GIDEON ALGERNON MANTELL – AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS) 19 Chester Square, Pimlico Dinosaur fossils, specimens, British Museum collection November 1844

A fine and characteristic autograph letter signed by Gideon Algernon Mantell (1790–1852) — pioneering geologist and paleontologist, discoverer of Iguanodon and one of the earliest identifiers of dinosaur remains. Written from his London home at 19 Chester Square, Mantell apologises for being “exceedingly engaged professionally” and delivering his Thursday evening geology lectures at the London Institution (Finsbury Circus). He explains that he cannot personally show his fossils, but suggests the recipient “take the chance” of his assistant being at home to view “the few objects of interest I have.”

Mantell notes that his “grand collection” is now in the British Museum, where only part is exhibited — a direct reference to the transfer of his celebrated fossil and dinosaur material in the early 1840s. Letters from this period mentioning his specimens, lectures, and the British Museum are especially desirable.

Provenance: 

One of c.2,500+ items once from the collection or dealer stock of Winifred A Myers (Autographs) Ltd, St Martins Lane, London, evidenced by the quantity of Myers pre-printed envelopes and paper folders and the general ‘presentation’ of the items, many having Myers identification notes in pencil. 

Winifred Alice Myers (1909 – 1985) served as ABA (Antiquarian Booksellers Assoc) president, 1950-1952. See the ABA website for an extended article on Myers. Myers left her business, in 1985, to Ruth Shepherd, who traded from home until 2004.  

Gideon Algernon Mantell MRCS FRS (Feb 1790 – Nov 1852) was an English obstetrician, geologist and palaeontologist. His attempts to reconstruct the structure and life of Iguanodon began the scientific study of dinosaurs: in 1822 he was responsible for the discovery (and the eventual identification) of the first fossil teeth, and later much of the skeleton, of Iguanodon. Mantell’s work on the Cretaceous of southern England was also important.