[Leeuwenhoek, Antoine van.] “Vervolg der brieven &c. Suite des lettres de M. Leeuwenhoek a la Societe Royale de Londres, 1688.” Jean Le Clerc and Jean Cornande de al Crose, Bibliotheque Universelle et Historique de l'annee M.D.C. LXXXVIII, Amsterdam; Wolfgang, Waesberge, Boom, & van Someren. 1689. Volume 11. (first edition?), including October-December 1688; 5.5”x3”; (vi), (xIV), 553, (27), (6)pp. Bound in full vellum. There is a very detailed plate of microscopic drawings in some copies after page 168; this copy does not have the plate and there is no evidence to say it was ever there. This has been observed by others.
The Lueewenhoek references appearing on pp 164-8 includes “Den Waarchtingen Omloop des Bloeds & c. La Vraie Circulationdu sang...” CONDITION: the vellum on this copy is somewhat worn and has a 2” tear through the joint though only affecting the vellum and not the binding itself. GOOD copy only.
A review in French of an installment of the published letters to the Royal Society (in Dutch, at Amsterdam, by Boutesteyn in 1688) of Antoine van Leeuwenhoek. $350
“Leeuwenhoek made his most important discovery early in his scientific career, in 1674, when he recognized the true nature of microorganisms...conclud(ing) that the moving objects that he saw through his microscope were little animals. He recorded these observations in his diary, and two years later, in a letter of 9 October 1676, communicated them to the Royal Society, where they caused a sensation...Leeuwenhoek subsequently described, in about thirty letters to the Royal Society, many specific forms of microorganisms, including bacteria, protozoa, and rotifers, as his incidental discovery of ciliate reproduction...It was through letters—more than 300 of them, written to private scientists and amateurs in both Holland and other countries—that Leeuwenhoek made his work known... he was indebted to the Royal Society of London for the publication of his views, and 190 of his letters are addressed to that body.”--Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography, online, Leeuwenhoek section.
On the Bibliotheque: “Like its great rival, Pierre Bayle’s Nouvelles de la re´publique des lettres, it [the Bibliotheque.] was a source of information and means of communication for members of the nascent Republic of Letters. It was also one of the remote ancestors of the modern academic journal, though much less specialised than most of its successors.”J.R. Milton, “Locke's Publications in the Bibliothèque Universelle et Historique”, British Journal for the History of Philosophy, 05/2011, Volume 19, Issue 3__+__ Editors and contributors included: Jean Le Clerc et Jean Cornande de al Crose, vols 1-9; Jean Le Clerc, 10, 12, 14-19; Jean Cornand de La Crose, vol 11; Charles le Cene and Jean Le Clerc, vol 13; Jacques Bernard and Jean Le Clerc, vol 20; Jacques Bernard, vols 24-5. The journal was published every 4 months in vols 1-3; every 3 in 4-19, and then twice a year for 20-25.
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