Science, Medicine and Technology

Autograph Letter Signed to Sir H[enry]. T[rueman]. Wood[, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts].

Author: 
Rev. Hugh John Dukinfield Astley
Publication details: 
10 June 1913; on crested letterhead 'THE VICARAGE, | EAST RUDHAM.'
£28.00

British archaeologist, anthropologist and numismatist (1856-1930). Two pages, 12mo. Very good. Docketed and bearing R.S.A. stamp. He is forwarding a cheque for his subscription of two guineas. 'My wife & I hope to be present at the Conversazione on the 17th., but I am hardly ever able to get to a meeting. | Do you think an architectural or archaeological Paper wd. be out of place on some evening?' Signed 'H. J. Dukinfield Astley'.

Autograph Letter Signed [to the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts].

Author: 
Engineer-Captain William Richard Apps
Publication details: 
18 April 1914; 'The Hawthorns, | Bishop's Waltham, | Hants.'
£28.00

British military and naval architect (1862-1947). One page, quarto. Very good. Docketed and bearing R.S.A. stamp. He has not answered sooner as he 'has been away from home'. 'I thank you for the matter supplied & I regret that at present I am unable to put myself forward for election but trust that should circumstances permit me to do so at some future time I may then receive the kindly consideration of the Council.' Signed 'W. R. Apps'.

Typed Letter Signed to W. Perry, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Cecil Henry Desch
Publication details: 
2 February 1937; on letterhead (including map of environs) of the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex.
£45.00

Eminent British metallurgist (1874-1958). One page, quarto. Very good. 'I should have been pleased to take the chair at Professor Bragg's Lecture, but I have already undertaken to preside at a similar lecture by Professor Bragg [...] and to have the same Chairman on both occasions, the lectures dealing with the same subjects, would suggest that Metallurgy is very poorly represented in London. Would it be possible to get Sir Harold Carpenter to take the chair? I am sure that you will have a good Meeting, as Professor Bragg's lectures are always exceedingly interesting.' Signed 'C. H.

Two Autograph Letters Signed and one Typed Letter Signed to [K. W. Luckhurst,] Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir Gilbert Thomas Morgan
Publication details: 
Typed letter: 11 Oct 1938, on letterhead of the Institute of Brewing; autograph letters: 11 Nov 1938 and 19 March 1939, both on letterhead '12, CATHCART ROAD, | REDCLIFFE GARDENS, | LONDON, S. W. 10.'
£100.00

British research chemist (1872-1940), Mason Professor of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, and author of numerous works. All three items very good; all three docketed and two bearing the Society's stamp. All three signed 'G. T. Morgan'. ITEM ONE (typed letter, one page, quarto, slightly creased, with one pin hole): His 'change of address and the recent crisis have both hindered my reply to your letter'. Would be honoured to be one of the Society's Cantor Lecturers, and suggests as title 'Achievements of British Chemical Industry in the last Twenty-five Years'.

Typed Letter Signed to the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts, together with unsigned carbon copy of the secretary's reply.

Author: 
Captain Basil Rupert Willett [MARCONI; RADAR]
Publication details: 
Letter: 9 July 1947, on letterhead of 'MARCONI'S WIRELESS TELEGRAPH COMPANY LIMITED'; carbon copy: 10 July 1947, no place.
£65.00

Willett (died 1966) and C. E. Horton were the two Royal Navy representatives to whom, in the autumn of 1940, it was demonstrated that the 10cm ground-based, experimental radar equipment could track ships. LETTER (one page, octavo, creased and grubby, with staple holes to one corner, stamped and docketed): Acknowledges a letter of 4 July, and is 'honoured to accept the invitation of the Council of the Royal Society of Arts to seek election as a Fellow of the Society'. Encloses a 'Form of Proposal' and a cheque (neither present) and suggests the setting up of a banker's order.

Two Typed Letters Signed to J. Samson, Assistant Secretary, Royal Society of Arts, together with unsigned carbon copies of three letters from Samson to Morgan.

Author: 
Walter Thomas James Morgan
Publication details: 
Morgan's letters: 31 July 1964 and 20 November 1967, both on Lister Institute letterheads; Samson's carbon copies: 22 July and 5 August 1964 and 31 October 1967, none with place.
£175.00

British biochemist (1900-2003), Director of the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine, London, 1972-5. All five items one page, quarto, and all five very good and stapled together by year. Correspondence for 1964 begins with Samson inviting Morgan to deliver a lecture in the Society's forthcoming session 'on the science and practice of immunology', and giving details of the requirements. Morgan declines, 'as my special studies and experiences have been almost entirely concerned with the more chemical aspects of the subject'.

