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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Letter, from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to Henry Oldenburg, dated at Delft

Reference number: EL/L1/18

Date: 21 April 1676

Description

Signed autograph
Observations of the vessels of wood with reference of Dr Grew's book on this subject; concerning eel-like creatures found in French wine; concerning the taste of cinnamon
Four pencil figures - three drawings of the transverse section of ash wood and one of an eel-like animal found in wine (can be found after EL/L1/19)
Partial translation by Oldenburg see EL/L1/19
Transcribed and translated in 'Alle de brieven van Antoni van Leeuwenhoek', edited, illustrated and annotated by Committee of Dutch Scientists, vol 2, p 3
For summary see 'The correspondence of Henry Oldenburg', ed and trans by A Rupert Hall & Marie Boas Hall, vol 12, p 247
English extract printed in 'Philosophical Transactions', vol 11, no 127, p 653

Reference number
EL/L1/18
Earliest possible date
21 April 1676
Page extent
6 pages
Format
Manuscript
Also available on Early Modern Letters Online
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Creator names

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek

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Antoni van Leeuwenhoek

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Citation

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Letter, from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to Henry Oldenburg, dated at Delft, 21 April 1676, EL/L1/18, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/el_l1_18/letter-from-antoni-van-leeuwenhoek-to-henry-oldenburg-dated-at-delft, accessed on 15 July 2025

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  • Early Letters

    The archival collection known as 'Early Letters' is composed of original manuscript letters sent to, or collected by, the Royal Society from English and foreign correspondents.

    Dates: 1613 - 1740

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