Cornelis Andries Backer (1874—1963). In Memoriam

On February 22nd, 1963, the Rijksherbarium suffered a severe loss by the passing away of its honorary officer, since 1945, Dr C. A. Backer, at the age of 88 years. His death came by no means unexpected. He had been ailing and largely bed-ridden for nearly two years; while his mental capacities remained unaffected almost up till the last day, his body suffered from an increasing weakness of the limbs, an increasing deafness and loss of eyesight. Not suffering from pain, he endured the weakening of his body with courage and resignation, token of his indomitable spirit. As two biographies, one provided with a full bibliography ¹), and an obituary note ²) are published elsewhere, the accent of the present obituary lies largely on the way in which his work became involved with that of the Rijksherbarium.