Science



Ernest Rutherford letter with Significant Scientific Content

Three page autograph letter signed, penned on two leaves, each 4.5" x 7". Dated "January 8, 1921", and signed by Ernest Rutherfold as "E Rutherfold". Light soil marks, else near fine.

Important letter from Rutherford to Charles Herman Viol requesting information about production of radium, in preparation for a series of lectures he was to deliver at The Royal Institution. From 1921, when he succeeded [J.J.] Thomson, until his death, Rutherford was professor of nature philosophy at the Royal Institution in London, a post that entailed several lectures each year. Rutherford had moved in 1919 from Manchester to Cambridge, where he was director of the Cavendish Laboratory. There he continued his research on radioactive materials. Since 1913 Viol had been director of research at the US Standard Chemical Company, the first successful large-scale producer of radium, and editor of its in-house journal Radium. He was thus in excellent position to respond to Rutherford's request. Rutherford letters with significant scientific content are now rare on the market.

The letter reads, in full:

"I am giving a course of lectures on Radioactivity at the Royal Institution beginning late in February. I shall be obliged if you can give me any general information with regard to the following: 1. Average Ur + Th content of the carnotite used for separation of ra. 2. A rough idea of methods of commercial separations with rough figures of amount of ore, acid, et. To yield one gram Ra. Probably you have published something along these lines. Possibly you could give me some idea of the annual output of Ra for the world & an estimate of the amount so far separated … Also I should be glad of any general information re commercial separation that you may have on hand & do not regard as confidential."

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.

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