Collection Timeline

1670 to 1788

1670
These were thought to be Paul Hermann’s personal herbaria. Paul Hermann was a botanist working for the Dutch East India Company on Sri Lanka in the late 17th century. His materials ended up in Joseph Bank's collection, which later became part of English scientist Hans Sloane's extensive scientific collection.
Herbaria: Cinnamon
Drawing: Cinnamon
This Paul Hermann herbaria was initially sent to Jan Commelin, director of Amsterdam botanic gardens, inherited by botanist Johannes Burmann, later sold by his descendants to Swiss-French botanist Benjamin Delessert.
Herbaria: Bandura
Herbaria: Cinnamon
Herbaria: Grossuralia

1672
This herbaria was sent from Paul Hermann to Jacob Breyne, 1672, and later sold to the Gotha court in the 18th century.
Herbaria: Ratambala
Herbaria: Bandura

1694
A manuscript produced by an as-yet unidentified physician working for the Dutch East India Company in the vicinity of Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka. The Latin name of this manuscript may be misleading, as the plants featured are not only from Kerala in India (then-called Malabar coast by the Dutch), but also plants from Sri Lanka. The plants are described using Malayalam, Sinhalese and Tamil names.
Caruwa, alsoo genaemt bij de Malabaren en bij de Cingaleesen koerundoe, en bij de Hollanders Caneel, De natuur van t'selve is heet, zij heeft een verwarmende, heetmakende, verdrijvende kragt; Zij vallen op Ceijlon. Caruwa, named by the Malabars and by the Sinhalese koerundoe, and by the Dutch Caneel. It is of a hot nature, has a warming, removing power. Grows on Ceylon.
Caruwa, alsoo genaemt bij de Malabaren en bij de Cingaleesen koerundoe, en bij de Hollanders Caneel, De natuur van t'selve is heet, zij heeft een verwarmende, heetmakende, verdrijvende kragt; Zij vallen op Ceijlon. Caruwa, named by the Malabars and by the Sinhalese koerundoe, and by the Dutch Caneel. It is of a hot nature, has a warming, removing power. Grows on Ceylon.
Tippalikamam, alsoo genaemt bij de Malabaren, En bij de cingaleesen Hackmalla is een kleijn kruijt, desselfs kragt door eenige vogt uijtgetrocken, verwarmt de maag, en drijft het water af. Zij vallen veel op Ceijlon. Tippalikamam, named by the Malabars and by the Sinhalese Hackmalla is a small herb. The juice squeezed from this herb warms the stomach and acts as a diuretic. They grow plentiful on Ceylon.
Tippalikamam, alsoo genaemt bij de Malabaren, En bij de cingaleesen Hackmalla is een kleijn kruijt, desselfs kragt door eenige vogt uijtgetrocken, verwarmt de maag, en drijft het water af. Zij vallen veel op Ceijlon. Tippalikamam, named by the Malabars and by the Sinhalese Hackmalla is a small herb. The juice squeezed from this herb warms the stomach and acts as a diuretic. They grow plentiful on Ceylon.

1698
scan of an archival document showing a list describing seeds in local languages of Sri Lanka
Seedlist from 1698
Seedlist from 1698
Seedlist from 1698
Seedlist from 1698
Seedlist from 1698
Seedlist from 1698
Seedlist from 1698

1725
Twee copia translaat Latijnse notitien van sodanige Ceijlonse zaden als naar Amsterdam en Delft in den jaare 1725 van Ceijlon zijn gesonden opgemkaat bij den botanicus Pieter Hertog (ontfangen den 30 januarij 1726 per 't schip Nederhoven. Seedlist from the island of Sri Lanka to Kamer Amsterdam and Kamer Delft (two of the six chambers of the Dutch East India Company).
Seedlist from 1725
Seedlist from 1725
Seedlist from 1725
Seedlist from 1725
Seedlist from 1725
Seedlist from 1725
Seedlist from 1725
Seedlist from 1725
Seedlist from 1725
Seedlist from 1725
Seedlist from 1725
Seedlist from 1725

1740
Cathalogus der Ceijlonse zaden en planten die in drie bakken en een cas voor de camer Delft en 's lands universiteijt te Leijden overgaan. Seedlist sent from the island of Sri Lanka to Kamer Delft (one of the chambers of the Dutch East India Company) and Leiden University.
Seedlist from 1740
Seedlist from 1740
Seedlist from 1740

1777
Copie catalogues van de Ceijlondsche medicinale zaken afgesonden aan de botanie te Amsterdam, 21 Januarij 1777. Seedlist from the island of Sri Lanka to the botanic gardens in Amsterdam.
Seedlist from 1777
Seedlist from 1777

1788
Last seedlist found in the archives, sent from the island of Sri Lanka to the botanic gardens in Amsterdam and Leiden
Seedlist from 1788
Seedlist from 1788
Seedlist from 1788
Seedlist from 1788
Seedlist from 1788
Seedlist from 1788