A birthday present (Q1823232)

This paper describes preparations for Weierstrass's 70th birthday on 31 October 1885, which were started by the beginning of 1884. A special committee was set up for this purpose. It was headed by L. Fuchs. A collection was taken up to cover the costs of a bust, a medal and a photo album. With the assistance of G. Mittag-Leffler, Ch. Hermite, F. Casorati and E. Beltrami it was Carl Itzigsohn who put together more than 500 photographs showing pupils, friends and colleagues of Weierstrass from many countries in Europe. After Weierstrass's death the album was split in two smaller albums which were rediscovered by the author in Berlin in the library of Humboldt University's Mathematics Department and at the Kupferstichkabinett. The author, who also gives some indications to rivalries between Kronecker's and Weierstrass's schools, intends to publish a detailed edition of the albums.