Description:

Hans Christian Orsted
Copenhagen, Denmark, August 9-14, 1813
Rare Hans Christian Orsted ALS, Mentions His Book & Urges Fellow Scientist To Teach At University of Copenhagen
ALS

A 2pp autograph letter in Danish signed by important Danish physicist Hans Christian Orsted (1777-1851) as "HC Orsted" near the bottom of the second page. August 9-14, 1813. Copenhagen, Denmark. Inscribed overall on laid watermarked bifold paper, with a postscript added to the first page margin on August 14th. An integral address leaf also engrossed by Orsted has been docketed by the recipient. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds. Isolated discoloration from the remnants of a wax seal, and a closed tear corresponding to the seal which does not affect any text. Else very good to near fine. 7.125" x 9." Accompanied by a previous catalog description providing partial translated excerpts and summaries.

Orsted wrote this letter to a friend named Jacobsen. In it, Orsted discusses some of his recent travels to Amsterdam and Bremen. Orsted might thus have been returning from the European sojourn that he embarked upon in 1812. Orsted mentions copies of his book and also the possibility of a book summary being inserted into another book as a preface. The identity of Orsted's "book" can be guessed; it most likely referred to either Orsted's "Videnskaben om Naturens almindelige Love" ["The Science of the General Laws of Nature"] (Copenhagen: Fr. Brummer, 1809), or Orsted's "Ansicht der chemischen Naturgesetze, durch die neuern Entdeckungen gewonnen" ["View of the Chemical Laws of Nature Gained Through Recent Discoveries"] (Berlin: Realschulbuchhandlung, 1812). Also in the letter, Orsted urged his correspondent to consider applying for a vacant anatomy teaching position at the University of Copenhagen, where Orsted had taught since 1806.

Translated in part:

"I have successfully arrived after a very fortunate journey. On the way I was warmly received and was supplied 3 copies of my book for England. He would give me a summary of my book in the preface of the translation of Cloisoni (?). In Amsterdam I got to know a Professor Krineway (?) who seemed to be admired in all parts of social science… what really makes me write to you today is that I have to draw your attention to the fact that Scheller (?) travels to Norway and that there will be a position vacant in anatomy at the university… I feel that one uses two formalities against the quality of being a good anatomist. One of them consists of the fact that somebody would rather have a doctor's hat even though it is sitting on an empty head rather than a head without that hat. The other objection is… you could easily get the hat and I even think that when you translate one of these into Latin. Among the two things the hat is naturally the main thing. The other thing is of course in your power… we strongly need you here…"

Orsted's contributions to the field of electromagnetism are well-documented, but his voracious scientific curiosity about the world also led him to discover aluminum, extract and map chemicals, develop equipment, and articulate the concept of thought experiments, to name just a few.

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: 7.125" x 9"
  • Medium: ALS

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