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

Description

Signed autograph
Discovery of five different 'animalcules' (micro-organisms - one possibly bacteria) in pepper-infused water and carries out experiments with rain-, well-, moat-, sea-, and river-water, and infusions of various spices; an account of the structure of a peppercorn, wheat, ginger; whether or not there are organisms in the air
Four figures in the margin (particles of pepper grain and in ginger-water)
Partial translation by Oldenburg see EL/L1/23
Transcribed and translated in 'Alle de brieven van Antoni van Leeuwenhoek', edited, illustrated and annotated by Committee of Dutch Scientists, vol 2, p 61
For summary see 'The correspondence of Henry Oldenburg', ed and trans by A Rupert Hall & Marie Boas Hall, vol 13, p 82
Partial translation printed in 'Philosophical Transactions', vol 12, no 133, p 821
B&W negative, first page only, Box N101. IM/005317

Reference number

EL/L1/22

Earliest possible date

09 October 1676

Page extent

18 pages

Format

Manuscript

Also available on Early Modern Letters Online

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