ANATOMIST

['The Father of British Physiology': William Sharpey, Professor at University College, London.] Autograph Signature on engraved ticket to his lecture on ‘Anatomy & Physiology’, made out for the microscopist Bernard Piffard.

Author: 
William Sharpey (1802-1880), Scottish anatomist and phyisologist ('the father of British physiology''), friend of Charles Darwin [Bernard Piffard (1833-1916), entomologist]
Sharpey
Publication details: 
University College, London. The ticket is 'Renewed 1st Octr. 1861 Perpetual 1 Jany 1852 Session 1861-62.'
£100.00
Sharpey

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. From the Piffard papers. Signed ‘W Sharpey’ on ticket engraved in copperplate on one side of 15 x 10.5 cm card. In fair condition, a little worn and somewhat discoloured with age, and with short vertical crease to the left of the signature. Blind-stamped with ‘Treasury Seal’. The signature is at bottom right, with number of ticket (59) and the initials of the secretary ‘’ at bottom left. Attractively laid out, with text reading ‘University College, London. / Anatomy and Physiology. / William Sharpey, MD. / Professor. / Admit Mr.

[George Viner Ellis (1812-1900), Professor of Anatomy at University College, London.] Autograph Signature on engraved ticket to his University College lecture on ‘Anatomy & Practical Anatomy’, made out for the microscopist Bernard Piffard.

Author: 
George Viner Ellis (1812-1900), Professor of Anatomy at University College, London [Bernard Piffard (1833-1916), microscopist]
George Viner Ellis
Publication details: 
University College, London. The ticket is 'Renewed 1st Octr. 1861 Perpetual 1 Jany 1852 Session 1861-62.'
£50.00
George Viner Ellis

See his entry in Plarr’s Lives ('in his day [...] one of the ruling spirits of the world of anatomy in this country') and obituary in the British Medical Journal, 5 May 1900 ('almost the last of the older race of great teachers'). Signed ‘G. V. Ellis’ on ticket engraved in copperplate on one side of 15.5 x 10.5 cm card. In fair condition, a little worn and discoloured with age. Blind-stamped with ‘Treasury Seal’. The signature is at bottom right, with number of ticket (61) and the initials of the secretary ‘’ at bottom left.

[Sir Henry Wade, urologist, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.] Five Typed Letters Signed: four to Waterston and one to his doctor (regarding treatment for suspected bowel cancer), with reminiscences and discussing homeopathy.

Author: 
Sir Henry Wade, urologist, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh [David Waterston (1871-1942), Bute Professor of Anatomy, University of St Andrews, debunker of Piltdown Man hoax]
Publication details: 
The five letters from 1940, and all on letterhead of 6 Manor Place Edinburgh.
£250.00

Wade donated his extensive collection of anatomical specimens to Surgeon's Hall in Edinburgh, where it is now known as the Henry Wade Collection. In 1913 Waterston had attained prominence as the first authority to discredit the Piltdown Man hoax. A total of 6pp, 8vo. The first addressed to Waterston’s doctor at St Andrews, Orr, the others to Waterston himself. None of the letters is short, and all but the second are single-spaced. The first (to Waterston’s doctor, Orr) is 2pp, the others (all four to Waterston himself) 1p. In fair condition, lightly aged and ruckled.

[Sir Humphry Davy Rolleston, English physician and medical author.] Autograph Note Signed, thanking ‘Waterston’ [Professor David Waterston of St Andrews] for ‘the reprint of the article on Mackenzie’s heart’.

Author: 
Sir Humphry Davy Rolleston (1862-1944), prominent English physician and medical author [Professor David Waterston (1871-1942) of St Andrews, anatomist; Piltdown Man hoax]
Publication details: 
16 September 1939. On letterhead of Martins, Haslemere, Surrey.
£50.00

See Rolleston's entry in the Oxford DNB. He was successively president of the London Medical Society, the Royal Society of Medicine, the Royal College of Physicians and the Eugenics Society, and was also Physician-in-Ordinary to King George V. Waterston was Bute Professor of Anatomy at the University of St Andrews from 1914 to 1942. In 1913, while Professor of Anatomy at King's College, London, he was the first authority to debunk the Piltdown Man hoax. 1p, 16mo. Lightly ruckled, and with the ink of the letter having run a little through removal from mount; otherwise in good condition.

[J. C. B. Grant [John Charles Boileau Grant], Scottish-Canadian anatomist, ('Grant's Dissector’).] Two Autograph Letters Signed to Professor David Waterston of St Andrews, with news of colleagues and reminiscences of University of Edinburgh.

Author: 
J. C. B. Grant [John Charles Boileau Grant] (1886-1973) Scottish-Canadian anatomist, author of 'Grant's Dissector' [Professor David Waterston (1871-1942) of St Andrews; Piltdown Man hoax]
Publication details: 
20 June 1933. and 17 November 1940. Both on letterhead of the University of Toronto Department of Medicine.
£150.00

Grant, who was Chair of Anatomy at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine from 1930 to 1956, is best known for his textbook ‘Grant’s Dissector’, now in its sixteenth edition and used all over the world by medical students. Waterston was Bute Professor of Anatomy at the University of St Andrews from 1914 to 1942. In 1913, while Professor of Anatomy at King's College, London, he was the first authority to debunk the Piltdown Man hoax. Both letters are in good condition, lightly aged and folded for postage. Both signed ‘J C B Grant’. ONE (20 June 1939): 3pp, 4to.