Typed Letter Signed to the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir James Weir French
Publication details: 
27 July 1919; on letterhead 'ARDOCH HOUSE, | BEARSDEN, | DUMBARTONSHIRE.'
£28.00

British engineer (died 1953). One page, quarto. Very good. Docketed and bearing R.S.A. stamp. Signed 'James Weir French'. 'I should be very pleased to have the opportunity of supporting the Society and I would be glad if you would make the necessary arrangements as you have so kindly offered to do'.

Chromosomes in preinvasive, microinvasive and invasive cervical carcinoma

Author: 
Ingrid Granberg
Publication details: 
Lund, Sweden: 1971.
£25.00

Offprint from Hereditas [68: 165-218 (1971)], the journal of the Scandinavian Association of Geneticists. Pages 165-218, 8vo, with several figures in text. Contains two pages of 'Literature cited'. In stained and spotted printed light-brown wraps, otherwise in good condition. Inscribed at head of front wrap 'Thanks for your reprints and best regards | Ingrid Granberg'.

Typed Letter Signed to G. K. Menzies, [Secretary,] Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Olaf Frederick Bloch [INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY; ILFORD LIMITED]
Publication details: 
30 June 1933; on letterhead of 'ILFORD LIMITED | Manufacturers of Sensitised | Photographic Materials'.
£75.00

Anglo-Danish research chemist (died 1944), a pioneer of infrared photography. One page, quarto. Very good, though a bit grubby and with a few small staple holes. 'Will you kindly thank the Council of the Royal Society of Arts for the honour conferred upon me in awarding to me a silver medal for my paper on Infra-Red Photography.' He will be present at the 'opening meeting of the next session'. Signed 'Olaf Bloch'.

The Importance of Accessory Factors in the Food.

Author: 
Harriette Chick and others.
Publication details: 
HMSO, [1919].
£45.00

Pamphlet, 7pp., cr. 8vo. Sub-title: Some facts concerning nutrition for the guidance of those engaged in administration of food relief to Famine-stricken districts. This pamphlet spreads word of the "new" knowledge about vitamins to a world in recovery from World War 1. One of the authors, Harriette Chick, helped spread the word to Vienna and Eastern Europe between 1919 and 1922. See #1988 for a collection of Harriette Chick publications.

Two Autograph Letters Signed to [Sir Henry Trueman Wood,] the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir John Wolfe Wolfe-Barry
Publication details: 
Letter one: 28 June 1917; letter two: 29 October 1917; both on letterhead 'DELAHAY HOUSE, | 15, CHELSEA EMBANKMENT, | S.W.3.'
£45.00

British railway engineer (1836-1918). Both items very good, and both stamped and docketed, and signed 'J. Wolfe-Barry'. LETTER ONE: one page, octavo. 'I have much pleasure in accepting the Office of Vice President of the Society and shall be glad, as an ex-officio member of the Council to be summoned to its meetings'. LETTER TWO: one page, octavo (landscape). 'I want to propose William Archer Tait D.Sc Civil Engineer for admission to the Royal Sy of Arts. His address is 9 Victoria Street S.W. Please take the necessary steps'.

Note in a secretarial hand Signed to Sir H[enry]. T[rueman]. Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts, together with compliments slip.

Author: 
Sir Benjamin Baker
Publication details: 
The letter, 11 June 1901; the compliments slip 17 June 1901; both on letterhead '2, Queen Square Place, | Queen Anne's Mansions, Westminster, S.W.'
£26.00

English civil engineer (1840-1907), who built the Forth Rail Bridge and worked on the Metropolitan and District Railways of the London Underground. Both items one page, octavo, on grey paper. Both in good condition, stamped and docketed. The note, signed 'B. Baker', reads 'I am sorry to say the Glasgow University Jubilee will prevent me and I have no doubt others from beingn at Marlborough House on the 14th.' The slip reads 'With Sir Benjamin Baker's Compliments.'

