> [!cite] BHL link: this entry starts at [page 986](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33190457) of TL-2 Vol. IV > Author links: [IPNI](https://www.ipni.org/a/8739-1) LSID 8739-1, [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61439) QID Q61439 > Support pages: [[Abbreviations|abbreviations]], [[Layout key|layout key]], [[Cite TL-2|cite TL-2]] ### Author Rumphius, (baptized Rumpf), Georg Eberhard (1628-1702), German-born Dutch naturalist; enlisted with the Dutch West Indian Company for Brazil 1846 (but taken prisoner by the Portuguese); enlisted with the Dutch East Indian Company 1652, in Java 1652, to the Moluccas in the military service of the Company; commissioned officer 1655; in civil service as merchant to Ambon 1657 (Larike), from 1660 at Hitoe; first merchant at Amboina 1666 (appointment not ratified); blind from 1670; staying in Ambon mainly dedicating himself to the writing of his publications. **Abbreviated name**: *Rumph.* \[standard form in IPNI: *Rumph.*\] #### Herbarium and types Almost entirely lost. Most of Rumphius' books, manuscripts and collections were destroyed by fire on 11 Jan 1687. Rumphius sold part of his collections (herbarium specimens as well as shells) to Cosimo II de Medici in 1682. Some of these collections are still at [[Collection FI|FI]] (Martelli 1903) although difficult to recognize because of the absence of the old labels. A few specimens may have found their way to Vienna ([[Collection W|W]]) and to Gaertner (now [[Collection TUB|TUB]]). The manuscript of the *Herbarium amboinense* (partly in second copy, becuase the first was lost at sea) is at the University Library of Leiden. The original copy for Appendix 2 and some drawings are at the University Library of Utrecht. See Greshoff (1902) for further details on the various manuscripts. #### Note(1) Rumphius was (probably) born in Hanau (Hessen) Germany, a city founded by Dutch refugees; his mother had Dutch first names. It is therefore quite well possible that he was of Dutch origin, which would explain his perfect usage of Dutch (see H.C.D. de Wit, 1952). #### Note(2) Main *bibliography*: G.P. Rouffaer & W.C. Muller, *in* Rumphius Gedenkboek, 1702-1902, p. 165-221. Contains also a list of manuscripts and an extensive critical list of secondary literature. #### Bibliography and biography ADB 29: 663-667. 1889 (many errors); Backer p. 503 (epon.); Barnhart 3: 191 (d. 15 Jun 1702); Blunt p. 121, 138, 263; BM 4: 1766, 8: 1111; Bossert p. 342 (Rumpf); Bret. p. 27; Dryander 3: 181, 286; Frank 3 (Anh.): 87; GR p. 127; HA 1: 616-617; Henrey 2: 191; Herder p. 212; HU 518 (extensive treatment Herb. amb.), see also 2(1): clvii, clxx, clxxxv; Jackson p. 378; JW 2: 199-200, 3: 367, 4: 404, 5: 251 (many Dutch references) Kew 4: 547; Lasègue p. 76, 493, 506, 528, 535; LS 23244; Moebius p. 141, 142, 367, 368; MW p. 420; NI 1: 79, 86, 87, 90, 184, 2: nos. 1700-1701, 3: 59; NNBW 3: 1104 (M. J. Sirks); PR 846, 1393, 3849, 3974, 4663, 7908-7909, ed. 1: 958, 1583, 4370, 8874-8875, 10632; Quenstedt p. 371; Rehder 1: 464; RS p. 138; SA 1: 154, 2: 600; SK 1: xxx, 452-453 (many data), 2: lxxxvi, 4: 13, 17, 21-23, 26, 36, 60, 104, lxxxv-lxxxix, 5: cccxvii, 8: lxxxiii; TL-1/1126; TL-2/566, 930-932, 2473, 2654, 4777, 5457, 5860, 6111; see J. Burman; Tucker 1: 613. #### Biofile - Anon., Fl. males. Bull. 1(5): 129. 