Alexander von Humboldt's travels through distant continents and
research of foreign cultures made him the first German cosmopolitan. The naturalist and cultural patron was born in Prussian Berlin during the age of
Enlightment and later travelled the globe to explore new horizons. Humboldt discovered a rich new world of flora on his great South American expedition (1799
- 1804) and researched the language and culture of the native Indians. The result was "Kosmos" a literary lifework in which Humboldt expounded on the
knowledge gained through his travels and research. Alexander von Humboldt was also an influential patron of culture in his day. He was one of the
initiators of the Peace Class of the military order "Pour le Mérite" in 1842, an award that today still honours extraordinary service to sience and the
fine arts. Humboldt used his influence at the royal court and Prussian society to pave the way for artists like Hector Berlioz and Felix
Mendelssohn-Bartholdy through his recommendations and to promote sience and culture.
Every detail of the Limited Edition Alexander von
Humboldt pays tribute to the great naturalist and leading cultural patron. His spirit of discovery is brought to life in every detail in this Limited
Edition. In the 4810 edition the spine and corpus are made of black grenadille, a luxurious hardwood from the southern hemisphere. The inlay, clip and
bindings are reproduced in 925 sterling silver bringing to mind the art of the native indians whose culture Humboldt studied on his South American
expedition. The 18 K gold nib is platinum-plated and bears a fine engraving of a sextant, one of Humboldt's favourite instruments which aided his research
and surveying around the world on his voyages of discovery.
