Lot 174
Pasteur, Louis -- Autograph Letter Signed (1822-1895) Microbiologist and chemist renowned for his discoveries of the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation and pasteurization. Autograph letter signed with his initials, "L.P.," one page, in French, 8 x 5", no place, no date (c. 1865-1870). Pasteur writes to "My dear Maillot" (Eugène Maillot, 1841-89), who entered Pasteur's lab as an associate researcher in 1865, when Pasteur was asked to go to the south of France to discover the cause of and to eradicate a disease which was decimating the silk-worm industry. Pasteur spent five years working on the problem and succeeded in steming the disease, which was caused by a mushroom, Nosema bombycis. Maillot dedicated a book he published in 1885, "Lessons on the Mulberry Silk Worm," to Pasteur.
Pasteur's letter is hurriedly written and difficult to read, but it begins by instructing Maillot, "Look in Claude Bernard for the chemical facts…." Claude Bernard (1813-78) was a physiologist who, along with Pasteur, was a pioneer in establishing the scientific method--using blind experiments to ensure the objectivity of the experiment. Fine condition. Written in pencil. "To Maillot" is written in another hand at lower edge. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500
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| Realized $719 |