1949 (monument); Grote Winkler Prins Encycl. 16: 642. 1973; Koloniaal Museum te Haarlem, Verslag der Rumphius-herdenking Amsterdam 1903, 11 p. (suppl. to Verslag Kol.-Mus. 1902, Bull. no. 28) (on Rumphius medal). - Baillon, H., Dict. bot. 3: 753. 1891. - Ballintijn, G., Rumphius, de blinde ziener van Ambon, Utrecht 1944, vin, 191 p. - Bernardi, L., Musées de Genève 123: 11-12. 1972 (portr.). - Bickmore, A.S., Travels in the East Indian Archipelago, London 1868, p. 250-252 (visit to R.'s grave). - Bloys van Treslong Prins, P.C., Tijdschr. Ind. Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde 69: 426-435. 1929 (transcription of various official documents regarding R.; signs himself geogr. Everhardus Rumphius). - Blume, C.L., Rumphia 1835-1848, 4 vols. (see TL-2/566; frontisp. portr. in vol. 1). - Boedijn, K.B., *in* H.C. de Wit, Rumphius memorial volume 289-294. 1959 (on R's fungi). - Bridson, G.D.R. et al., Nat. hist. mss. res. Brit. Isl. 224.210. 1980. - Britten, J., J. Bot. 56: 362-365. 1918 (reviews of Merrill (1917) and description of two rare printed indexes to the Herb. amb.). - Burman, J., Index alter in omnes tomos herbarii amboinensis. Leiden 1769, 32 p. - Busken Huet, Ed., Het land van Rembrand 2(2): 91-99. 1884. - Candolle, Alph. de, Phytographie 445. 1880 (no herb. known). - Dandy, J.E., Regn. veg. 51: 7-8. 1967 (no new generic names in Auctuarium). - Du Petit-Thouars, L.M.A.A., *in* Biogr. univ. anc. mod., ed. L.G. Michaud, 39: 317-322. 1825. - Engel, H., Bijdr. Dierk. 27: 310-311. 1939 (sec. refs.; on zool. coll.). - Fosberg, F.R., Taxon 30: 218-227. 1981 (on *Casuarina litorea*, a valid Rumphian name and on names in Stickman's Herb. amboin. 1754; proposal to invalidate names in left hand column). - Fries, Th.M., Bref Skrifv. Linné 1(3): 19. 1909, 1(4): 213. 1910, 1(5): 143, 259. 1911. - Gaertner, J., Hanauisches Magazin vom Jahr 1785, 8: 337-344. 1785 (first critical biography; see Rouffaer & Muller p. 177). - Goebel, K., *in* Greshoff et al., Rumphius Gedenkboek 59-62. 1902 ("Rumphius als botanischer Naturforscher"). - Greshoff, M., Encycl. Ned.-Ind. 3: 464-468. 1902. - Haller, A. v., Bibl. bot. 1: 615-617. 1771. - Hamilton, F., Mem. Wem. nat. Hist. Soc. 5(2): 307-383. 1826 (commentary on *Herb. amb.*). - Harting, P., Album der natuur 1885: 1-15. - Hartwich, C., *in* M. Grcshoff et al., Rumphius Gcdcnkboek 1902. p. 79-88 (on American plants in Herb. amboin.). - Hasskarl, J.K., Neuer Schlüssel zu Rumph's Herbarium amboinensc. Halle 1866, 247 p. (see TL-2/2473). - Heeres, J.E., *in* M. Grcshoff et al., Rumphius Gedenkboek 1-16. 1902 (biography based on Leupe 1871). - Henschel, A.W.E., Vita G.E. Rumphii, 1833, xiv, 216 p. (see TL-2/2654; for review see W.H. de Vriese, Tijdschr. nat. Gesch. Physiol. 1 (bock beschr.): 208-214. 1834); also issued as Clavis Rumphiana botanica et zoologica, Breslau 1833. - Hickson, S. J., Mem. Proc. Manchester lit. philos. Soc. 70: 17-28. 1926 (biogr. sketch). - Hoëvell, W.R. van, Tijdschr. Neerl. Ind. 2(2): 25-30. 1839 (mentions a doctorate h.c. Hanau for Rumphius. This is erroneous; Hanau never had a university). - Hulth, J.M., Bref Skrifv. Linné 1(8): 18, 1922, 2(1): 118. 