Skip to content

Please be aware that some material may contain words, descriptions or illustrations which will not reflect current scientific understanding and may be considered in today's context inaccurate, unethical, offensive or distressing.

The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Letter, from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to the Royal Society

Reference number: EL/L2/44

Date: 15 October 1693

Description

Printed copy sent instead of signed autograph
Examination of the colours of plumes of the feathers of Leeuwenhoek's green parrot; observations of the colour of wool; metamorphosis of the pigeon flea; the life cycle of a human flea; anatomy of the legs of a flea
20 engraved figures attached
Read at Royal Society on 13 December 1693
See EL/L2/45 for covering letter
Transcribed and translated in 'Alle de brieven van Antoni van Leeuwenhoek', edited, illustrated and annotated by Committee of Dutch Scientists, vol 9, p 205

Reference number
EL/L2/44
Earliest possible date
15 October 1693
Page extent
44 pages
Format
Printed
Also available on Early Modern Letters Online
View Also available on Early Modern Letters Online (external link, opens in new tab)

Creator names

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek

View page for Antoni van Leeuwenhoek

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek

View page for Antoni van Leeuwenhoek

Use this record

IIIF manifest

View​ IIIF ​ manifest Opens in new tab

Open in Mirador viewer Opens in new tab

Export this record

Download PDF Opens in new tab

Citation

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Letter, from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to the Royal Society, 15 October 1693, EL/L2/44, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/el_l2_44/letter-from-antoni-van-leeuwenhoek-to-the-royal-society, accessed on 13 July 2025

Link to this record

https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/el_l2_44/letter-from-antoni-van-leeuwenhoek-to-the-royal-society

Embed this record

<iframe src="https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/embed/items/el_l2_44/letter-from-antoni-van-leeuwenhoek-to-the-royal-society" title="Letter, from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to the Royal Society" allow="fullscreen" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="500px"></iframe>

Related Records

Hierarchy

This item is part of:

Related Fellows

Explore the collection

  • 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

    View collection