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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Letter, from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to the Royal Society, dated at Delft

Reference number: EL/L1/76

Date: 13 July 1685

Description

Signed letter
Concerning the reproduction of trees; the transfer of nutrients from cell to cell; observations of fruits and seeds; denies that there are male and female trees; concerning the structure of the hazelnut; comparing reproduction of mammals with the reproduction of plants; consideration of cross-breeding; experiments on the germination of willow seeds
Text refers to 19 figures - six figures are attached
Transcribed and translated in 'Alle de brieven van Antoni van Leeuwenhoek', edited, illustrated and annotated by Committee of Dutch Scientists, vol 5, p 215
English extract printed in 'Philosophical Transactions', vol 17, no 199, p 700

Reference number
EL/L1/76
Earliest possible date
13 July 1685
Page extent
14 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 the Royal Society, dated at Delft, 13 July 1685, EL/L1/76, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/el_l1_76/letter-from-antoni-van-leeuwenhoek-to-the-royal-society-dated-at-delft, accessed on 16 March 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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