1916. - Hulth, J.M. & A.H. Uggia, Bref Skrifv. Linné 2(2): 52, 59, 60, 63, 64, 65, 83, 96, 146. 1943. - Kalkman, C. & P. Smit, eds., Blumea 25: 5, 57. 1979. - Karsten, M.C., The old company's garden 57, 58, 79, 125. 1951. - King, G., J. Bot. 37: 455. 1849. - Krikorian, A.D., Principes 26(3): 107-121. 1982 (R. on coconut "stones"). - Kuntze, O., Rev. gen. *pl*. 1: cxlii. 1892. - Leupe, P.A., De Navorscher 16: 207. 1866 (some preliminary remarks); Nat. Verh. Kon. Akad. Wet. Amsterdam 13: 1-36. 1871 (biogr., for a detailed review of this first true biography of Rumphius see Rouffaer & Muller, p. 183-185). - Lotsy, J.P., *in* M. Greshoff et al., Rumphius Gedenkboek 1902, p. 46-58 (on the Rumphius manuscripts in the Netherlands). - Martelli, U., Bull. Soc. bot. ital. 1902: 90 (coll. FI); Le collezioni di G.E. Rumpf. Firenze 1903, 213 p. see TL-2/5475. - Meeuse, A.D.J., Biologist 47: 42-54. 1965 ("Straddling two worlds" biogr. sketch). - Merrill, E.D., An interpretation of Rumphius' Herbarium amboinense, Manila 1917 (authoritative detailed study); Chron. bot. 14: 376 \[index\]. 1954 (botany Cook's Voyage). - Milner, J.D., Cat. portr. Kew. 93. 1906. - Nissen, C., Zool. Buchill. 352-353. 1969. - O., Dict. sci. méd., Biogr. méd. 7: 73-74. 1825. - Papageno, \[S. Kalff\], Java-Bode Feb 1896: nos. 30, 33, 36, 38, 41, 44 ("de Indische Plinius"). - Perry, L.M., *in* Honig & Verdoorn, Sci. scient. Neth. Indies 295-308. 1945 (based on M. J. Sirks 1915). - Poggendorff, J.C., Biogr.-lit. Handw.-Buch 2: 270-721. 1863, 7a (suppl.): 566-568. 1971 (extensive secondary bibl.). - Poiret, J.L.M., Enc. méth. 8: 755. 1808. - Robyns, A.G., Bull. Miss. Bot. Gard. 56(3): 4-5. 1968 (on the Kapok tree and R's herbal). - Rouffaer, G.P. & W.C. Muller, *in* M. Greshoff et al., Rumphius Gedenkboek 165-221. 1902 (extensive bibliography). - Sarton, G., Isis 27: 242-257. 1937 (Rumphius, Plinius indicus); Sarton on the history of science 189-196. 1962. - Schöppel, F.A., Deut. ges. Nat.-Völkerk. Ostasiens, Nachtr. 52: 14-18. 1939. - Siebert, K., Encycl. Nederl. Indie 3: 640-645. 1919. - Sirks, M. J., Indisch natuurond. 24-62, 301 \[index\]. 1915 (biogr.). - Slooten, D.F. van, *in* H.C.D. de Wit et al., Rumphius memorial volume 295-338. 1959 (on R. as an economic botanist). - Smith, J.J., Philip. J. Sci. C. Bot. 12: 249-262. 1917 (Amboina orch. coll. by C.B. Robinson with ref. to Rumphius). - Stafleu, F.A., Linnaeus and the Linnaeans 109, 166, 168, 169. 1971. - Stearn, W.T., Roy. Hort. Soc, Exhib. manuscr. books 29. 1954. - Targioni-Tozzetti, G., Le collezioni di Giorgio Everardo Rumpf acquisitate dal Granduca Cosimo iii de' Medici, Firenze 1903, 213 p. (edited by Ugulino Martelli). - Turner, R.D., Johnsonia 3: 326-327. 1958 (on zool. work). - Verdoorn, F., ed., Chron. bot. 1: 381. 1935, 3: 56. 1937. - Warburg, O., *in* M. Greshoff et al., Rumphius Gedenkboek 1902, p. 63-78 (botanical exploration Moluccas after R.). - Wit, H.C.D. de, Indones. J. nat. Sci. 108: 161-172. 1952; Taxon 1: 101-110. 1952; Rumphius memorial volume, Amsterdam 1959, 462 p., 27 pl. (on p. 339-460 a checklist to Rumphius's Herbarium amboinense by H.C. D. de Wit and on p. 1-26 a biogr. of R, also by de Wit); Belmontia 4(4). 1960, Georgius Everhardus Rumphius, 26 p. (portr.); *in* J. Arditti, ed., Orchid biol. 47-94. 