FLEMING ALEXANDER: (1881-1955) Scottish biologist, Nobel Prize winner for Physiology or Medicine, 1945. T.L.S., Alexander Fleming, one page, 4to, Paddington, London, 24th April 1950, to Dr. I. Geikie-Cobb, on the printed stationery of The Wright-Fleming Institute of Microbiology at St. Mary´s Hospital Medical School. Fleming states that his correspondent´s letter was waiting for him on his return from America, and continues to inform Geikie-Cobb, ´I am not prepared to give copyright to the publishers. I have no intention of publishing it elsewhere except possibly it may appear in some series of collected works at a future date. If they are not prepared to accept it under these conditions, I shall have much pleasure in returning the cheque.´ Together with a retained carbon typed copy of Geikie-Cobb´s letter of reply to Fleming, signed with his initials I G-C, one page, n.p. (London), 26th April 1950, stating, in part, ´Perhaps I might explain that all the publishers wanted was a guarantee that no copyright was being infringed in your article. I gather publishers are always nervous that some other firm may hold copyright, and that by publishing material they mind find themselves in difficulties later. I have seen Messrs. Harrap this afternoon and they are quite agreeable to your suggestion that you retain the copyright and give them permission to use the article on the understanding that by doing so they are not infringing copyright held by other people´. Two file holes to the left edge of each letter, and a few minor, light creases, otherwise VG, 2

Ivo Geikie-Cobb (1887-1953) Physician, author and journalist who wrote numerous works that dealt with medicine and disease, as well as publishing (the pseudonym Anthony Weymouth) seven mystery novels with a medico-scientific interest that featured his series detective, Inspector Treadgold of Scotland Yard.