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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Photocopy of a letter, from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to Nehemiah Grew, dated at Delft

Reference number: EL/L1/39a

Date: 21 February 1679

Description

Examination of blood and saliva to discover if they contain living organisms; an account of liver-flukes and the origins of the disease in sheep; observations of the sperm of cod
One positive and one negative copy attached. Original can be found in The National Archives, Kew. This letter never reached the Royal Society. It was found by Miss Petra Beydals of Delft.
Transcribed and translated in 'Alle de brieven van Antoni van Leeuwenhoek', edited, illustrated and annotated by Committee of Dutch Scientists, vol 2, p 409

Reference number
EL/L1/39a
Earliest possible date
21 February 1679
Page extent
5 pages
Format
Photocopy
Also available on Early Modern Letters Online
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Creator name

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek

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Citation

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Photocopy of a letter, from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to Nehemiah Grew, dated at Delft, 21 February 1679, EL/L1/39a, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/el_l1_39a/photocopy-of-a-letter-from-antoni-van-leeuwenhoek-to-nehemiah-grew-dated-at-delft, accessed on 30 April 2025

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/el_l1_39a/photocopy-of-a-letter-from-antoni-van-leeuwenhoek-to-nehemiah-grew-dated-at-delft

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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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