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FLEMING AND THE DISCOVERY OF PENICILLIN. FLEMING, ALEXANDER. 1881-1955. Presentation copies of 4 offprints regarding the development of Penicillin. image 1
FLEMING AND THE DISCOVERY OF PENICILLIN. FLEMING, ALEXANDER. 1881-1955. Presentation copies of 4 offprints regarding the development of Penicillin. image 2
The Medical and Franklin Library of Dr. William von Valtier
Lot 33

FLEMING AND THE DISCOVERY OF PENICILLIN.
FLEMING, ALEXANDER. 1881-1955.
Presentation copies of 4 offprints regarding the development of Penicillin.

22 June 2023, 12:00 EDT
New York

Sold for US$15,360 inc. premium

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FLEMING AND THE DISCOVERY OF PENICILLIN.

FLEMING, ALEXANDER. 1881-1955. Presentation copies of 4 offprints regarding the development of Penicillin.
1. "On the Antibacterial Action of Cultures of a Penicillium...." Reprinted from The British Journal of Experimental Pathology, 1929, Vol X, p 226. London: [1944]. 4to. 12 pp. Stapled self-wrappers. Inscribed "With compliments, Alexander Fleming" at upper left corner of wrapper. Minor staining.
PRESENTATION COPY OF FLEMING'S LIMITED ISSUE OF 250 COPIES.
2. "Streptococcal Meningitis Treated With Penicillin...." Reprinted from The Lancet, Oct. 9, 1943. London: 1943. 8vo. Sewn self-wrappers. Inscribed "With cmpls, Alexander Fleming" at upper left corner of wrapper. Minor staining.
3. "Penicillin. The Robert Campbell Oration." Reprinted from The Ulster Medical Journal, November 1944. Small 4to. 12 pp (numbered 3-15). Stapled printed wrappers. Inscribed "With cmpls, Alexander Fleming" at upper left of front wrapper. Rust staining from staples.
4. "Micro-Methods of Estimating Penicillin in Blood Serum and Other Body Fluids." Reprinted from The Lancet, November 11, 1944. 8vo. 14 pp. Sewn self-wrappers. Inscribed "With cmpls, Alexander Fleming" at upper left of front wrapper.
WITH: Les Prix Nobel en 1945. Stockholm: P.A. Norstedt, 1947. Small 4to. Publisher's printed wrappers titled in red. Light chipping and browning to wrappers.
AND WITH: The British Journal of Experimental Pathology, Volume X, No 3, June 1929. Facsimile printed in 1979. Small 4to. Red printed wrappers.

Fleming's discovery of the antibacterial properties of penicillin is one of the most sensational in medical history. Fleming himself would say of it, "When I woke up just after dawn on September 28, 1928, I certainly didn't plan to revolutionise all medicine by discovering the world's first antibiotic, or bacteria killer. But I suppose that was exactly what I did." The first offprint of his 1929 paper is nearly unobtainable, and the 2nd issue (item #1) scarce in its own right. Garrison-Morton-Norman 1933. Heirs of Hippocrates 2320. Norman 798; PMM 420a.

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