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Büttikofer cover

MartinGilesMartinGiles
in Stamps and Postal History
I see that a Swiss 1881 cover is being auctioned by Jean-Paul Bach AG of Basel, addressed to “Monsieur John Büttikofer, Esq.” at the “Dutsch factorey” in Monrovia.

In case there are members whose commitment and pockets are deeper than mine, I thought you might be interested: minimum bid is CHF 1,800++.

I take it that this is Johann Büttikofer (1850 – 1927), the Swiss zoologist who wrote Reisebilder aus Liberia (Leiden: E. J. Brill; 1890). Büttikofer worked in Rotterdam, wrote the book in Dutch, and since his Dutch-sponsored first expedition spanned 1879-82, this appears to fit.

Are covers to Büttikofer commonly found?


Comments

  • mikwizzymikwizzy
    I did wonder what the "Dutch factory" was and what the factory actually made

    I wasn't aware the Dutch had a presence in Liberia at that time but apparently the "factory" word was used to indicate a trading post or warehouse rather than in the Western senses of being somewhere where products are manufactured.
    The Dutch it appears had several such factories on the coast


    PS I won't be bidding on the cover!
  • MartinGilesMartinGiles
    Having just asked whether covers to/from Johann Büttikofer are commonly found, I just came across another one, also addressed to him at the Dutch factory, the following year (also offered at auction, this time among a 127-cover lot starting at CHF 800++).


  • BryantBryant
    Hi Guys. These covers are addressed to Dutch "Factorij". This is a Dutch administration building. I also have covers addressed Dutsch Factorij in Grand Bassa and Sinoe (Greenville). Sometimes it is spelled Factoreij or Factory.

    These offices were administrative locations for many different types of colonial economic endeavours such as plantations, etc (ie, coffee, rice, whatever). These were spread throughout the Dutch colonies such as Indonesia. Even though the Dutch didn't colonize Liberia, they had a presence.

    The Dutch had a long, early history in Liberia, well before American settlers.
    https://liberiapastandpresent.org/Netherlands/Overview.htm

    People sent mail to these established offices to be picked up. People sent mail to their country's Consul as well. It was an easy and unambiguous way to send mail.

    I have an 1881 Swiss Buttikofer cover. I have 2 covers to A. Veldkamp, from Leiden and Groningen, Netherlands. One sent to Dutch Factorij and one sent to the Dutch Consul (1888/1889). He was a zoologist!

    Thanks, Martin, for the Buttikofer information and sending me down a rabbit hole. I got me reaching out to my fellow Dutch Indonesia collectors...
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