BIOLOGY

Two pages, 12mo, fold marks, good condition, text clear and complete. My first lecture I published in May last 'On the Classification & Geographical Distribution of Mammalia" | 8vo Parker's, Strand. | The matter of the other three lectures will appear in a work on fossil Mammalia in the Press (Murray) [presumably "Summary of the succession in time and geographical distribution of recent and fossil Mammalia " (1859)]

1p., 16mo. In good condition, lightly aged and spotted. Since she is going away, he considers it 'safer' to return the 'Oedipus', which has given him great pleasure. He hopes she will enjoy her 'Freshwater outing', and that 'we may remain above the horizon to welcome your return to town'. The Freshfields were a noted family of solicitors, with strong connections with the Bank of England.

Three pieces of Victorian educational and scientific ephemera, and nice pieces of provincial printing. All three items nearly fine. ONE: 'APPLICATION for the Biological Chair of the "University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire."' Dated from Calthorpe Road on 17 August 1883, and addressed to 'IVOR JAMES, Esq. | Registrar, | University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire.' 1p., 4to. On bifolium.

8vo: 1 p. Good, laid down on the reverse of the front free endpaper of a copy of Andre Maurois's 'The Life of Sir Alexander Fleming' (London, 2nd imp., 1959). Reads 'Thank you very much. We would be delighted to be with you on Nov 12th. I think all is well with me now & I am off to Edinburgh on Monday. | Yours sincerely | [signed] Alec. Fleming'. The context is explained on pp. 265-6 of the book. 'In October 1953 he was due to make a speech at the opening of 'Les Journees Medicales' in Nice. Two days before the appointed date, he woke up with a high fever. He himself diagnosed pneumonia.

One page, 12mo, good condition. He acknowledges receipt of a letter from Crow [identified through this letter being with a batch of letters addressed to him] "et des deux publications que vous avez bien voulu m'envoyer et qui sont intéressantes pour moi. | Je vous ai envoyé hier le 2me Memoire sur le Volvox | Vous recevez prochainement le 3me Mémoire qui traite de l'outogénèse de la blastea volvocéenne."

2pp., 8vo, bifolium, some creasing, small closed tear, text clear and complete. He has just been able to read Crow's article 'the primitive forms of life' which he found interesting. But he declines to publish it because the length does not conform to their standard of 10 pages (being 20 pages).

Total of five letters, total 5pp., 8vo (4) and 12mo (1), small amount of chipping and staining, texts clear and complete. (1928) He acknowledges receipt of "Symmetry in Organisms" which he read with 'pleasure & profit'; (March 1929) He acknowldges recipt of 'Principles of Morphology' which he found particularly interesting "because I am writing the section on the subject in my 'History of Biology'"; (April 1929) "I am delighted to sign your application for teh Royal Society of Medicine. I fear you will find it rather expensive.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. The name of the addressee is indistinct, and appears to be 'S. Algernon'. The letter reads: 'Dear Sir | I regret that I am unable to give the Lecture you ask for. I really have no business to undertake any kind of public speaking & except in very special circumstances, I keep out of it'.

3pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper, on two leaves pinned together. He begins: 'I am sending herewith living specimens from Eagle Pond, Epping Forest, of a species of Volvox without protoplasmic connections between the cells. If you have not had it before you will no doubt be interested. If you have, I should be glad if you could tell me what you think it ought to be called. It is evidently close, if not identical, with V. Monona Gilb. Smith recorded by Pearsall as British from the Lake Dist. But it may also be V. tertius Meyer (cf.

Three pages, 12mo, minor defects, text clear and complete. I fear I quite forgot to send you the names of the books on 'fungi', and now I have not got them with me. But as the messenger is going up to Christiania I am sending you some rather crude pictures, which may be of some use pending the arrival of better books which I shall recommend shortly. | But for heaven's sake be careful! Some are so poisonous that no doctor can be of any use.

8vo, 90 pp. Stitched and unbound. 3328 priced items. Text clear and complete. On aged paper.

On piece of grey paper 1.5 x 10 cms. Good. Reads '[in another hand] Yours faithfully, | [signed] P. Geddes'. Good firm signature, slightly overlapping lower loop of the central 'f' in 'faithfully'.

English naturalist (1813-85) and author on scientific matters. Four pages, 12mo. Very good if a touch grubby. One minor instance of smudging. Forbes would appear to be a close relative, as Carpenter says he has sent letters to Forbes' mother. 'I have nothing to tell you in addition of our doings previously to our arrival. Herbert has written to you, I find, of our stay here and the Castle hospitalities.' He hopes 'that the changes at the Mint may bring you some advancement. I limit my hopes to a Senior Clerkship'.