1977 (Orchids in Rumphius' Herbarium amboinense). - Wittrock, V.B., Acta Horti Berg. 3(2): 155. 1903, 3(3): 173. 1905. - Zanefeld, J.S., *in* H.C.D. de Wit et al., Rumphius memorial volume 277-288. 1959 (identification of R's algae; general contr. to phycology by Rumphius). #### Eponymy (books) C.L. Blume, *Rumphia* 1836-1849, see TL-2/566; (taxa): *Rumpfa* Cothenius (1790, *orth. var.*); *Rumpfia* Linnaeus (1754, *orth. var.*); *Rumphia* Linnaeus (1753). ### Publications ##### n.9784. Herbarium amboinense **Title** Georgii Everhardi Rumphii,... *Herbarium amboinense*, plurimas complectens arbores, frutices, herbas, plantas terrestres & aquaticas, quae in Amboina, et adjacentibus reperiuntur insulis, adcuratissime descriptas juxta earum formas, cum diversis denominationibus, cultura, usu, ac virtutibus. Quod & insuper exhibet varia insectorum animaliumque genera, plurima cum naturalibus eorum figuris depicta. Omnia magno labore ac studio multos per annos conlegit, & duodecim libris Belgicis conscripsit... Nunc primum in lucem edidit & in Latinum sermonem vertit Joannes Burmannus,... pars prima. Amstelaedami \[Amsterdam\] (apud Franciscum Changuion, Joannem Catuffe, Hermannum Uytwerf) Hagae comitis \['s Gravenhage) (apud Petrum Gosse, ...) Ultrajecti \[Utrecht\] (apud Stephanum Neaulme) 1741 (in sets of two). Fol. **Abbreviated title**: *Herb. amboin.* **Notes** *Editor*. Johannes Burman (1707-1779), see TL-2/927-933. *Copies*: BR, HU, NY, U, USDA; IDC 292. *Collation*: see HU 518 and Rouffaer & Muller p. 168-170. – The pagination cited below is that of the copy at U. The HU copy has the plate *123* in vol. 5; a plate *84*\[*bis*\] in vol. 3. – In all there are *696* plates. *1*: 1741, p. \[i-xxxvi\], frontisp. and 2 portr., 1-200, *pl. 1-82.* – *Preface contents*: \[ii\], Lat. t.p.; frontisp. allegor.; \[iii\], t.p. Dutch; portr. J. Burman; \[v-vii, dedic.\]; \[viii-xiii, preface\], \[xvi, author's note\]; \[xv, reply to text p. xiv\]; \[xvi epigramma\], \[xvii-xviii, poem A. v. Ommering\], \[xix-xxii, Burman's introd.\]; \[xxii-xxxvi, poems by P. Burman, J.O. Schacht, J. Balde\]; portr. Rumphius; 1-200 scientific text, *pl. 1-82* uncol. copp. – *Imprint*: as in heading. *Dutch title*: "*Het amboinsche kruid-boek*. Dat is, beschryving van de meest bekende boomen, heesters, kruiden, land- en water-planten, die men in Amboina, en de omleggende eylanden vind, na haare gedaante, verscheide benamingen, aanqueking, en gebruik: mitsgaders van eenige insecten en gediertens, voor 't meeste deel met de figuren daar toe behoorende, allen met veel moeite en vleit in veel jaaren vergadert, en beschreven in twaalf boeken, door Georgius Everhardus Rumphius,... nagezien uitgegeven door Joannes Burmannus,... die daar verscheide benamingen en zyne aanmerkingen heeft bygevoegt. Eerste deel." *2*: 1741, p. \[ii-iii, Lat. & Dutch t.p.\], 1-270, *pl. 1-87. Imprint*: as vol. 1. *3*: 1743, p. \[ii-iii, Lat. & Dutch t.p.\], 1-128, 131-218, *pl. 1-84, 84*\[*bis*\], *85-107, 107*\[*bis*\],*108-127, 127*\[*bis*\], *128-141. Imprint*: as vol. I. The gap in pagination (between 128 and 131) occurs in all copies. *4*: 1743, p. \[ii-iii, Lat. & Dutch t.p.