Campanula. Ink and watercolor drawing with autograph manuscript caption

Haller, Albrecht (1708-77). Campanula. Ink and watercolor drawing with autograph manuscript caption. N.p., n.d. 312 x 202 mm. Small pin-holes in left margin and lower right corner, a few tiny marginal tears, remains of mounting tabs on verso. Inscription in French on the verso in an unidentified hand identifying the drawing as by Haller.

An original botanical drawing by the great Swiss scientist Haller, who made fundamental contributions to botany as well as to anatomy and physiology. In an effort to create "a complete, encyclopedic science of Swiss flora" (Dictionary of Scientific Biography), Haller published a major treatise on the subject, Historia stirpium indigenarum Helvetiae inchoate (1768), and amassed an herbarium of Swiss plants that is still used today. He corresponded with Linnaeus on the problem of nomenclature, seeking an alternative to Linnaus's binary nomenclature and sexual system of classification.

Haller's drawing is of a species of campanula (bellflower). His caption, written in Latin, reads: "CAMPANULA foliis cordato-lanceolatis, caule simplicissimo, foliis cordatis floribus secundis sparsis maxima foliis latissimis. CB.(?)" The words "foliis cordatis" have been crossed out and corrected in another hand to "C. latifolia." The unidentified French inscription on the verso reads: "Cette plante est dessiné et colorié par le grande Haller, ainsi que l'écriture est de sa main, verifiée par Mr. le Dr. Coindet qui a plusieurs autographes de Mr. Haller" [This plant was drawn and colored by the great Haller, and the writing is in his hand, verified by Dr. Coindet who has several autographs of Haller].