Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 52

Manuscript, Collectibles and Aerospace Auction

Scientists

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 195		Becquerel, Henri. "La radio-activité de la matière". In Le Radium (Publication Mensuelle) 1re Année, No. 1. Paris: Paul Dupont, January 1904. Photographic illustrations in text, including portraits of the Curies and Becquerel, and seven figures illustrating Becquerel's text. Original pictorial front wrapper inlaid. The first number of the earliest specialist radium journal, edited by Henri Farjas and containing an abridged version of Becquerel's important paper, "La radio-activité de la matière." It also includes a notice of the Nobel Prize shared by Becquerel and the Curies a few weeks before publication of the journal, a notice of Marie Curie's receipt of the 1903 Prix Osiris, and the famous 1904 photograph of the couple in their laboratory on the rue Lhomond. Additionally, instructions are given on the inside cover ("Avis Important") on how and where to send mineral samples to find out if they contain radium or possibly uranium or polonium. Housed in a custom-made black cloth case with red and gilt label on spine. Estimated Value $3,000 - 4,000. Ex Christies, Oct. 4, 2002, Lot 13. Price realized was $2400. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 196		Lindbergh refers to needles used by Dr. Carrel. Typed letter signed, 1 page, 11 x 8¼", Switzerland, May 24, 1970. To Dr. Charles T. Riall at American Cyanamid Co, referring to Lindbergh's association with Dr. Alexis Carrel (1873-1944), a French surgeon, biologist and eugenicist, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1912, and whose vascular-suturing technique made open-heart surgery and other advances possible. Lindbergh became interested in this area because his sister-in-law had a damaged heart valve and he wanted to ensure her survival. Lindbergh worked with Carrel in the mid-1930s to create the "perfusion pump," which allowed living organs to exist outside of the body during surgery. The two co-authored a book, The Culture of Organs and were pictured with their pump on the June 13, 1938 cover of TIME magazine. Carrel's fascist and Nazi sympathies, as well as his anti-Semitism, are said to have influenced Lindbergh. Carrel was accused of implementing eugenic policies and of collaboration with Vichy France, but he died before he could stand trial. Lindbergh writes, in part: "…the needles you have that were used by Dr. Carrel in performing the first arteriovenous anastomosis for blood transfusion are certainly of great historical value. Since this transfusion took place many years before I first met Dr. Carrel (1929)…I sugget…that you write to…Father Joseph T. Durkin, S.J., Georgetown University…[and] Dr. Theodore I. Malinin, American Foundation for Biological Research….Georgetown University is custodian of the Carrel collection….Shortly after the end of World-War II, Mme. Carrel and I packed in about fifty wooden boxes the records and documents that were in the (closed) Department of Experimental Surgery of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (now the Rockefeller University)….Eventually, Mme. Carrel gave this material to Georgetown University….Father Durkin has written a book about Dr. Carrel….Dr. Malinin knows a great deal about early Carrel operations and techniques…." Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $2,415
Lot 197		Curie, Marie. Pierre Curie (1867-1934) Polish-born physicist and chemist who pioneered the study of radioactivity. She was the first person to win two Nobel prizes, one in 1903 (physics) with her husband Pierre (1859-1906) and Henri Becquerel (1852-1908) and one in 1911 by herself in chemistry. First edition of Pierre Curie, the biography Marie Curie wrote of her late husband, inscribed and signed "To Dr. Livingston Farrand with the best wishes of M. Curie" on the first flyleaf. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1923. First edition in English, precedes the French edition that was issued in 1924.8vo, 242 pp. Translated by Charlotte and Vernon Kellogg. Illustrated with photographs. Includes autobiographical notes of Marie Curie. Cloth covers are a little worn. Housed in a custom-made navy case with leather and gilt spine. Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000. Ex Christies, Oct. 4, 2002, Lot 62. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $5,290
Lot 198		Edison, Thomas A (1847-1931) Prolific inventor. Sepia-toned photograph inscribed and signed, "To Charles Schwartz & Son / Thos A Edison," 10x7", n.p., n.d. Photo by Walter Scott Shinn, N.Y. A waist-length portrait of Edison as an older man. Fine. Estimated Value $800 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $776
Lot 199		Guillotin, Joseph-Ignace (1738-1814) French physician who proposed the use of a beheading machine (1789), called the guillotine after him and associated with the excesses of the French Revolution. Partly-printed document signed ("Guillotin"), 1p, in French, 7½ x 7½ in., Paris, 28 Feb. 1890. Document headed "Free Consultation of the Academy of Medicine of Paris. Session of 28 February 1890." On the left is a column headed "Names of the Academicians called for consultation," with six names listed. On the right is a column with the signatures of the consultants, Guillotin's being at the top of the list. Minor foxing, else fine. Estimated Value $750 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $431
Lot 200		Important Linneaus ALS With Significant Botanic Interest (1707-1778) Swedish botanist. Originator of the systematic classification of plants and animals. The binomial Latin phrases are the essentials of the system named "Linnaean" in his honor. Autograph letter signed ("Car. v. Linne"), 1½pp, 8 x 6¼", Uppsala, January 26, 1770. To Johann Beckmann (1739-1811), Professor of Economics at Gõttingen and author of "Beiträge zur Geschichte der Erlindungen". In Latin with translation. Integral address leaf with armorial wax seal attached. Expert seal tear repair. In part: "…Please give my sincere thanks to Dr. Weiss for his most beautifu opus….Would that he would produce, while I am still alive, the complete work which illustrates so well this very obscure family [of plants]. Please ask the fine man to tell whether or not he is now investigating the twice blooming water flowers and whether this phenomenon results from the decayed particles of the plants….Dr. Weiss very frequently mentions Necker's Floram Gallico Belgicam which I have not heard of…which I greatly desire….You, yourself, likewise make mention of the Phylum [?] of Martyn and the Rock-Lichen of Gruelin…I had not seen or heard of the titles of these books before you wrote me….De Avibus ["About Birds"] is there anyone other than Buffon? You make me aware of one thing--and that is what a remote corner of the world I cling to. At the first opportunity…I shall classify for you, in a letter or a treatise, the Testaceans [Shell fish]. I also see that Hales…History of the Hellebore Plants has been issued in three volumes in folio….I have now seen the development of the Cicadas, a very remarkable work from whch I have learned a great deal." Necker, Martyn, Buffon, and Hales were all important scientists and contemporaries of Linneaus. This is apparently one of only two surviving letters of Linneaus to Beckmann. Estimated Value $7,500 - 10,000. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 201		Lister, Joseph (1827-1912) English surgeon and scientist who promoted sterile surgery. Autograph letter signed ("Lister") on black-bordered mourning stationery, 1p., plus blank integral leaf, 6 x 4", "Portland Place" With holograph transmittal envelope addressed to "Dr. Dean," and postmarked London, Dec. 19, 1901. " I propose to go to Sudbury on Saturday morning by the train that reaches that place at 10. If this suits you will you please let me know and have a cab arranged. " Fine condition. Estimated Value $500 - 700. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $690
Lot 202		Pasteur, Louis (1822-1895) French chemist and microbiologist responsible for some of the most important theoretical concepts and practical applications of modern science. Autograph quotation signed ("L. Pasteur"), on Institut Pasteur letterhead, 1p, in French, 6½ x 4", Paris, Dec. 27, 1892. The four-line quote begins, "Science has no country but every scientist must have one…." Fine; a few nicks to frame. Matted with a portrait of Pasteur and framed to an overall size of 18½ x 19¼ in. With a COA from the late autograph dealer Charles Hamilton on the verso. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $3,335