Netherlands East Indies, Batavian Society of Arts and Sciences, Centenary Medal, 1878, in copper, by Charles Wiener, Brussels; coconut palm with arms of Batavia on the trunk, mountains of Java behind, ten nutte van ’t gemeen / batavia’s genootschap around, rev., legend in wreath of exotic plants and flowers, dates mdcclxxviii- mdccclxxviii below, unnamed, 60.5mm, unnamed, mint state, with a couple of tone spots Wallace was elected a Corresponding Member of the Batavian Society of Arts and Sciences on 1 June 1878, the year of the Societys Centenary. Founded in 1778 by V.O.C. official J.C.M. Radermacher, the Society formed large collections of ethnological, zoological and botanical specimens. During the 1860s a new Museum building was constructed under Netherlands Royal patronage and has since become the home of the National Museum of Indonesia. Together with the preceding two lots and following lot, this medal has been kept in a single purpose-made velvet-lined display case with hinged insert to allow both sides of the four pieces to be viewed. The case was commissioned by Wallace following the award of the Darwin Medal in 1890 (see following lot 874 and footnote), with which it is offered.

Estimate: GBP 200-400