of the place of origin of a particular batch of seeds. ‘The Origin of Seeds Source Indicator’ is possibly made by Carl Wittmack, a German botanist who first studied which weed seeds could indicate the origin of other seeds by their presence. In 1873, Wittmack recognised a red clover seed to be American due to its presence amongst Ambrosia seeds.
04/04/2017
Created by: Rosanna Evans (based on Helen Curry’s emails) on 04/04/2017
FM:47178
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