|
|
Article: Portugal and Brazil. (mineral collectors in Portugal and Brazil) (The History of Mineralogy: 1530-1799)
- Article from:
- The Mineralogical Record
- Article date:
- November 1, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 The Mineralogical, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
The early history of mineral collecting in Portugal and her South American colony of Brazil is not well-documented, and, as in Spain, is probably minimal. Jacob Forster is known to have traveled to Lisbon in the late 1700's to buy specimens; and at least one private mineral collector, a merchant named Payard who specialized in Mexican minerals, is known to have resided there. But in general the details surrounding the Portuguese community of collectors remain obscure, and can only be speculated upon.
Brazil, though not actually "discovered" until 1500, came under Portuguese hegemony as the result of divisions and treaties carried out in 1493 and 1494. However, unlike ...