Science & Medicine from Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts, ABAA

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… Read more about this item

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… Read more about this item

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.

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… Read more about this item

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"… Read more about this item

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… Read more about this item

This English physicist served as first director of the Jodrell Bank Observatory from 1945 to 1980; he developed the world's first radio telescope -- the Lovell Telescope -- and his development of radio astronomy earned him knighthood in 1961. Signed FDC, 6½" X 3½", cancelled in Washington, DC on 23 April 1973 and with "First Day of Issue" boldly… Read more about this item

This ecology pioneer was an American biologist who became an influential environmentalist through bestselling books such as the 1971 "The Closing Circle"; his activism led him to found the Citizens Party in 1980 and run for U.S. President. Signed FDC, 6½" X 3½", cancelled in San Clemente, CA, on 28 October 1970 and with "First Day of Issue" boldly… Read more about this item

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… Read more about this item

This Hungarian-born American surgeon is famed for his reconstruction techniques, many still used today, and he writes of his versatile medical career inn the 1943 memoir "A Surgeon's World"; in 1935 in Geneva he founded the International College of Surgeons, and in 1954 he founded the International Museum of Surgical Science; a respected amateur photographer, he penned "Creative Camera… Read more about this item

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 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.

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… Read more about this item

Anyone who has studied botany knows the co-author (with Donald Anderson) of the 1939 classic "Plant Physiology: A Textbook for Colleges," an influential text; one of the outstanding plant physiologists and educators in the field, he edited the "American Journal of Botany" from 1946 to 1951. Signed First Day Cover, 6½" X 3½", cancelled in Seattle, Washington on 23… Read more about this item

English organic chemist who shared the 1969 Nobel Price in chemistry for discovering and researching conformational analysis. Large, bold signature in black fineline, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1983 September 10. Fine. With original envelope.

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.

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.

This New York scientist was not the first to satisfy the late 19th century obsession with liquifying air (thus creating perpetual motion), but he invented a liquid air machine that sought to make it practical and sought practical applications, touring the United States to demonstrate it. Large, bold, handsome signature and "New York / Liquid Air" in brown ink,… Read more about this item

This physicist served as the second director of the National Bureau of Standards (1923-32), and is highly regarded for his work in standardizing light and temperature scales. TLS, 1p, 8" X 10½", Washington, DC, 1927 November 2. Addressed to Samuel W. Stratton (1861-1931), creator and first director of the Bureau of Standards. Very good. Lightly age toned. On Department… Read more about this item

German-American biochemist and long-time Harvard University educator who shared the 1964 Nobel Price in medicine for his research on how the body produces cholesterol. Bold sloppy signature in blue ballpoint, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1967 May 14. Fine. With original envelope.