Description:

Joseph Lister
[London, England], November 5, 1894
Joseph Lister ALS Seeking Booster For British Institute of Preventive Medicine
ALS
A 3pp autograph letter signed by Dr. Joseph Lister (1827-1912), the renowned British surgeon and germ theorist, as "Joseph Lister" on the third page. November 5, 1894. [12 Park Crescent, Regent's Park, London, England.] On bifold stationery with a black mourning border (Lister's wife, Agnes Symes, Lady Lister, had died 19 months earlier, in April 1893.) With "12, Park Crescent, Portland Place" letterhead. The second and third pages of the letter are displayed at the center of a matted frame, flanked by a high-quality photo reproduction of the first page of Lister's letter on the left, and a black and white photograph of Lister on the right. Expected flattened transmittal folds and isolated mounting traces, else near fine. Not examined out of the frame. The sight size of the letter is approximately 3.875" x 5.875." The overall size of the frame is 22.625" x 11.5" x .875."

Dr. Lister wrote this letter to a correspondent named John Heywood, Esq.; the recipient's full name is unclear but looks like "John Reass Amcarlie Heywood, Esq." A member of the "court" who was interested in science and medicine, Heywood lived along Inverness Terrace, a street in central London sandwiched between Notting Hill and Paddington.

Dr. Lister wrote in full:

"5th Nov 1894

Dear Sir

Mr Robert Barrow, with whom I had some conversation this morning on the question of whether the Drapers' Company would be disposed to give a grant of money to the British Institute of Preventive Medicine, mentioned your name as that of a member of the court likely to take an interest in the matter; and on my asking him whether he thought you would allow me to call upon you to make some explanation of our position, he quite encouraged me to seek an interview with you. I could call at Inverness Terrace either in the morning or the afternoon of Wednesday if you approve of my doing so.

Believe me
sincerely yours

Joseph Lister."

It is clear from Dr. Lister's letter that he was seeking in Mr. Heywood a booster for the British Institute of Preventive Medicine, in either a financial or advisory capacity. The Institute, co-founded by Lister in 1891, was still sorting out financing which would enable them to secure a permanent site. Between 1893-1898, Institute personnel worked out of temporary locations in London and Sudbury. The Institute was renamed the Jenner Institute in 1898, and the Lister Institute in 1903.

In the letter, Dr. Lister identified the Drapers' Company as a source of potential funding. This referred to the Worshipful Company of Drapers, one of the oldest and most prestigious livery companies in London founded in the 14th century. By profession, members of the Drapers' Company were wool and cloth traders, but they evolved into a guild of tremendous civic and political power. The Drapers' Company fostered a long tradition of providing charitable contributions to schools, libraries, and almshouses.

Lord Lister was a veteran researcher of infectious diseases by the 1890s. Known as the "father of modern surgery," Lister had pioneered the study and use of antiseptics by the mid-1860s to reduce the spread of disease and prevent infections. Lister implemented the systematic use of carbolic acid during surgeries (both topically and aerosolized), and insisted that doctors wash their hands, sterilize their instruments, and wear clean garments. These simple changes reduced secondary infections precipitously, and, in conjunction with Louis Pasteur's research into microbiology, laid the foundations for understanding modern germ theory. In addition, Lister is credited with developing new surgical techniques and equipment.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: framed: 22.625" x 11.5" x .875"
  • Medium: ALS

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