THE “GRANDFATHER OF MOLECULAR GENETICS” DNA pioneer. Typewritten carbon copy excerpt: “Part of a letter from Dr. O. T. Avery to his brother Roy C. Avery, dated May 13, 1945, just after his retirement from the Rockefeller Institute, when he was considering moving to Nashville, Tennessee. Original in the possession of R. C. Avery, … [ Read More ]
Signatures from Medicine and Medical History
The demand for autograph signatures and signed letters of personalities in the field of medicine is far greater than the material that becomes available. Perhaps because so many people in the field of medicine are interested in its history, and also because not that many medical personalities are available in autograph material, this is a difficult area to collect. Edward Jenner, who developed the concept of vaccination, is extremely rare in autograph or in signed letters. Joseph Lister, the founder of antiseptic surgery, wrote many letters, and occasionally one is available on the market. Robert Koch, the German bacteriologist, is very rarely seen. Louis Pasteur was busily engaged in solving many problems, including those relating to the fermentation of wine and beer, and his most famous success was developing inoculations to protect both man and animals from rabies. Despite his fame during his lifetime, his autograph material is scarce. His signed letters have been collected by institutional libraries and only occasionally are available for collectors. Jonas Salk, the discoverer of the polio vaccine, was happy to send his autograph signature to admirers, and on rare occasions, signed photographs. And he is a very popular figure among those interested in medical history.
Wilhelm C. Röntgen, the German physician who discovered X-rays in 1895, wrote very few signed letters that have survived, and those that are found are eagerly sought after. Sir William Osler is a very popular figure among those interested in medical history, but his signed letters are very infrequently found. More available have been signed letters of Florence Nightingale, who had great influence on patient care and hospital reform. The American neurosurgeon, Harvey Cushing, had a very active practice, and the rarity of his signed letters results from his popularity. Sir Alexander Fleming, the Scottish bacteriologist who was one of the discoverers of penicillin, was a well-known figure during his lifetime, but his signed letters are still rare.
Sigmund Freud, one of the most influential people of the 20th century, has been avidly collected. He very rarely would give a signature to an admirer, but he wrote many signed notes and signed letters in his psychiatric practice, all of which are now very scarce. Autograph material of Carl Jung, the Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist who founded analytical psychology, is also very popular and scarce in autograph material.
Cushing, Harvey
American neurosurgeon and a pioneer of brain surgery. Typewritten Letter Signed, Harvey Cushing, quarto, one page, November 11, 1936, on his letterhead for The School of Medicine at Yale University. To Dr. Glanville Y. Rusk, Mount Zion Hospital, San Francisco, California. With two photographs of brain lesions, mounted on heavy card stock. “Dear Rusk / … [ Read More ]
Guillotin, Joseph-Ignace
French physician who invented the beheading machine which was employed during the French Revolution. Document Signed, Guillotin President, as President of the Committee of Health, full page, legal folio, Paris, November 23, 1790. Concerning a request that Dr. le Doyene be given an assistant. Fine condition. Matted in tan and maroon, with a bust-length engraving … [ Read More ]
Jenner, Edward
English founder of immunology; discovered vaccination for smallpox. Autograph Letter Signed, Edwd. Jenner, one page, small octavo, Berkeley, May 21, 1813. To Dear Madam, possibly a fellow fossil hunter and member of the Barrow Hill Club. “The turbulent state of the weather has prevented me from taking a walk over to Stowe in the course … [ Read More ]
Koch, Robert
ROBERT KOCH. German microbiologist. Signature, “Prof. R. Koch / Berlin,” in ink, on an off-white card measuring 3 inches wide by 1-1/2 inches high. Working with very limited resources, Robert Koch became one of the founders of bacteriology, the other major figure being Louis Pasteur. Koch’s work began during the Franco-Prussian War when he … [ Read More ]
Osler, William
WILLIAM OSLER. Physician and professor of medicine who practiced and taught in Canada, the United States and Great Britain. Autograph Letter Signed, Wm. Osler, [September 22, 1909], on a postcard measuring 4 1/2 inches wide by 3 1/2 inches high. To Hampton L. Carson. “Many thanks — bon voyage. Greetings to the family. Tell the … [ Read More ]
Pasteur, Louis
LOUIS PASTEUR. French chemist; developed Pasteurization and inoculation for rabies. Extraordinarily well-executed engraved portrait of Pasteur, head and shoulders, inscribed by him and signed, “L. Pasteur, 26 Septembre [18]89” in the lower right corner. The engraved portrait, overall 5 7/8 inches wide by 8 inches high, is by Eugène-André Champollion [1848-1901], described in Benezit as … [ Read More ]
Pasteur, Louis
LOUIS PASTEUR. French chemist; developed Pasteurization and an inoculation for rabies. Autograph Letter Signed, ‘L. Pasteur,” March 9 [no year]. One page, octavo. In French. “I want to thank you right away for your information on the subject of Mr. Eastlake’s work. I had already seen an interesting summary of it in your fine book … [ Read More ]
Rontgen, Wilhelm C.
WILHELM C. RONTGEN. German physicist; awarded first Nobel prize for physics n 1901 for his discovery of X-rays. Autograph Letter Signed, W.C. Röntgen, two pages, small octavo, Hotel Miramare, St. Margherita Ligure, March 19, 1903. On his personal correspondence card, to a colleague. “Although you have learned through the State Institute why I could not … [ Read More ]
Rontgen, Wilhelm C.
WILHELM C. RONTGEN. German physicist; awarded first Nobel prize for physics in 1901 for his discovery of X-rays. Autograph Letter Signed, Dr. W.C. Röntgen, one page, Cadenabbia, March 30, 1909. In German. On his personally imprinted correspondence card to the Court Secretariat of his Royal Highness Prince Alfons of Bavaria. “Enclosed I am sending you … [ Read More ]