#Charles Louis L’Héritier de Brutelle

[archivist-dragonfly]

Book 499

Sertum Anglicum 1788: Facsimile with Critical Studies and a Translation

Charles-Louis L’Héritier de Brutelle

The Hunt Botanical Library 1963

The Sertum Anglicum, or An English Wreath (or Garland), and Charles-Louis L’Héritier de Brutelle is an interesting story. I’ll try to summarize. Joseph Dombey, a French botanist and explorer, was given permission by the Spanish government to collect botanical specimens in their South American colonies under the strict condition that half of the collection be turned over to Spain. When the ship holding the collection was captured by the British, the Spanish half of the collection was confiscated. Upon returning to Europe, more of the collection was lost in customs. By the time Dombey arrived back in France, the collection was greatly reduced. However, French botanists argued that the new species Dombey returned with should be described and published before being given over to the Spanish, which went against the original agreement.

L’Héritier offered to describe and publish them at his own expense, and he took possession of the collection in 1786. The Spanish, of course, objected, and at trial the French agreed to return the entire collection. Knowing he had willingly defied the Spanish and wanting to finish the work, L’Héritier fled to England. He stayed in London for 15 months until things had quieted down. After having described new botanical species being cultivated in England and adding them to the book, L’Héritier published Sertum Anglicum in 1789.

He kept the Dombey specimens in his herbarium until his death.