\], 1-154, *pl. 1-82, Imprint*: as vol. 1. *5*: 1747, p. \[ii, Lat. t.p.; iii, Dutch t.p.; v-vi, author's pref.; vii-viii, dedic.\], 1-492, *pl. 1-751 75*\[*bis*\], *76-184. Imprint*: Amstelaedami (apud Franciscum Chaguion, Hermannum Uytwerf), Hagae comitis (apud Petrum Gosse,... Antonium van Dole). – *Pl. 123* lacking in U copy. For a variant issue see Rouffaer & Muller, p. 169, note 3. *6*: 1750, p. \[ii, Lat. t.p., iii, Dutch t.p., v-viii poem iter in Bras.\], 1-256, *pl. 1-90. Imprint*: Amstelaedami (apud Franciscum Changuion, Hermannum Uytwerf), Hagae comitis (apud Petrum Gosse,... Antonium van Dole). *7*: see below, *Auctuarium*, 1755. *Variant issues*: see Rouffaer & Muller p. 168-170. *Re-issue* of vols. 1-6, 1750, Amsterdam (Meinard Uytvvcrf). *Other indexes*: (1) J. Burman, *Index alter in omnes tomos herbarii amboinensis*, Leiden 1769, TL-2/932. - (2) A.W.E.T. Henschel, *Vita Rumphii*, Breslau 1833, TL-2/2654; for a detailed critical discussion see Rouffaer & Müller p. 178-182. - (3) J.K. Hasskarl, *Neuer Schlüssel zu Rumph's Herbarium amboinense*, Halle 1866, TL-2/2473. - (4) E.D. Merrill, an interpretation of Rumphius' Herbarium amboinense, Manila 1917, TL-2/5860, see also J.H., Bull. misc. Inf. Kew 1918: 244-246. - (5) H.C.D. de Wit, *A checklist to Rumphius's Herbarium amboinense, in* Rumphius memorial volume, Amsterdam 1959, p. 339-460. *Manuscripts*: see Lotsy (1902, p. 46), Rouffaer & Muller (1902, p. 165), Targioni-Tozzetti (1903), NI 1701. *Linnaean study*: Herbarium amboinense, see TL-2/4777 and F.R. Fosberg, Taxon 30: 218-227. 1981. ##### n.9785. Herbarii amboinensis auctuarium **Title** Georgi Everhardi Rumphii,... *Herbarii amboinensis auctuarium*, reliquas complectens arbores, frutices, ac plantas, quae in Amboina, et adjacentibus demum repertae sunt insulis, omnes accuratissime descriptae, & delineatae juxta earum formas, cum diversis indicis denominationibus, cultura, usu, ac viribus; nunc primum in lucem editum, & in Latinum sermonem versum, cura & studio Joannis Burmanni,... qui varia adjecit synonyma, suasque observationes. Amstelaedami \[Amsterdam\] (apud Mynardum Uytwerf, & viduam ac filium S. Schouten) 1705. Fol. **Abbreviated title**: *Herb. amboin. auctuar.* **Notes** *Co-auhor*: Johannes Burman (1707-1779) see TL-2/927-933. *Publ*.: on or around 22 Sep 1755 (fide letter by Burman to Linnaeus of 20 Sep 1755; postface 20 Jun 1755; GGA 6 Sep 1756), p. \[ii, iii, Lat. & Dutch t.p.\], \[1\]-74, *pl. 1-29, Index universalis*: \[75-94\], postface \[95\] by J. Burman. \[p. 74 is sign. T1, p. \[75\] is T2\]. *Copies*: BR, NY, U, USDA; IDC 292. The *Index universalis* in sex tomos et Auctuarium Herbarii amboinensis Cl. Georgii Everhardi Rumphii, by J. Burman is in general based on C. Linnaeus, *Herb. amb.* 11 Mai 1754 (TL-2/4777) but contains in addition new binary names given by "B". (J. Burman). This index is the first place in literature in which an author other than Linnaeus or his pupils uses Linnaean binomials. *Dutch t.p.*: *Het auctuarium*, ofte vermeerdering, op het amboinsch kruyd-boek. Dat is, beschryving van de overige boomen, heesters, en planten, die men in Amboina, en de omleggende eilanden vind, allen zeer accuraat beschreven en afgebeeldt na der zelver gedaantes, met de verscheide Indische benamingen, aanqueking, en gebruik...".