| Reference number | EL/L1/22 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter, from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to Henry Oldenburg, dated at Delft |
| Creator | Leeuwenhoek; Antoni van (1632-1723); tradesman and microscopist |
| Date | 9 October 1676 |
| Description | Signed autograph
Discovery of five different 'animalcules' (micro-organisms - one possibly bacteria) in pepper-infused water and carries out experiments with rain-, well-, moat-, sea-, and river-water, and infusions of various spices; an account of the structure of a peppercorn, wheat, ginger; whether or not there are organisms in the air
Four figures in the margin (particles of pepper grain and in ginger-water)
Partial translation by Oldenburg see EL/L1/23
Transcribed and translated in 'Alle de brieven van Antoni van Leeuwenhoek', edited, illustrated and annotated by Committee of Dutch Scientists, vol 2, p 61
For summary see 'The correspondence of Henry Oldenburg', ed and trans by A Rupert Hall & Marie Boas Hall, vol 13, p 82
Partial translation printed in 'Philosophical Transactions', vol 12, no 133, p 821
B&W negative, first page only, Box N101. IM/005317 |
| Language | Dutch |
| Extent | 18p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| Place origin | Delft, South Holland, (United Provinces) Netherlands |
| Origin coordinates | 52.00667, 4.35556 |
| Digital images | View item on Science in the Making |
| Access status | Open |
| Related material | DOI: 10.1098/rstl.1677.0003 |
| Related records in the catalogue | IM/005317 |
| EL/L1/23 |
| URL description | Also available on Early Modern Letters Online |
| URL | http://emlo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/profile/work/25acf81d-8e2f-4317-b7ca-d5fb4e4e2124 |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | Name | Dates |
| NA8001 | Oldenburg; Henry (c1619 - 1677); scientific correspondent | c1619 - 1677 |
| NA8438 | van Leeuwenhoek; Antoni (1632 - 1723); tradesman and microscopist | 1632 - 1723 |