Sir William Osler (1849-1919). Osler was one of the most, if not the most, influential physicians in history. He was born in Canada, educated at McGill University and held distinguished positions at Penn and Johns Hopkins before he became Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford.He was a brilliant clinician and educator and a prolific contributor to the medical literature. One of his greatest but least known accomplishments was his contribution to establishing the modern American residency training system while he was a member of the 'Big Four' in medicine at Hopkins (other members of that group were Halstead, Kelley and Welch) By establishing a period of formal training for aspiring young physicians. Abrahem Flexner and the physician greats at Hopkins helped lift American Medicine out of thre 'apprentice' system for training physicians and thus helped make American medicine what is now admired as the gold standard for the world:excellence begins with rigorous training. Osler signed material is very rare and signed photos of him are virtually unobtainable. This offering is an ALS on octavo stationery with the Regius Professor of Medicine, Oxford heading and dated 1907. The letter reads in part, "Dear Bowditch, we leave for Cornwall on Thursday next-a week from today-could you come here for lunch-I should be so sorry to miss you.Do try to arrange it. Wm Osler." The letter is in superb condition. There is an unobtrusive transverse mailing fold and the paper shows normal aging. Price: $OLD