Search Results: Science & Medicine from Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts, ABAA

Auto safety pioneer long before Ralph Nader popularized the topic in "Unsafe at Any Speed," this University of Minnesota mechanical engineering professor (1931-63) patented the first retractable safety seat belt in 1963 and the "black box" flight recorder in 1960; he also improved hydraulic bumpers, dashboards and collapsible steering columns. ANS, 1p, heavy stock 6¼" X 3¼", n.p., 1971 July 23. Near fine. Penned boldly in blue ballpoint. Nice note thanking an admirer and "enclosing the last publication before retirement." Closes off with a true crusader's salutation: "Please carry the program forward." A quite uncommon autograph.

This American physiologist is best known for having co-discovered a better laughing gas. ALS, 1p, 5" X 6½", Wurzburg, Bavaria, 1925 April 14. Addressed to Maxine Huebner. Very good. Minor mounting traces on verso. Gracious note thanking an Iowa school teacher for "the honor done me by your class..." Unusual.

This pioneering American physician, considered the father of neurology, was also a psychiatrist and bestselling writer and poet. Secretarial ALS, 2pp (lettersheet), 5" X 8", Philadelphia, PA, 1898 August 11. Addressed to Edward Peterson. Near fine. On his "S. Weir Mitchell, M.D." letterhead, Mitchell's secretary pens a letter on his behalf. In part: "Dr Mitchell has forwarded me some letters for reply as he is always out of the City at this time of the year. He strongly advises you to choose the University of Pennsylvania from which to get your degree. He is one of the Trustees of that institution. During the Civil War he was on duty at the Christian St Hospital." Appears to be signed "MBC. / sec'y." With original envelope. An interesting curiosity.

This popular Scottish physician and essayist gained more reknown as a man of letters than a man of medicine, though he did become a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1847; friend of Thackeray and Twain, he collected his essays into "Rab and His Friends" (1859), "Marjorie Fleming" (1863) and "John Leech and Other Papers" (1882), though he's mainly remembered for the 3-volume "Horae Subsecivae" ("Leisure Hours," 1859). ANS, 1p, 3 3/4" X 6¼", Edinburgh, Scotland, 1878 February 27. Addressed to Alice L. Williams. Near fine. Faint mounting traces on verso. Gracious brief note, apparently to an admirer: "I am with much pleasure & thanks Yrs truly...." boldly penned in brown ink.

Mercury 7 and Apollo 14 astronaut and moonwalker, the first American to travel in space (1961). IPS, 7 ¼" X 9", n.p., n.y. Near fine. Black and white magazine photograph trimmed from the May 19, 1961 "Life" magazine profile. Candid closeup of Shepard gazing with left hand to forehead, boldly signed and inscribed by him in purple ballpoint in a white area at lower right: "To Donald Burnell / Alan B. Shepard Jr." Just a magazine portrait, but an interesting example from the height of his fame.

This American physician shared the 1954 Nobel Prize in medicine for his work on the polio vaccine with John F. Enders and Frederick C. Robbins. Bold signature (plus "MD") in blue ballpoint on a heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1967 July 2. Fine. With original envelope.

This American physicist and educator founded MIT's Radiation Laboratory in 1940; he served as president of the California Institute of Technology (1946-69) and as presidential science advisor under Truman and Nixon. Bold full signature in black fineline, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, Laguna Hills, CA, 1978 August 2. Fine. At lower left, DuBridge has neatly inkstamped his name/address -- as he has on the original envelope, which is present.

This American biochemist shared the 1959 Nobel Prize in medicine for discovering "the mechanisms in the biological synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)." Small but bold signature in black fineline, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1967 July 4. Near fine. With original envelope.

This noted American chemist shared the 1972 Nobel Prize in chemistry for his work on enzyme ribonuclease. Bold "Best regards" and full signature in blue ballpoint, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1977 November 8. Fine. With original envelope. A superb example.

