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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/L1/25

Date: 23 March 1677

Description

Signed autograph
The methodology for calculating the number of living organisms in a drop of water
States that he sends a Latin translation of his letter (see EL/L1/26)
Transcribed and translated in 'Alle de brieven van Antoni van Leeuwenhoek', edited, illustrated and annotated by Committee of Dutch Scientists, vol 2, p 197
For summary see 'The correspondence of Henry Oldenburg', ed and trans by A Rupert Hall & Marie Boas Hall, vol 13, p 223
English extract printed in 'Philosophical Transactions', vol 12, no 134, p 844

Reference number
EL/L1/25
Earliest possible date
23 March 1677
Page extent
4 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, 23 March 1677, EL/L1/25, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/el_l1_25/letter-from-antoni-van-leeuwenhoek-to-henry-oldenburg-dated-at-delft, accessed on 18 June 2025

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    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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