PRINCE HERMANN VON PUCKLER-MUSKAU: (1785-1871) German nobleman, best known as an accomplished artist in landscape gardening. Prince Puckler-Muskau, under the pen name of "Semilasso" is the author of multiples works related to his travels around Europe and northern Africa. A very fine A.L.S., `H. Puckler´, two pages, small 4to, Berlin, 16<sup>th</sup> October 1866, to a benefactress correspondent, in German. Prince Puckler-Muskau commences with apologies, stating `Most gracious and esteemed benefactress, unfortunately I was indisposed by an annoying and stubborn flu which prevented me to return immediately yours and your husband´s gentle visit…´ The Prince further makes an amusing comment about his long absence and refers to a present he has for his correspondent, saying `… by my long permanent absence, I won´t be suspected to be dead. I humbly ask for permission to allow me to offer to you an ananas brought from the Branitzer desert. It is indeed peculiar, because the roof of the house on which it innocently blossomed was destroyed by a whirlwind… until it was found alive and brought that far with such an horticultural healing art that it grew to goodish size and even, as it seems to me, to utterly maturity´ Before concluding, Prince Puckler-Muskau referring to the ananas, states `Yes, I am not able to guarantee that the particularly pleasant taste, which is ascribed to this variety grown in the gardens of the Duke of Devonshire, has survived by my lack of fortune. But at least I live with hope..´ The Prince says goodbye in a humorous way, saying `With this request, I commend the memory of myself to the loveliest excellency of Europe in deepest subservience, and remain, if you grant me the patent for it, most obediently, the president of seniority of your truly most intimate admirer´ With blank integral leaf. Small repair to a tear to the edge, not affecting the text or signature, otherwise VG   

 

The Branitz park, near Cottbus, where there used to be a barren sandy desert, is an English landscape park laid out by the 60 years old Prince of Puckler-Muskau, a park which he himself described as his masterpiece.