History of Paleontology through Letters

This digital collection presents a selection of historical letters and postcards that provide insight into the professional correspondence and scientific networks of palaeontologists and related researchers.
Before the widespread adoption of digital communication, postal correspondence played an essential role in enabling geologists, palaeontologists, and naturalists to exchange observations, discuss taxonomic classifications, and communicate new fossil discoveries.
The collection brings together primary-source documents from a range of researchers who contributed to the development of palaeontology and related sciences, including William Buckland, Richard Owen, and Othniel Charles Marsh.
Organized geographically, it illustrates the international networks of scientific exchange that supported collaboration and contributed to the development of modern palaeontology and the geosciences during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.


Australia


Letter from Australian paleontologist Curt Teichert, mailed in 1951
Historical postal cover from Australian paleontologist Curt Teichert to Professor R. Krausel mailed in 1951


Austria


Postcard of Dr. Gustav von Arthaber from the Paleontological Institute of Vienna University to Jean Miquel in Barroubio (France), mailed in 1899 Cover from Vienna University Paleobiological Institute, mailed in 1928
Vintage 1899 postcard from Dr. Gustav von Arthaber at the Paleontological Institute of Vienna University to Jean Miquel Front side of the letter from the Paleobiological Institute of Vienna University posted in 1928


Belgium


Natural History Museum of Belgium (1947) to Mrs. Racovitza, widow of Emil Racovitza (Racovita)
Official 1947 correspondence from the Natural History Museum of Belgium addressed to Mrs. Racovitza


France


Letter from Scottish paleontologist Thomas Davidson to French paleontologist Gustave de Lorière, mailed in 1852
Handwritten 1852 letter from Scottish paleontologist Thomas Davidson to French paleontologist Gustave de Loriere


Germany


Letter to Franz Unger (Bavaria, 1843-1848)

Reply card of the Zoological Museum of Berlin (German Empire, 1912)

Postcard of Professor Ernst Stromer to Jacques Lechevalier, a scientific publisher in Paris (Bavaria, 1912)
Vintage 1845 letter sent to German botanist and paleontologist Franz Unger in Bavaria 1912 postal reply card from the Zoological Museum of Berlin regarding the Tendaguru dinosaur expedition 1912 postcard sent by Professor Ernst Stromer from Bavaria to scientific publisher Jacques Lechevalier in Paris
Postcard sent by Wilhelm von Branca from Munich to the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin (Weimar Republic, 1920)
1920 Weimar Republic postal card sent by Wilhelm von Branca from Munich to the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin



Great Britain


Alexander Nasmyth to William Buckland (1838) Richard Owen to George Ransome (1849) Ernest Westlake to his father Thomas Westlake (1874)
Handwritten 1838 letter from Alexander Nasmyth to pioneering English geologist William Buckland 1849 correspondence from Sir Richard Owen to George Ransome featuring early British paleontology context Historical 1874 letter from Ernest Westlake to his father Thomas Westlake regarding geological field findings
Invitation of the British Association for the Advancement of Science to meeting in Glasgow (1876) Letter from the Geological Society in London to the British Museum (1876) Richard Owen to Sir Henry Barkly (1876)
Official 1876 invitation letter from the British Association for the Advancement of Science for the Glasgow meeting Official 1876 correspondence from the Geological Society in London addressed to the British Museum 1876 postal cover sent by Sir Richard Owen to British colonial administrator Sir Henry Barkly
Telegram posted by Alphonse MILNE EDWARDS to Sir Richard OWEN in 1889 Postcard sent by Gurney & Jackson to Jacinto Pedro Gomes from the National Museum in Lisbon, Portugal in 1893
Historical 1889 telegram posted by French zoologist Alphonse Milne-Edwards to Sir Richard Owen Postcard sent by Gurney and Jackson to Jacinto Pedro Gomes from the National Museum in Lisbon, Portugal in 1893



India


Letter posted from India to Professor E. Ray Lankester, the Natural History Museum in London (1899)
1899 international postal letter sent from India to Professor E Ray Lankester at the Natural History Museum in London



Italy


Postcard from Dr. Giovanni Capellini to Dr. Theodor Geyler (1886) Envelope of School of Paleo-ethnology of University of Rome, Italy (1933)
Postcard from Italian paleontologist Giovanni Capellini to German paleontologist Dr. Theodor Geyler, mailed in 1886 Official 1933 postal document from the Paleontological School of the University of Rome in Italy


USA


Erasmus Crawford to Othniel Marsh (1870), Yale College, New Jersey

Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley (1935) to Professor Stehlin, NHM Basel in Switzerland The Paleontological Society, Princeton, New Jersey (1936) to Dr. Rudolf Richter (Germany)
Handwritten 1870 letter from Erasmus Crawford to American paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh at Yale College 1935 correspondence from the Museum of Paleontology Berkeley to Professor Stehlin at Natural History Museum Basel Official 1936 letter from The Paleontological Society in Princeton New Jersey to Dr. Rudolf Richter in Germany
Last update 15.07.2026