Alice Elizabeth Louisa Melliss (née Stace; 1846–1909) was a British botanical illustrator. She illustrated the book St. Helena: a physical, historical, and topographical description of the island, including its geology, fauna, flora and meteorology under the name Mrs. J. C. Melliss.
Alice Elizabeth Louisa Melliss | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alice Elizabeth Louise Stace 1846 Colony of Barbados |
| Died | December 8, 1909 (aged 62–63) Hampstead |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Occupation(s) | biologist botanical illustrator |
| Spouse | John Charles Melliss |
Biography
editMelliss was born on 29 April 1846 in the then colony of Barbados.[1] Her father was William C. Stace, an officer in the Royal Engineers who was made a colonel in 1858.[2][3] She married John Charles Melliss on 20 July 1869 in Chipperfield in Hertfordshire, England.[1][2] Their son, Hugh John Melliss, was born in 1880.[4]
Melliss (as Mrs. J. C. Melliss) illustrated the botanical plates of the 1875 book St. Helena: a physical, historical, and topographical description of the island, including its geology, fauna, flora and meteorology, authored by her husband, John Charles Melliss. She is credited on plates as A. Melliss.[5][6] This book included first descriptions of multiple species, including the now extinct Saint Helena olive, Nesiota elliptica.[7] A review of the book in the journal Nature described Melliss' plates as "effective illustrations".[8] Writing in The Academy, H W Bates described "the full-page coloured drawings of all the endemic flowering plants, by Mrs Melliss, [as] especially interesting".[9]
Melliss passed away on 8 December 1909 at the age of 63 in Hampstead in London, England.[1]
Legacy
editAlthough the book is now 150 years old, this book is still considered a major authority on St. Helena's flora. The St. Helena Post Office published a set of four stamps featuring illustrations from this book in 1975, including one of her botanical illustrations.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b c Brock, John F. (2024-05-04). "St. Helena Through the Eyes of Two of Its Surveyors: Surveyor-General George Whalley & Son Surveyor John Charles Melliss!" (PDF). International Federation of Surveyors Working Week 2024: 11.
- ^ a b "Marriages". The Register, and Magazine of Biography. No. August-September 1869. Nichols and sons. 1869. p. 82.
- ^ "Colonels". Hart's Annual Army List, Special Reserve List, and Territorial Force List. Vol. 24. John Murray. 1863. p. 37.
- ^ Venn, John Archibald (1922). Alumni Cantabrigienses: From 1752 to 1900. Vol. IV. Kahlemberg-Oyler. Cambridge University Press. p. 387.
- ^ Melliss, John Charles; Melliss, Mrs. J. C. (1875). St. Helena : a physical, historical, and topographical description of the island, including it geology, fauna, flora and meteorology. Naturalis Biodiversity Center. London : L. Reeve & Co.
- ^ Library, Zoological Society of London (1887). Catalogue. Taylor & Francis. p. 255.
- ^ "Alba Imeri - Diorama 1, Nesiota Elliptica". Royal College of Art Graduate Show 2022. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ D., W. T. T. (29 April 1875). "St Helena: a Physical, Historical, and Topographical Description of the Island, including its Geology, Fauna, Flora, and Meteorology". Nature. 11 (287): 501–503. doi:10.1038/011501a0. ISSN 1476-4687.
- ^ Bates, H. W. (1875). St. helena; a physical, historical, and topographical description of the island, including its geology, fauna, flora, and meteorology. The Academy, 1869-1902, 0269-333X, (160), 549-550.
- ^ "Saint Helena: Stamps [Series: Centenary of the Publication of "St Helena" by J.C.Melliss"]. Colnect. Retrieved 2 October 2024.