Ramsay, William (Nobel Prize) - Autograph letter signed "argon passes thr. iron"

Description

Ramsay, William (1852-1916) - Important autograph letter signed “… argon passes through iron”
Scottish chemist who discovered the noble gases and received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1904.
Autograph letter signed “W. Ramsay”. Written on a postcard, 3.5 x 5.5 inch, Paris, 1895 April 2. In full: “Dear Sir, Thanks for your letter. I have had my eye on Gratams observation for some time, but have had no time to repeat it. Your letter will bring me to this scratch; & it may prove a good means of separation. My impression is that argon passes through iron, but it is not proved. I think I lost a lot in using iron tubar; & I have always intended to repeat it & to use platinum, but I have not had time as yet. There is too much to do. Believe me.” Card is addressed on verso in Ramsay’s hand to “Anshby Esq. Grammar School”. Two folds, handling and corner wear, mounting residue on verso, else good condition. On the evening of 19 April 1894 Ramsay attended a lecture given by Lord Rayleigh. Rayleigh had noticed a discrepancy between the density of nitrogen made by chemical synthesis and nitrogen isolated from the air by removal of the other known components. After a short conversation he and Ramsay decided to investigate this. In August Ramsay told Rayleigh he had isolated a new, heavy component of air, which did not appear to have any chemical reactivity. He named this inert gas "argon". A handwritten letter mentioning argon is of great rarity.
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