[Surgeon who treated Napoleon’s hemorrhoids: Guillaume Dupuytren, French anatomist.] Autograph Signature (‘B Gull Dupuytren’), as ‘premier Chirurgien du Roi’, to deposition on behalf of his pupil William Edmund Image; attested by Barthélémy Guiton.

Author: 
Guillaume Dupuytren (1777-1835), anatomist, ‘premier Chirurgien du Roi’ who treated Napoleon Bonaparte's hemorrhoids; Barthélémy Guiton (1764-1833) [William Edmund Image (1807-1903), philatelist]
Publication details: 
4 July 1829; Paris.
£220.00

1p, 4o. On watermarked laid paper. In fair condition, with slight wear and chipping; folded twice. Two manuscript endorsements on reverse, which also carries minor traces of previous mounting. In fairness to Dupuytren, his finest achievement is not operating on Napoleon’s hemorrhoids, but the description and first successful operation on what is now known as Dupuytren's contracture. Image lived with Dupuytren while studying medicine in Paris. Signed in untidy medical hand: ‘Paris le 4 juil: 1829 | B Gull Dupuytren’.

[Malcolm Flemyng, Scottish physiologist and medical author.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Malcolm Flemyng') [to his London publisher John Nourse], ordering books, discussing his 'Lectures', and requesting news of a 'Discovery' by William Hunter.

Author: 
Malcolm Flemyng (c.1700-1764), Scottish physiologist and medical author [John Nourse (1705-1780), London scientific bookseller and publisher; William Hunter (1718-1783), anatomist]
Publication details: 
Caistor [Lincolnshire]; 23 April 1758.
£500.00

The recipient of the present letter is not named, but it is the scientific bookseller and publisher John Nourse (1705-1780), who the following year would published the 'Lectures' referred to in the letter: 'An Introduction to Physiology, being A Course of Lectures upon The most important Parts of the Animal Oeconomy', 'Printed for J. Nourse at the Lamb opposite Katherine-Street in the Strand.

[Richard Porson, Regius Professor of Greek at Cambridge.] Autograph jeu d'esprit by Porson, purporting to be a letter from John Villette, Ordinary of Newgate, to Sir Busick Harwood, Professor of Anatomy at Cambridge. With leaf of autograph Latin text

Author: 
Richard Porson (1759-1808), Regius Professor of Greek at Cambridge [Rev. John Villette (c.1749-1799), Ordinary of Newgate Prison; Sir Busick Harwood (c.1750-1814), Professor of Anatomy at Cambridge]
Publication details: 
Letter dated from Newgate Street, 21 March 1787. Latin text without place or date.
£450.00

Two items. ONE: Ostensible letter from John Villette, Ordinary of Newgate, to Sir Busick Harwood, Professor of Anatomy at Cambridge. Like Porson, Villette was a Cambridge man (St John's, BA 1771). He was Ordinary of Newgate between 1774 and 1799, the position being a lucrative one, and Porson's satire would in part appear to be directed against his cupidity in attempting to make money out of the cadaver of an executed man.

[ Charles Sedgwick Minot, American anatomist. ] Autograph Letter Signed to Alexander Ramsay (editor of the 'Scientific Roll'), giving details of plans for an 'International Congress' (regarding psychical research?).

Author: 
Charles Sedgwick Minot (1852-1914), American anatomist at the Harvard Medical School and founding member of the American Society for Psychical Research [ Alexander Ramsay, editor, 'Scientific Roll' ]
Publication details: 
25 Mount Vernon Street, Boston, Massachusetts. 29 September 1884.
£650.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. The letter would appear to relate to the formation of the American Society for Psychical Research. Six days before the writing of the present letter, on 23 September 1884, Minot had been a member of a committee of nine scientists who met at Boston to consider the advisability of the formation of a society for psychical research in America, William James being another member.

[ Sir William Henry Flower, anatomist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W. H. Flower') to 'Miss Buchanan'

Author: 
Sir William Henry Flower (1831-1899), anatomist and surgeon, Director of the Natural History Museum, London
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London. 13 April 1896.
£56.00

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-creased paper, with traces of glue from mount at head of second page. Annotated at head in a contemporary hand. If mention of his name 'can in any way help you for the Welsh University or for any other post, by all means use it'. Regarding the 'next years cataloguing', plans are only in consideration, 'with the preparation of the estimates at end of the summer'. He explains that in the previous year these were 'framed by Dr. Smith', and that her application 'came just too late'.

Autograph Letter Signed to Holden.

Author: 
Edward Stanley (1792-1862), FRS, English surgeon [Luther Holden (1815-1905), surgeon and anatomist]
Publication details: 
5 December [1855]; Brook Street, London.
£125.00

12mo, 3 pp. Bifolium with mourning border. Fair, on aged paper, with one dog-eared corner. Is concerned that, considering the labour and cost of Holden's 'very handsome volume on the Bones' (presumably his 'Human Osteology', 1855), he should have 'deemed it necessary' to present him with a copy. He cherishes Holden's friendship, and hopes he will be 'richly rewarded for all you have bestowed on the work'.

Autograph Letter Signed to Dawson [William] Turner (1815-85), philanthropist and educational writer.

Author: 
Sir William Turner (1832-1916), anatomist and Principal of Edinburgh University
Publication details: 
Thursday' [no date]; on letterhead of the University of Edinburgh.
£56.00

Two pages, 12mo. Aged, grubby and creased, with closed tear repaired with archival tape. 'The second plate arrived too late unfortunately for the April number of the Journal as we had to print off at the end of the week.' He is busy with examinations and does not finish till the Monday, but 'would like much to see your work'. Signed 'W Turner'.

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