Lot 246

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Virchow Rudolf

Rudolf Virchow, "Father of Modern Pathology," Signed Carte de Visite Taken by Germany's Imperial Court Photographers

 

4.25" x 6.5" black and white Reichard & Lindner carte de visite signed by German scientist Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902) as "Rudolf Virchow" at bottom, taken in Berlin, Germany, ca. 1876. A bust portrait depicting the doctor in 3/4 profile looking left, the photograph is impressed "1876" in the lower right corner. A few stray marks, otherwise in near fine condition, with beautifully preserved and fully intact company label verso. Stamped "Autograph collection of Dr. Max Thorek, Chicago" verso.

 

Reichard & Lindner were official German imperial court photographers active during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. The firm photographed German and British royalty, aristocrats, and celebrities. Among their more famous photographs are post-mortem portraits of Kaisers Frederick III and Wilhelm I, along with multiple likenesses of Wilhelm II in military regalia.

 

Rudolf Virchow's reputation as one of Germany's leading physicians also granted him access to German royalty. The doctor, research scientist, public health advocate, and writer made groundbreaking discoveries in the fields of modern pathology and cellular biology. Virchow was one of the first scientists to theorize about the causes of cancer and the transmission of parasitic diseases, although he notably did not believe in evolution or germ theory.

 

Virchow published over 2,000 papers exploring scientific topics alone. Around the time this photograph was taken, in 1876, Virchow had just published his Contributions to the Physical Anthropology of Germans, a treatise examining prehistoric skull characteristics, and was hard at work standardizing medical autopsy procedure.

 

This carte de visite came from the Autograph Collection of Dr. Max Thorek (1880-1960), a Hungarian-American doctor, surgeon, and co-founder of a still-operating Chicago hospital. In addition to his medical interests, Thorek was an amateur photographer and autograph collector.

 

Ex Dr. Max Thorek

 

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