Albrecht Theodor Middeldorpf
Breslau, Kingdom of Prussia, May 3, 1868
Prussian Surgeon Albrecht Theodor Middeldorpf ALS Dated 3 Months Before His Death
ALS

A 1p autograph letter in German signed by brilliant Prussian surgeon Albrecht Theodor Middeldorpf (1824-1868), as "Cousin Albrecht" at lower right. May 3, 1868. Breslau, Kingdom of Prussia (present day Wroclaw, Poland.) Inscribed on laid watermarked paper, probably once bifold, but now expertly sheared along the left edge. With one contemporaneous edit, the addition of a few words on line 6. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds, and a former collector's partially erased pencil annotation at lower left. Else near fine. 5" x 8". Accompanied by a complete English translation.

Albrecht Theodor Middeldorpf wrote this pleasant letter to his cousin Hugo, commissioning the purchase of a dozen men's and women's gloves in dark colors. Sadly, just three months later, in late July 1868, Middeldorpf would be dead at age 44.

Translated in full:

"Breslau 3 May 1868

Dear Hugo!

You were so very kind and amicable to offer me the gloves that I do not hesitate to ask you for a dozen of colored or darker gloves for Gertrud and myself, according to the samples (but not white or yellow ones.) For me they should be larger by a little finger around the wrist. The address is: Martius Lingerstrasse 15. I would have written to you long ago, but I was out of town. I received the [illegible], and I thank you cordially. Please, be kind enough to let me know my debt which goes up every day. With best wishes to you and your family, I am, as always, your faithful friend and admirer

Cousin Albrecht."

During his brief but trailblazing medical career, Middeldorpf became a surgical authority on the process of galvanocautery, the application of electricity to cauterize wounds to stymie bleeding and infection. Middeldorpf wrote extensively about his methods, both before and after he became a full professor and medical clinic director.

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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  • Dimensions: 5" x 8"
  • Medium: ALS

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