Lot 173
  • 173

BUEE, W.U. NARRATIVE OF CULTIVATING THE CLOVE TREE IN DOMINICA, AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT, 1795

Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
Log in to view results
bidding is closed

Description

  • Narrative of the Successful manner of cultivating the Clove Tree in the Island of Dominica ... 1795
Autograph manuscript fair copy with a small number of scattered corrections, with dedicatory epistle addressed to King George III, stab-stitched in a single gathering, 28 pages, plus blanks, folio, dated Montpellier Estate Dominica, 31 July 1795, outer leaves frayed and dust-stained[with:] four legal documents relating to land in Dominica, one signed by William Urban Buée, 1770-1771

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

AN AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT ADDRESSED TO THE KING, ANNOUNCING THE SUCCESSFUL CULTIVATION OF SPICES IN THE WEST INDIES. Cloves had for centuries been a key export of the Spice Islands and were only grown and traded from the Moluccas until the 1770s, when the French botanist Pierre Poivre succeeded in cultivating cloves on Réunion from stolen plants. Buée explains that he was given a clove tree in 1789 by a French friend, and later acquired further plants "with much trouble and expense". His narrative describes the plant itself, noting its similarity to the pimento tree, and goes on to detail "the manner in which I have successfully cultivated the Tree to maturity, and from thence deduce the first ground of hope we may entertain that the Clove will soon become a most valuable Article of Produce in the British West India Colonies." He describes his experiments with different soil conditions, beginning with unsuccessful attempts to grow cloves on rich soil between coffee plants before establishing that the plants would thrive on barren east-facing soils, and his efforts at curing the ripe fruit. Buée's narrative was printed in 1797, with an illustrative plate and accompanying letter by Joseph Banks.