Alexander Fleming (1881-1955). Scottish bacteriologist who discovered penicillin (1928), Nobel Prize for Medicine (1945). Good Content Autograph Letter Signed, "Alec. Fleming", 2½ pages, octavo, Toronto, Canada, July 7, 1945, on hotel letterhead to Ethel. A fine letter written in a light tone relating events on his whirlwind tour of the U.S. and Canada after winning the Nobel Prize.

Winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1945, in 1928, while working on influenza virus, Fleming observed that mould had developed accidentally on a staphylococcus culture plate and that the mould had created a bacteria-free circle around itself. He was inspired to further experiment and he found that a mould culture prevented growth of staphylococci, even when diluted 800 times. He named the active substance penicillin.

This letter was signed on inside of second leaf. Partly erased red pencil notations on front, slight ink smears on verso, otherwise, fine. $1,650. (#11050)