Item #100382 An autograph letter signed by Max Müller to W.C. Mayne, encouraging the documentation of Australian Aboriginal languages. While Müller is best known for his work on India, his keen interest in comparative philology led him to become a champion for the preservation of aboriginal languages around the world. Within a year of writing this letter, Muller became Oxford's first Professor of Comparative Philology, a chair he held until his death. This letter was published in full in the Sydney newspaper 'The Empire' (8 February 1868): 'Through the courtesy of the Honorable T.A. Murray, the subjoined letter, from Max Muller to Captain Mayne, has been handed to us for publication'. Captain William Colburn Mayne (1808-1902), soldier and public servant, arrived in Sydney in 1839; he 'took a lively and humane interest in the well-being of local Aboriginals' (Australian Dictionary of Biography). It was also cited some fifteen years later by E.M. Curr in a defense of his compilation of Aboriginal vocabularies ('The Argus', Melbourne, 9 January 1883; see Samuel Furphy: 'Edward M. Curr and the Tide of History'). Max MÜLLER, philologist and ethnologist, Friedrich.
An autograph letter signed by Max Müller to W.C. Mayne, encouraging the documentation of Australian Aboriginal languages. While Müller is best known for his work on India, his keen interest in comparative philology led him to become a champion for the preservation of aboriginal languages around the world. Within a year of writing this letter, Muller became Oxford's first Professor of Comparative Philology, a chair he held until his death. This letter was published in full in the Sydney newspaper 'The Empire' (8 February 1868): 'Through the courtesy of the Honorable T.A. Murray, the subjoined letter, from Max Muller to Captain Mayne, has been handed to us for publication'. Captain William Colburn Mayne (1808-1902), soldier and public servant, arrived in Sydney in 1839; he 'took a lively and humane interest in the well-being of local Aboriginals' (Australian Dictionary of Biography). It was also cited some fifteen years later by E.M. Curr in a defense of his compilation of Aboriginal vocabularies ('The Argus', Melbourne, 9 January 1883; see Samuel Furphy: 'Edward M. Curr and the Tide of History')
An autograph letter signed by Max Müller to W.C. Mayne, encouraging the documentation of Australian Aboriginal languages. While Müller is best known for his work on India, his keen interest in comparative philology led him to become a champion for the preservation of aboriginal languages around the world. Within a year of writing this letter, Muller became Oxford's first Professor of Comparative Philology, a chair he held until his death. This letter was published in full in the Sydney newspaper 'The Empire' (8 February 1868): 'Through the courtesy of the Honorable T.A. Murray, the subjoined letter, from Max Muller to Captain Mayne, has been handed to us for publication'. Captain William Colburn Mayne (1808-1902), soldier and public servant, arrived in Sydney in 1839; he 'took a lively and humane interest in the well-being of local Aboriginals' (Australian Dictionary of Biography). It was also cited some fifteen years later by E.M. Curr in a defense of his compilation of Aboriginal vocabularies ('The Argus', Melbourne, 9 January 1883; see Samuel Furphy: 'Edward M. Curr and the Tide of History')
An autograph letter signed by Max Müller to W.C. Mayne, encouraging the documentation of Australian Aboriginal languages. While Müller is best known for his work on India, his keen interest in comparative philology led him to become a champion for the preservation of aboriginal languages around the world. Within a year of writing this letter, Muller became Oxford's first Professor of Comparative Philology, a chair he held until his death. This letter was published in full in the Sydney newspaper 'The Empire' (8 February 1868): 'Through the courtesy of the Honorable T.A. Murray, the subjoined letter, from Max Muller to Captain Mayne, has been handed to us for publication'. Captain William Colburn Mayne (1808-1902), soldier and public servant, arrived in Sydney in 1839; he 'took a lively and humane interest in the well-being of local Aboriginals' (Australian Dictionary of Biography). It was also cited some fifteen years later by E.M. Curr in a defense of his compilation of Aboriginal vocabularies ('The Argus', Melbourne, 9 January 1883; see Samuel Furphy: 'Edward M. Curr and the Tide of History')

An autograph letter signed by Max Müller to W.C. Mayne, encouraging the documentation of Australian Aboriginal languages. While Müller is best known for his work on India, his keen interest in comparative philology led him to become a champion for the preservation of aboriginal languages around the world. Within a year of writing this letter, Muller became Oxford's first Professor of Comparative Philology, a chair he held until his death. This letter was published in full in the Sydney newspaper 'The Empire' (8 February 1868): 'Through the courtesy of the Honorable T.A. Murray, the subjoined letter, from Max Muller to Captain Mayne, has been handed to us for publication'. Captain William Colburn Mayne (1808-1902), soldier and public servant, arrived in Sydney in 1839; he 'took a lively and humane interest in the well-being of local Aboriginals' (Australian Dictionary of Biography). It was also cited some fifteen years later by E.M. Curr in a defense of his compilation of Aboriginal vocabularies ('The Argus', Melbourne, 9 January 1883; see Samuel Furphy: 'Edward M. Curr and the Tide of History')

Small octavo, 3 pages (the first three pages of a bifolium) on the blind-embossed letterhead of '64 High Street, Oxford' (the first line of this address has been crossed out, with 'Parks End' added in ink above); 17 November [1867]; light creases where folded for posting; in excellent condition.

The letter reads in full: 'Dear Sir, I am extremely obliged to you for the two works on the languages of the Aborigines of Australia which I owe to your kindness. They are very valuable to me, and full of interest, and I hope that the impulse once given to this line of study will continue in the Australian colonies, and that whatever can be saved of the languages, the superstitions, traditions & customs of the aboriginal races may be saved before it is too late. There are certain processes in the growth of language which can be illustrated only by observations of what takes place in the dialects of people so low in the scale of civilisation as the tribes of Australia and Melanesia, and to the student of language a comparative grammar of the dialects of Australia would at present be more valuable than the most learned treatises on Sanskrit or Hebrew. Your obedient servant, Max Muller. [To] W.C. Mayne Esq. I forward a copy of an Outline Vocabulary which may possibly be useful to the collection of dialects in Australia'. It seems to us difficult to over-emphasise the significance of this letter, with its fundamental message having impact not only in its own time, but to this day.

Item #100382

Sold