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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/L1/36

Date: 31 May 1678

Description

Signed autograph
Discussing Regnier de Graaf's theories about ovulation in women; further observations about sperm of rabbits and dogs; concerning the structure of bone and hair
Text refers to eight figures of male sperm, bone and hair but only three ink figures of sperm, numbered Figures 1, 3, 4 , are attached
English translation see EL/L1/37
Transcribed and translated in 'Alle de brieven van Antoni van Leeuwenhoek', edited, illustrated and annotated by Committee of Dutch Scientists, vol 2, p 355
English extract in 'Philosophical Transactions', vol 12, issue 140, p 1002
B&W negative, of one drawing, Box N101. IM/005318

Reference number
EL/L1/36
Earliest possible date
31 May 1678
Page extent
11 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 Nehemiah Grew, dated at Delft, 31 May 1678, EL/L1/36, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/el_l1_36/letter-from-antoni-van-leeuwenhoek-to-nehemiah-grew-dated-at-delft, accessed on 14 June 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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