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

Description

Signed autograph
Observations about the structure and nature of blood, and the growth of skin and of plants
Further theories about the motion of liquid in tubes and the globular form of fluid bodies
The microscopical observations of the structure of bone, teeth, liver, and brain
Technique for examining the cerebral texture, spinal marrow and muscular tissue
Concerning the growth of the epidermis
Figures of capillary tubes in margin.

A small envelope containing three original small packets was attached to the last sheet and is now stored separately. The packets contained specimens: of cork; of pith of elder; and the white of a quill. The original packets contain >70% of the original material, in 1981 Brian Ford separated two portions of the samples, a first portion was placed in separate packets, kept in an envelope; a second portion of the samples were sputtered in gold and are kept in a separate container.

For summary see 'The correspondence of Henry Oldenburg', ed and trans by A Rupert Hall & Marie Boas Hall, vol 11, p 23
Transcribed and translated in 'Alle de brieven van Antoni van Leeuwenhoek', edited, illustrated and annotated by Committee of Dutch Scientists, part 1, p 90
See 'The van Leeuwenhoek specimens' by Brian Ford in 'Notes and Records', vol 36, no 1, pp 37-59 at p 46 for further information

Reference number

EL/L1/4

Earliest possible date

01 June 1674

Page extent

6 pages

Format

Manuscript

Also available on Early Modern Letters Online

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