Description
Autograph Letter Signed ‘Arch Geikie’, to Sir John [Lubbock], referring to Geikie’s visit to Baku and some specimens recently brought back from there. 2 pp. 7 x 4 inches, in good condition. Geological Survey Office, 11 December 1899. The uncommon autograph of Sir Archibald Geikie (1835-1924), Scottish geologist who became head of the Geological Survey of Great Britain in 1881. He became President of the Geological Society in 1890 and a knighthood followed in the same year. Throughout his career his private life was spent also on fieldwork and in research. He published many books, most notably ‘Scenery of Scotland’ in 1865, ‘Textbook of Geology’ in 1882 and ‘Ancient Volcanoes of Great Britain’ in 1897. “… I have written to him on the subject of his specimens. Unfortunately they throw no light on the origin of the petroleum, which is a problem of great difficulty. I have visited Baku, seen the wells quiet and in eruption, kindled the gaseous fumarole and tried to get at the secret of the phenomenon. But I came away more puzzled than ever.”