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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Letter, from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to Nehemiah Grew, dated at Delft

Reference number: EL/L1/34

Date: 18 March 1678

Description

Signed autograph
Observations of the sperm of dogs, rabbits, fish; discussion about fertilisation and the views of Regnier de Graaf and William Harvey about this; concerning the vessels in semen; observations of female reproductive organs; figures of spermatozoids are described as well as figures of the hair of a polecat
Text refers to nine figures which are now no longer attached. Figures of the spermatozoids are reproduced in 'Philosophical Transactions', vol 12, no 142
EL/L1/35 for English translation
Transcribed and translated in 'Alle de brieven van Antoni van Leeuwenhoek', edited, illustrated and annotated by Committee of Dutch Scientists, vol 2, p 325

Reference number
EL/L1/34
Earliest possible date
18 March 1678
Page extent
7 pages
Format
Manuscript
Also available on Early Modern Letters Online
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Creator name

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek

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Citation

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Letter, from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to Nehemiah Grew, dated at Delft, 18 March 1678, EL/L1/34, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/el_l1_34/letter-from-antoni-van-leeuwenhoek-to-nehemiah-grew-dated-at-delft, accessed on 11 September 2024

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/el_l1_34/letter-from-antoni-van-leeuwenhoek-to-nehemiah-grew-dated-at-delft

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  • Early Letters

    Dates: 1613-1740

    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.

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