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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Letter, from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to Christopher Wren, dated at Delft

Reference number: EL/L1/68

Date: 16 July 1683

Description

Signed autograph
Theorising about the procreation of frogs; observations of the spermatozoids of the frog; trying to find spermatozoids in a fowl's egg; concerning the reproduction of rabbits and that hereditary characteristics pass down the male line; observations of a dissected frog; theory about digestion in humans and in fish; stating that blood does not ferment and then discusses blood circulation
Original figures no longer exist
Transcribed and translated in 'Alle de brieven van Antoni van Leeuwenhoek', edited, illustrated and annotated by Committee of Dutch Scientists, vol 4, p 53
Translation printed in 'Philosophical Transactions', vol 13, no 152, p 347

Reference number
EL/L1/68
Earliest possible date
16 July 1683
Page extent
22 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 Christopher Wren, dated at Delft, 16 July 1683, EL/L1/68, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/el_l1_68/letter-from-antoni-van-leeuwenhoek-to-christopher-wren-dated-at-delft, accessed on 09 October 2024

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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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