Description:

Francis Crick Virtually Unobtainable Handwritten Manuscript with Mathematical Calculations, 4 Years After Nobel Prize Win for Discovery of DNA Structure

A double-sided single leaf of blue-ruled notepaper entirely engrossed by Francis Crick (1916-2004), the British molecular biologist who co-discovered the double-helical physical structure of DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid. Dated "Thursday 7th July 1966". The notes consist of over 22 lines of text and nearly 75 words in addition to three mathematical calculations. Minor edge darkening and scattered foxing. Else near fine. 6.75" x 9". Provenance: Francis Crick Estate Sale, Heritage Auctions, April 2013.

The notes were retrieved from a nautical logbook stored in Crick's Bertram powerboat, the "Eye of Heaven", and relate to a Mediterranean sailing voyage undertaken by the Cricks during the summer of 1966. (They left Bari, Italy in late June and ended their cruise through the Greek islands in Piraeus, Greece.) Crick's notations relate to activities from that day, ex: "stopped for swim + lunch in bay" to ship-related expenses, ex: "Had mechanic pound new bolt etc to fix for alternator. He also tightened both sides - 200 D!" Crick's calculations pertain to fuel consumption over time dependent on boat speed.

This log entry gives us a new perspective on the serious Crick, who had been co-awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology just four years earlier, in 1962. Crick was honored along with collaborators James D. Watson and Maurice Wilkins. Watson and Crick produced their groundbreaking academic paper entitled "Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acid: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid" in 1953, paving the way for future genetics research.

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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June 24, 2020 10:30 AM EDT
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University Archives

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