Leipzig, July 12th 1854 



Rec'd Aug 7th 

 Ans. Febr.26 1855 



Most honorable Doctor! 



Although I do not have the honor ofbeing personally acquainted with you, you will be 

 able to find my name, Sencke, in Förster's: Handbuche der Cacteenkunde 2 .! know that 

 you have it from reading your work on „ Reisebeschreibung des dr. A. Wislizenus etc". 

 You will then learn that I have been an eager, longtime collector of this remarkable 

 family ofplants. I have collected for over 20 years and spent a lot ofmoney on it. In 

 truth I own the largest collection in Europe and my constant effort is directed toward 

 bringing it to the highest degree of completion. The specimens I have raised here are in 

 no way inferior to those from the original country and bloom profusely year around. 

 Although this attitude ofmine may not seem very well tamed and really does not reflect 

 the way I usually am, aslama modest and truthful person; still I must add that German, 

 French and British subjects as well as others and his Highness Count Salm-Dyck have 

 expressed themselves in a complimentary way about my cacti. 



All ofthis spurs me to complete my collection in any justifiable way. I have 

 therefore made contacts in all parts of Europe so that I can always get the newest. 

 Unfortunately have many ofthese been interrupted by death and other causes; so for 

 example have I lost much with the death of Ehrenberg in Berlin and even more by the 

 the passing of my friends Professor Kunze and the Chief of the botanical garden 

 Plaschnick. I received every year from Professor Kunze all the cactus types that he got 

 but unfortunately this is no longer the case in later years because I do not know the 

 current professor at all and curator Bernhardi barely. My collection suffers from this and 

 as a man eager to honor cacti I suffer from this. Thus I allow myselfto plead with you to 

 adopt my collection and by transfer ofseeds from new species and those which are 

 difficult to propagate support it. It should be understood concerning compensation that I 

 would be happy to receive full-grown plants but I am concerned that the cost of 

 transportation would exceed my capabilities. Collection of cacti has almost ceased in 

 Europe afterthe death of Ehrenberg, so the cactus lovers in Europe would be 

 pleasantly surprised ifyou, honored doctor and your esteemed friend Mr. Vislizenus 

 were to assume the collection of this plant family in your local. 



2 Printed 1846 and still available today from Amazon! 



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