Lot 253

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Description:

L. Pasteur An Important Scientific Letter With Interest to the Wine Industry.

Pasteur, Louis. Autograph letter signed (“L. Pasteur”), in French, 1 page (8.12 x 5.25 in.; 206 x 133 mm.), Paris, 1 January 1858, on imprinted stationery of the Normal Superior School, to Monsieur Nicklés, professor at the Faculty, Nancy (Meurthe); with the integral address leaf attached together with a related typescript and manuscript.

Pasteur writes in part: "I thank you for your missive. I did not receive your brochure at the same time as your letter, but this is no doubt only a delay of the mails. If this should be an error which deprives me of your work, I would be obliged to you if you would kindly send me another copy. As to the conscientious historical account of the question of fermentation of tartaric acid on the occasion of the new fact announced for scheduling in the last report of the Academy, you can count on it. but I must tell you that as of now, in view of the interest that you take in the question, the fermentation to which I allude in my recent work is only distantly in agreement with the results of yours. Have a little patience. I don’t have the time here to give you the necessary details..." In a postscript, Pasteur has added "…This is a particular and completely new way of fermentation of tartaric acid…"

The typescript of two pages is a commentary on the background of Pasteur’s letter. Nicklés had apparently been concerned by the announcement of a report to be given by Pasteur at the Academy that the results of his own work, dating from 1846, would not be given due consideration. Pasteur reassures him that they will be, but also informs him that his method is different and thus his results are as well. His talk was given on March 29, 1858. The manuscript of seven pages comprises preparatory notes for the typewritten commentary. Pasteur’s studies and experiments with the crystallographic, chemical and optical properties of the tartaric acids laid the basis for modern ideas of stereoisomerism (atoms with identical structural formulas).

Around 1847, Pasteur carried out an impressive series of investigations into the relation between optical activity, crystalline structure, and chemical composition in organic compounds, particularly tartaric and para-tartaric acids. This work focused attention on the relationship between optical activity and life and provided much inspiration and several of the most important techniques for an entirely new approach to the study of chemical structure and composition. In effect, Pasteur opened the way to a consideration of the disposition of atoms in space, and his early memoirs constitute founding documents of stereochemistry. Today, tartaric acid has extensive food and industrial uses, and is obtained from by-products of wine fermentation. 

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August 19, 2020 10:30 AM EDT
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