Wrote letter of 1712-04-12 (AB 293) to Members of the Royal Society
Standard reference information The original manuscript on five quarto pages, written and signed by Leeuwenhoek, is preserved at the Royal Society (MS. 2087. L 4. 44). A separate sheet had 3 figures in red chalk.
Leeuwenhoek's summary Leeuwenhoek's self-publications are the source for the summaries of his 165 letters self-published and thus self-numbered letters. This letter was not among them.
Of the letters from April 4, 1702 (AB 237) through June 10, 1712 (AB 294), those letters with scientific observations, including this one, were all addressed to members of the Royal Society and almost all of them were excerpted in Philosophical Transactions .
Reception in London The letter was read during the meeting of the Royal Society on June 12, 1712 O.S. (Royal Society, Journal Book Original , vol. II, p. 298).
A practically complete English translation by John Chamberlayne was published with 3 figures in no. 336 of Philosophical Transactions for October, November and December 1712, pp. 518-522.
The manuscript of this translation on four folio pages is preserved in London at the Royal Society (MS 2096, L.4.45).
Specimens and methods Observations on the stucture of the genitalia of a female elephant.
On the keratinized parts of the epidermis of an elephant.
Publication history Related sources, especially Philosophical Transactions, and first editions only of Leeuwenhoek's volumes of letters. For later editions see Related events under Learn more.
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