The Bleeker/Günther letters and the sale of Bleeker specimens to the British Museum

A survey is given of the correspondence between the ichthyologists Bleeker (The Hague) and Günther (British Museum, Natural History, London), mainly dealing with the sale of fishes and some other animals by Bleeker to the British Museum. The publication dates of the parts of the "Atlas ichthyologique des Indes orientales néerlandaises" (1862-1878) and of the volumes of "Catalogue of the fishes in the British Museum" (1859—1870) are discussed. The possible sale of type specimens is examined. Finally, a survey is given of the lists of fishes and reptiles requested by Günther and sent by Bleeker.