An Original Hand Written Letter and Signed by English Naturalist Sir Joseph Banks to the painter Benjamin West. Letter by Sir Joseph Banks 1743-1820 to the painter Benjamin West, redirecting a letter sent in error to the Royal Society instead of the Royal Academy, dated November 22nd 1798, folded, with seal removed (affecting two words), Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, 1743-1820 was an English naturalist, botanist, and patron of the natural sciences. Banks made his name on the 1766 natural-history expedition to Newfoundland and Labrador. He took part in Captain James Cook's first great voyage (1768–1771), visiting Brazil, Tahiti, and after 6 months in New Zealand, Australia, returning to immediate fame. He held the position of president of the Royal Society for over 41 years. He advised King George III on the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and by sending botanists around the world to collect plants, he made Kew the world's leading botanical garden. He is credited for bringing 30,000 plant specimens home with him; amongst them, he was the first European to document 1,400. Benjamin West, PRA 1738-1820 was a British-American artist who painted famous historical scenes such as The Death of Nelson, The Death of General Wolfe, the Treaty of Paris, and Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky. Size is 225 x 185mm. Condition is near good with light marking. Folding crease.