Roentgen Wilhelm Conrad

Wilhelm Röntgen, Discover of X-Rays, Recommends Graduate Student

1p autograph letter in German signed by physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (1845-1923) as "W.C. Röntgen" at center. Written at Weilheim, Röntgen's country estate in Bavaria, Germany, on May 27, 1921. On a pale green lettercard with orange lettering. Bearing two cancelled German stamps postmarked from Weilheim on May 29, 1921. A central mailing fold and isolated adhesive residue from the lettercard seal along the right edge, else near fine. Accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity from Andreas Weimer Historical Autographs (Kelkheim, Germany) dated September 2, 2018. A transcript in German can be seen in the photos. 5" x 6.5".

Röntgen addressed this letter to a Dr. Stenzl, who had written him on the 18th requesting a letter of recommendation for Röntgen's former student, Rudolf Schuegraf. Dr. Stenzl wrote on behalf of Boehringer Ingleheim, a pharmaceutical company established in 1885 and headquartered in Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany (still in operation today!). In his response, Röntgen confirmed that Schuegraf had completed an internship at his Institute.

Röntgen's discovery of a new type of electromagnetic radiation that he called X-rays (also referred to as Röntgen rays) in 1895 revolutionized the practice of medicine. Using only vacuum tubes, electricity, and barium platinocyanide, a luminescent substance, Röntgen documented that X-rays existed, and proved that he could use those rays to "to see" through objects. (The first X-ray print Röntgen took was of his wife's hand.) His essay "On a New Kind of Rays" published in December 1895 shared his findings with an astonished world. Röntgen was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!