Two Typed Letters Signed to [K. W. Luckhurst,] the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir Edward Charles Dodds
Publication details: 
24 October 1938; 30 December 1947; both on letterhead of the Courtauld Institute of Biochemistry, the Middlesex Hospital.
£45.00

English scientist (1899-1973), Professor of Biochemistry at the University of London, and President of the Royal College of Physicians, 1962. Both items one page, 4to, and both good, though creased and with a few small staple holes. First item addressed to 'The Secretary' and second to Luckhurst. Both signed 'E. C. Dodds'. ITEM ONE: He has signed the form and is 'very glad to have an opportunity of being considered for Fellowship by your Council'. Asks whether his subscription is required with the application. ITEM TWO: Requests that 'the necessary forms' be sent to 'Mr.

Autograph Letter Signed to Mrs E(dward) Tootal (Tootal was manufacturer, friend of Stephenson, Fairburn, Nasmyth).

Author: 
Sir Lyon Playfair.
Publication details: 
95, Grosvenor Street, Monday morning, n.d. [c.1858].
£85.00

Scientist, 1818-1898 (DNB).Two pages, 8vo, affixed by margin of verso to mount), accepting an invitation and explaining his delay in replying. "I have this moment arrived from Edinburgh where I have been canvassing for the Chair of Chemistry. This therefore must be my apology for not having replied to your note of invitation of the 26th (?), which was not forwarded to me. I shall have much pleasure in waiting upon you on Friday, unless summoned back to Edinburgh by my canvassing Committee before that time.

Autograph Note Signed to Mrs Christie Miller.

Author: 
Sir Christopher Heath
Publication details: 
25 January 1891; on letterhead 36 Cavendish Square, W.
£50.00

President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (DNB). 1 page, 8vo, in good condition with remains of stub adhering to blank verso. Doctor's handwriting. 'I am quite sure theh bleeding is of no consequence. Please let Geoffrey batter two fingers with the old <?> lotion & put a little bit of cotton wool <?> in the lotion in the end of the finger- - | Yours truly | C. Heath'.

Two Autograph Letters Signed to [F. J.] Epps[, F.G.S.]

Author: 
Sir Philip Manson-Bahr
Publication details: 
The first, 24 May 1951, on letterhead 'THE OLD COTTAGE, | POOTINGS, | NR. EDENBRIDGE, | KENT.'; the second, 3 January 1952, on letterhead '149, HARLEY STREET, W.1. | (MARYLEBONE ROAD END)'.
£80.00

English physician specialising in tropical medicine (1881-1966). Both 1 page, 16mo. Both dusty but in good condition. The first on blue paper the second on light green. In the first letter he says he is 'glad to be able to report that my paper has been written & is now being typed out. It has taken me many hours to do so in order to make it interesting & attractive to the non-medical reader. Whether I have succeeded in doing so I must leave to you to decide.' He says the paper 'should be in your hands by Monday next.

Bookplate "Ex Libris N. Asherson".

Author: 
Mervyn Peake.
Publication details: 
No date.
£55.00

Bookplate, in very good condition, inside front cover of "The Medical Works of Hippocrates" trans. John Chadwick and W.N. Mann (Oxford, 1950), in good condition in chipped and torn dj, label of bookseller at base of inside front cover. From the Library of N[ehemiah] Asherson.

Bookplate "Ex Libris N. Asherson".

Author: 
Mervyn Peake.
Publication details: 
No date.
£55.00

Bookplate, in good condition, inside front cover of "The Fatal Illness of Frederick the Noble" by Sir Morell Mackenzie (London, 1988), good condition, previous owner's initials on front ep, enclosing note from the firnd who gave Asherson the book (Graydon Hume) and another in Asherson's hand describing this gift. From the Library of N[ehemiah] Asherson.

Bookplate "Ex Libris N. Asherson".

Author: 
Mervyn Peake.
Publication details: 
No date.
£55.00

Bookplate, in very good condition, inside front cover of "Disraeli" by the Earl of Cromer (London, 1912), sl. hinge strain, ow. good condition, former owner's inscription and bookseller's label, From the Library of N[ehemiah] Asherson.

Bookplate "Ex Libris N. Asherson".

Author: 
Mervyn Peake.
Publication details: 
No date.
£55.00

Bookplate, in good condition, inside front cover of "Selected Writings of Sir William Osler" (OUP, 1951), mainly good condition in soiledand sl. chipped dj, with one small tear. From the Library of N[ehemiah] Asherson.

Bookplate "Ex Libris N. Asherson".