The second wife (married 1951) of the microbiologist who won the Nobel Prize in 1954 for cultivating polio viruses in tissue culture was, according to one biographer, "a constant source of support, participating socially and scientifically in the subsequent events of her husband's life." Printed color Christmas card, heavy stock 7¼" X 5" (closed), n.p., n.y. Near fine. Printed front cover depicts a watercolor New England fishing village scene, while inside panel bears a printed "Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" and "Doctor and Mrs. John F. Enders" printed in red. On the blank panel above this, she boldly pens "Warm greetings to you both / Carol and John Enders" in blue in. Although not noted, the recipient of this Christmas card was Basil O'Connor (1892-1972), FDR's well-known law partner. Interesting connection: The March of Dimes was founded by polio victim Franklin D. Roosevelt and O'Connor, and raised many… Read More

German chemist and educator who shared the 1973 Nobel Prize in chemistry for research on organometallic compounds. Bold signature in blue ballpoint, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1989 February 18. Near fine. With original envelope.

This South African surgeon entered the history books when on December 3, 1967, he performed the first human heart transplant on Louis Washkansky. Large bold signature in blue fineline, 5 3/4" X 1½", n.p., n.y. Fine. Usual hurried scrawl -- whaddya expect from an M.D.?

This influential self-taught mathematician authored mathematical textbooks and also published and edited the "Mathematical Visitor" (1877-94) and "Mathematical Magazine" (1882-1913); after 1885 he was associated with the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Handsome large signature in brown ink, heavy stock 3 3/4" X 2¼" card, n.p., n.y. Near fine. Choice, handsome example.

American pediatrician and virologist whose success in isolating and growing the polio virus earned him the 1954 Nobel Prize in medicine. Full signature in blue ballpoint, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1967 July 5. Near fine. With original envelope.

This Irish-born pioneer horticulturist and pomologist became owner of the largest nursery in the United States; he edited the influential "Genessee Farmer" (1844-52) and in 1851 published his important "Treatise on the Fruit Garden." Clipped "Sincerely yours / P. Barry" penned large and bold in brown ink, 3" X 1¼" (tipped to heavy card), n.p., n.y. Very good. An attractive example from this horticultural giant.

This distinguished Civil War surgeon was an influential physiologist and authored a number of important works in the field ("A Treatise on Human Physiology" 1861, "The Experimental Method of Medicine" 1882, "Topographical Anatomy of the Brain" 1885, others) -- but is often remembered as the first full-time physiology professor in the U.S.; his discoveries about the brain earned him the nickname "America's first experimental neurophysiologist"; among various high-level academic appoints, in 1884 he was named president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Scarce "Yours truly / JC Dalton" large and bold in thick black ink on a 3 3/4" X 1½" slip, n.p., n.y. Very good. Mild dampstaining affects some letters ("truly," "JC D"), but not offensively; clearly clipped from a letter, as a number of words in his hand ("report on deeds / for the College profs / The Quarterly") visible on verso beneath light… Read More

One of the very first female American psychologists, Martin was denied admission by the University of Bonn because of her sex (they bestowed an honorary degree on her later); she authored a dozen books ("Salvaging Old Age" 1930, "Sweeping the Cobwebs" 1933, etc.), taught at Stanford University and headed a mental health clinic in San Francisco that pioneered the treatment of the elderly and children. Large, bold full signature in black ink on a heavy stock 5½" X 3¼" penny postcard, n.p., n.y. [postal cancellation from San Francisco on 31 January 1934]. Addressed to Arnold F. Gates (19143-93, noted Lincoln and Civil War scholar). Near fine. Faintly age toned. A seldom seen signature.

American physicist and chemist whose research on molecular orbital theory -- what holds molecules together -- earned him the 1966 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Bold signature and date (1967 December 16) on a heavy stock 6" X 4" card, n.p., n.y. [pencilled date on verso 10 August 1983]. Fine. Rather uncommon.

German-born Canadian chemist awarded the 1977 Nobel Prize for chemistry for his molecular studies. Bold signature, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1987 July 6. Fine. With original envelope.

English-born American chemist and educator awarded the 1979 Nobel Prize in chemistry for his research on organoboranes. Large and bold signature in black fineline, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1987 July 10. Fine. With original envelope.