TYPED LETTER SIGNED by the prominent biologist & paleontologist HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, president of the American Museum of Natural History, in reply to James B. Pond's invitation to join his reception committee for Maeterlinck's first American lecture. by Osborn, Henry Fairfield (1857-1935). Biologist & paleontologist who helped organize the Department of Vertebrate Paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History and served as its president from 1908-1933 - 1919.

New York, December 30, 1919., 1919.. Very good. - Over 30 words typed on 7-3/4 inch high by 5-3/4 inch wide "American Museum of Natural History" stationery with an attached blank leaf. In reply to American impresario and lecture agent James B. Pond's invitation to serve on the committee welcoming Maurice Maeterlinck to America, the noted paleontologist expresses his regrets that he won't be able to serve. Osborn writes "I regret very much indeed that I am unable to be in the City on the evening of January second." Signed "Henry Fairfield Osborn". Folded for mailing, with a tiny chip to the top left corner. Very good.

A graduate of Princeton, the paleontologist Henry Fairfield Osborn (1857-1935) pursued additional studies in biological sciences at several of New York City's medical schools and also studied with Thomas H. Huxley in Great Britain. He taught natural sciences at Princeton and subsequently moved to Columbia University where he organized the Biology Department. In 1891, he helped organize the Department of Vertebrate Paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History and went on to serve as the museum's president from 1908 through 1933. He substantially expanded the museum's collection and sponsored Roy Chapman Andrew's expeditions to Central Asia in the 1920's and 30's. During his tenure, the museum became one of the preeminent natural history research institutions in the world.

James B. Pond, the American impresario and lecture agent who headed the J.B. Pond Lyceum Bureau, brought the great Belgian poet Maurice Maeterlinck to America for a series of lectures. The first lecture took place at Carnegie hall on January 2nd, 1920. Unfortunately Maeterlinck failed to carry out his intention to lecture in English because of his labored "phonetic" English. He declared his intention to continue his lectures in French and have the translation read by another person. As a result, the lecture tour was a failure and lawsuits ensued on both sides.