HENRY THOMPSON - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 02/11/1874 - HFSID 44438
Sale Price $295.00
Reg. $360.00
HENRY THOMPSON
British royal surgeon Henry Thompson wrote this decidedly un-medical
letter about the ingredients for a dish in 1874. Thompson contributed the idea
of octaves to gastronomy.
Autograph letter signed "H T.". Blue ink notations on verso in
unknown hand. 1 page, 4½x7, 1 sheet folded. Feb 11, 1874. In part:
"Salpicon en cuisine is a mixture of fowl or game or fish, cut
into little squares with truffles, foie gras or mushrooms."
Thompson (1820-1904, born in Framlingham, Suffolk, Great Britain) paid
the rent as a surgeon and urologist. His patients included Queen Victoria,
Leopold I and II of Belgium and Napoleon III. But Thompson was a polymath
with achievements in many fields, introducing the idea of "octaves" (eight
guests served eight carefully-selected courses at eight o'clock) into gastronomy
and writing two novels. He was also an amateur painter and astronomer. Thompson
also founded the Cremation Society of Great Britain and contributed to
removing legal obstacles to this funeral practice. He was knighted in 1867
and made a baron in 1899. Lightly toned and creased. Handwriting, but not
signature, is lightly smeared in places, but legible. Ink transference, which
touches handwriting but not signature. Folded in quarters and unfolded.
Otherwise in fine condition.
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