Author: 
Mervyn Peake.
Publication details: 
No date.
£55.00

Bookplate, in very good condition, inside front cover of "Rats Lice and History" by Hans Zinsser (London, 1935), covers marked but mainly good condition, no dj. From the Library of N[ehemiah] Asherson.

Bookplate "Ex Libris N. Asherson".

Author: 
Mervyn Peake.
Publication details: 
No date.
£55.00

Bookplate, in very good condition, inside front cover of "Lives of the Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of England" by D'Arcy Power and W.R. Le Fanu (London, 1953), mainly good condition, no dj. From the Library of N[ehemiah] Asherson.

Bookplate "Ex Libris N. Asherson".

Author: 
Mervyn Peake.
Publication details: 
No date.
£55.00

Bookplate, in very good condition, inside front cover of "The Physical Background of Perception" by E.D. Adrian (Oxford, 1947), good condition in frayed dj. From the Library of N[ehemiah] Asherson.

Temporary Certificate Exchangeable for Engraved Certificate.

Author: 
[SHARE CERTIFICATE] Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America
Publication details: 
11 July 1912; 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, NEW YORK'.
£35.00

Approximately 8 inches by 11 inches. Printed in red and black. In good condition, but grubby, creased and with some staple and pin holes. Records the Rev. Arthur Robert William Law's holding of ten shares. Signed by the Treasurer and Vice-President, and countersigned by the Transfer Agent. Signed by Law on reverse. Large stamped notice in black ink by The Corporation Trust Company. Margins docketed in pencil.

Autograph Letter Signed to "Mr Macdonald/ 87 Pall Mall".

Author: 
David Wilkie
Publication details: 
12/05/12
£100.00

Painter (1785-1841), two pages, 12mo, bifolitate leaf (damaged (adress intact), staining but text clear and complete. Text as follows: "Dear Macdonald/ I forgot to say yesterday that if you wanted a table for the room you should send to Mr Demoy Duke Street. I beg you will see about the bills at Reynells[?], and let me know what you did about the advertising last night and the night before. Put down in the list of subscribers the name of Samuel Whitbread Esq. 35 Dover Street. Proof. [name and following underlined].

A Darwin Symposium. Darwin, Evolution and Modern Life (The British Society for the History of Science).

Author: 
Charles Darwin (Symposium).
Publication details: 
14/03/59
£50.00

Ephemera relating to this even in the Auditorium of the Wellcome Building, including the Prospectus and application for tickets, one page, 4to; tickets for the Symposium and Buffet Lunch (2); and the Programme (speakers include J.S. Weiner, Asa Briggs, J.M. Thoday, F.E. Zeuner, etc), 4pp., 8vo, brief notes on lectures added by Nehemiah Asherson, Harley Street specialist.

Autograph Letter Signed to Lady Watney [wife of Sir Frank Watney], together historical notes, two tracings and two small photographs.

Author: 
William Byam Lane
Publication details: 
20 July 1937; 39 Eton College Road, Chalk Farm.
£125.00

English writer (1866-1945). The letter is 2 pages, 8vo, and the notes are 9 pages octavo. Neatly written on one side each of eleven matching leaves, all ruled with blue lines. In good condition overall, but with the paper somewhat discoloured, creased and ruckled, and with some rust stains from a paper clip and closed tears. He is sending as promised 'the evidence of the bishop's mitre having come down to us from very ancient times'.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Sir Roderick Impey Murchison
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£25.00

British geologist (1792-1871). Paper dimensions approximately 1 1/4 inches by 4 inches, somewhat discoloured by glue from mounting. Reads ' | Rod I Muchison'. Docketed on reverse.

ALS, 2pp, 16mo, to unnamed correspondent

Author: 
Laurence Parsons, 4th Earl of Rosse (DNB), astronomer
Publication details: 
12 June 1890, on House of Lords paper, with blind stamp scored through and address given as 23 Hans Place, S.W.
£25.00

Gives details of where he is to be found in the coming week ("from 4 to 5 on each of those days at the Athenaeum club, I think at any rate by appointment, or I could call on you at the Temple at 4-15 on one of those days"). With marks and remains of gummed paper on reverse of otherwise-blank second leaf.

Annual Reports.

Author: 
The Edison Swan Electric Company Limited.
Publication details: 
1904-1945
£450.00

In two volumes, folio and 4to respectively (1904-1930 and 1931-1945), black cloth, some wear and tear, hinge strain, but contents in good condition. Two volumes,

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