Penicillum Notatum Presentation Sample

FLEMING, Alexander (1881–1955). Presentation penicillin mold sample. [ With: ] Autograph letter signed (“Alexander Fleming”) to Russell Wilkinson, 2 September 1945; plus four other letters and receipt from St. Mary’s hospital. [ With: ] Photograph of Fleming signed (“With love Alexander Fleming”). [ With: ] Later ephemera. “If we can solve that problem [penicillin therapy] it will the use of penicillin to innumerable minor ailments which, although they do not kill, are the source of an immense amount of trouble and loss of manpower.” (Alexander Fleming letter to Russell Wilkinson in this lot.) Rare sample of penicillium , plus a 1945 letter by Fleming speculating on its further uses. Also present is a small archive documenting the donations to St. Mary’s Hospital Inoculation Department and the present sample’s later exhibition. In the summer of 1945, in conjunction with St. Mary’s Hospital’s centenary celebrations, royal physician Sir Russell Wilkinson presented a donation of £4000 from an anonymous benefactor to the Hospital’s Inoculation Department. He also received a donation of £1000 to present to the Medical Research Council for research into “the products of moulds and bacteria”. Present are Wilkinson’s copy letters to Fleming and Arthur Landsborough Thomson, Fleming’s ALS to Wilkinson thanking him for enclosing “the extraordinary gift of your anonymous donor”, the official receipt from St. Mary’s and covering letter from House Governor W. Parker and Landsborough Thomson’s TLS reply. This sample was shown in the University of Oxford’s Penicillin 50 exhibition mounted at the Bodleian Library in Spring 1991. The exhibition marked the 50th anniversary of the successful development of penicillin. An exhibition catalogue and leaflet are included as well as a promotional booklet from exhibition contributor Glaxo Laboratories Limited. Penicillium notatum culture (approx. 17mm diameter) on paper within glass dish (50mm diameter); red tape around edge. Loose on wooden stand with plexiglass cover (allover 95 × 82 × 82mm). [ With: ] COSTER, Howard (1885–1959). Portrait of Alexander Fleming. Gelatin silver print (170 × 197mm) mounted on card (200 × 70mm). Inscribed in ink: “To Russell Wilkinson / with love/ Alexander Fleming”. (Light surface stains). [ With: ] Autograph letter signed (“Alexander Fleming”) to Russell Wilkinson, 2 September 1945. Two pages on one leaf (77 × 114mm). (Horizontal center fold, paper-clip stain in upper margin). Plus four typed letters and receipt. [ With: ] Three pieces of University of Oxford Penicillin 50 exhibition ephemera.

Estimate:£9,062.41

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