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.

Paper, 'On new properties of light exhibited in the optical phenomena of mother of pearl, and other bodies to which the superficial structure of that substance can be communicated' by David Brewster in a letter to the Right Hon Sir Joseph Banks

Reference number: PT/8/20

Date: 1814

Description

32 manuscript pages and one plate with various diagrams of light reflecting off of mother of pearl.

Subject: Physics / Optics

Published in Philosophical Transactions as 'On new properties of light exhibited in the optical phe­nomena of mother of pearl, and other bodies to which the superficial structure of that substance can be communicated. By David Brewster, LL.D. F. R. S. Edin and F. S. A. Edin. In a letter addressed to the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K. B. P. R. S'.

Read 28 April 1814.

Abstract published in Abstracts of the Papers Printed in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London [later Proceedings of the Royal Society of London], Volume 1, 1832.

Reference number
PT/8/20
Earliest possible date
1814
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
33 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

David Brewster

View page for David Brewster

Use this record

Citation

David Brewster, Paper, 'On new properties of light exhibited in the optical phenomena of mother of pearl, and other bodies to which the superficial structure of that substance can be communicated' by David Brewster in a letter to the Right Hon Sir Joseph Banks, 1814, PT/8/20, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/pt_8_20/paper-on-new-properties-of-light-exhibited-in-the-optical-phenomena-of-mother-of-pearl-and-other-bodies-to-which-the-superficial-structure-of-that-substance-can-be-communicated-by-david-brewster-in-a-letter-to-the-right-hon-sir-joseph-banks, accessed on 17 February 2025

Link to this record

Embed this record

<iframe src="https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/embed/items/pt_8_20/paper-on-new-properties-of-light-exhibited-in-the-optical-phenomena-of-mother-of-pearl-and-other-bodies-to-which-the-superficial-structure-of-that-substance-can-be-communicated-by-david-brewster-in-a-letter-to-the-right-hon-sir-joseph-banks" title="Paper, 'On new properties of light exhibited in the optical phenomena of mother of pearl, and other bodies to which the superficial structure of that substance can be communicated' by David Brewster in a letter to the Right Hon Sir Joseph Banks" allow="fullscreen" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="500px"></iframe>

Hierarchy

This item is part of:

Related Fellows

Explore the collection

  • Philosophical Transactions

    Dates: 1802-1865

    The 'Philosophical Transactions' collection comprises manuscript versions of papers published in The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, the world’s first and longest continuously running journal dedicated to science.

    View collection