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Letter from Horlock to the Superintendent of the Zoological Society of London Garden asking for instructions as to transport by sea and enquiries as to the price of animals to be disposed of

Letter from Croizet bird dealers to Philip Lutley Sclater

Letter from J Hargreave to Philip Lutley Sclater regarding the offer for sale of a chimpanzee monkey from West Africa, including a list of tricks he could perform

Letter from William Brown to Philip Lutley Sclater regarding the price of a koala or native bear, and a request for reptiles from Queensland

Manchester

March 14 1845

Sir

There is one Lion with a good and showy mane. he has a defective tail, that is to say the last three inches of it is turned up abruptly; this beast I should not like to give more than three hundred guineas for - the second Lion they say is six years old, I think he is not so old; he has less mane than the one at the Gardens, that belongs to White, he is a large beast, but has what is called a broken nose, that is to say he bears the appearance that a fighting man does - he is a larger animal than the first mentioned - the outside value of this one I should say was two hundred pounds - the first mentioned one is the same sort and looks exactly like the one at the Surrey Gardens the elephant is fine and they expect a long price. I should say he was well worth six hundred pounds - the giraffe is a female, and by far the best animal in the collection, appears in perfect health and condition, she is not as I was informed crooked on the legs, but a beast well worthy of being added to our collection, let her fetch what price she will this animals is well worth three hundred and fifty guineas to the Society - the Leopard is fine, but he lost all four canines and has got a severe cold in one eye - five pounds would be plenty of money for him - The Lion cubs are male and female about 15 inches high, they were cubbed in the collection, the point of interest about them is, that they are living on good terms in the same den with the maned Lion - one of them is what is called [Mooney?] headed they are not worth £20 the two.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient Servant
Louis Prater

If the Society feel inclined to purchase the Elephant, there is a man here I think would buy our large one. The Elephant is full 8ft high

Letter from John D Hamlyn to Peter Chalmers Mitchell regarding a gorilla and a chimpanzee for sale

Not the first Gibbon
[JES?}

Bristol & Clifton Zoological Gardens
Oct 23 1839

Sir

You will most probably have heard that we have had in our collection for several months a very fine specimen of the Active Gibbon of Ungka-Puti, Hylobates Agilis of Fred. Cuvier and I am instructed by the Committee to inform you that it is their intention to dispose of it. In offering for sale an animal so unique it will necessarily be expected that I should state with the utmost candour the reasons which have induced the Committee to pass the above resolution - I shall not therefore conceal from you that the late unprecedented wet Summer has been the means of reducing the Society's finances [& that?] though this may be of a very temporary nature, they consider that the present position of the Society will justify them in their determination - a second reason is the want of a commodious apartment or building for the animal during the Winter, we have none of sufficient size for exercise, seems essential [?] habits and disposition - this I believe you would not find a difficulty in your ample buildings - with regard to her health, I sincerely believe that I am borne out in saying that she is in the highest state of health and condition and that her appearance will at once satisfy any competent person that such is the case - She is known to be at least five years old having acquired these years in a country contiguous to her own and often in snow and icy cold weather exposed in a Tree in confinement it is considered to be more in her favour than if she was [younger?]. As it is thought impossible that the attractive powers of this extraordinary rarity can be justly appreciated without a personal inspection I am to say that should the Society feel disposed to enter into negotiations with is for the purchase of it, our Committee would consider it a favour if some confidential person were to be sent to Bristol for the purpose. I am to say that until we have heard from you in reply the Committee do not intend to make public their intention to part with this Animal and it is offered to you first as the principal [?] Society and in the full confidence that if you should consider it advantageous to add it to your collection, we shall meet with that liberal treatment and conduct in the negotiation that has always guided the transactions of [your?] Society.

I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient Servant
William Martin
Hon Secy