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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Letter, from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to the Royal Society

Reference number: EL/L2/46

Date: 20 December 1693

Description

Sent a printed copy and not a signed autograph
Observations of daddy-longlegs; pupation of and eggs of daddy-longlegs; anatomy of the legs of daddy-longlegs; observations of reproduction of lice and mites; the anatomy of a louse and structure of a mite; discussion about the life span of a mite
Sheet of 10 engraved figures for publication is attached
See EL/L2/42 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 269

Reference number
EL/L2/46
Earliest possible date
20 December 1693
Page extent
35 pages
Format
Printed
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, 20 December 1693, EL/L2/46, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/el_l2_46/letter-from-antoni-van-leeuwenhoek-to-the-royal-society, accessed on 07 February 2026

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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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