Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 66

The Manuscript, Space, Stamp & Collectibles Auction

Scientists and Engineers

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 210		Carver, George Washington (1864 - 1943) African American botanist who developed 100 products from peanuts, and created alternatives to growing cotton in the South. Scarce Autograph Letter Signed ("G.W. Carver") as Director of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute…For the Training of Colored Young Men and Women," 1 page, 11 x 8½ inches, on school stationery, Tuskegee, Alabama, Feb. 25 (19)35. Sending thanks for a letter from future Rabbi Louis Wolsey, who was a student at George School. Carver tells him how much he enjoyed his visit to the school and how pleased he was to meet the teachers and student body. Fine. Estimated Value $500 - 600 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 211		Darwin, Charles (1809-82) English naturalist; best known for his theory of natural selection, published in On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection (1859). Manuscript Letter Signed, two pages, 8 x 5 inches, on stationery engraved "Down, Beckenham, Kent. Railway Station / Orpincton. S.E.R.," May 3, 1875. To an unidentified correspondent, with important content on animal rights. Light scattered foxing, else fine. In full: "I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your circular of Ap. 30. I am sorry to say that the state of my health renders it impossible for me to attend the meeting on May 5th. I regret this, as I am very anxious that some legislative measure should be passed, serving to protect animals from needless suffering, & at the same time not interfering with the progress of the science of Physiology, which I am convinced, from the analogy of all other sciences, will ultimately confer the highest benefits on mankind. Sir your obedient servant Charles Darwin." In 1871, Darwin had given his opinion on vivisection to British zoologist Ray Lankester: "… I quite agree that it is justifiable for real investigations on physiology; but not for mere damnable and detestable curiosity. It is a subject which makes me sick with horror, so I will not say another word about it, else I shall not sleep to-night." The legislative measure which Darwin hoped for and promoted was passed in 1876. The Cruelty to Animals Act was the first law specifically aimed at regulating animal testing. It stipulated that researchers would be prosecuted for cruelty unless they conformed to its provisions, that is, experiments involving the infliction of pain upon animals could be conducted only when "the proposed experiments are absolutely necessary for the due instruction of the persons [so they may go on to use the instruction] to save or prolong human life." Additionally, the animal must be anesthetised during the experiment, used only once, and killed as soon as the study was over. Estimated Value $35,000 - 40,000 View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 212		Darwin, Charles, Autograph Letter Signed ("C. Darwin"), one page, 5¾ x 5½ inches, Down House, Kent, Apr. 14, n.y. To an unidentified correspondent, probably his publisher, John Murray. "Many thanks for the advertisement. I am much pleased that you are content with the title…." Darwin was one of the most influencial figures in history. Estimated Value $6,000 - 8,000 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 213		Herschel, Sir John Frederick William (1792-1871) Astronomer, chemist, and contributor to the science of optics and photography. Two Autograph Letters Signed: (1) four pages, Sept. 24, 1849, to Scotttish poet and dramatist Joanna Baillie (1762-1851) regarding her poem "Ahalya Baee," which was published in 1849 and subsequently republished as "Allahabad" in 1904. "Ahalya Baee…has delighted us exceedngly…tale of a jewel of woman & a queen tried sorely both by good and evil…delightful to see your poetical powers still so fresh & so fluent…." (2) Nov. 10, 1869 to an unidentified woman, "Both Lady Herschel and myself think you will like to see the mention of our son John in the next edition of my "Astronomy"…and show that the spirit of astronomy is not yet extinct in the family…[.He] worked very hard at that eclipse of 1868…." Estimated Value $600 - 800 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 214		Humboldt, Alexander, Baron von ((1769-1859) German naturalist, traveler, and statesman; considered the founder of physical geography, climatology, and ecology; patron of Liebig, Agassiz, and other scientists. His Kosmos contributed to the popularization of science. Autograph Quote Signed ("Alexander v. Humboldt"), 4 x 6 inches, Aug. 6, 1850. In German, untranslated. At the end he wrote "(Steppen und Wüsten Mai 1807)". Von Humboldt gave a lecture titled "Über die Steppen und Wüsten" at the Prussian Academy of Sciences in 1807, which he incorporated into his 1808 book Ansichten der Natur. Estimated Value $250 - 300 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $480
Lot 215		Kinsey, Alfred C (1894-1956) American biologist who founded the Institute for Sex Research at Indiana University. Typed Letter Signed, 1 page, 11 x 8½ inches, Bloomington, January 5, 1954. Sending his autograph and thanking the collector for his interest in "our research on Human Sex Behavior." Signed as " Professor of Zoology.". Estimated Value $250 - 300 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 216		Watson, James D (1928 -) American molecular biologist, geneticist, and zoologist; he co-discovered the structure of DNA with Francis Crick in 1953. Along with Maurice Wilkins, they won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Book Signed on the title page,9¼ x 6¼ inches, n.p., n.d. Watson edited and wrote the commentary of the book: Darwin: The Indelible Stamp. The Evolution of An Idea, Philadelphia, London: Running Press, 2005. Minor edge wear to dust jacket, else fine. Estimated Value $250 - 300 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $336