Signed First Day Cover.
This Canadian-American chemist-inventor and author is credited with a wide range of inventions; he held 58 U.S. patents and 450 foreign patents, among them a microcrystalline cellulose for pharmaceutical use and a microcrystalline collagen. Item #28905
Signed First Day Cover, 6½" X 3½", cancelled in Cincinnati, Ohio on November 10, 1972 with "First Day of Issue" noted. Fine. FDC for the 8-cent "Pharmacy" stamp. No decorative cachet at left; no distracting recipient's name/address present. Much of the front side, except for the stamp and cancellation, is filled with a typed biographical statement about Battista, as follows: "The Battista boy liked the idea of writing letters to tell major corporations how to improve their products. In the 1930's, he told a chewing gum company it should coat the sticks with starch so they couldn't stick to the paper in hot weather. In 1955 while working on an idea to make a better rayon tire cord to compete with nylon, he came up with a water suspension of cellulose crystals. 'The resulting product is still "revolutionary"', Battista said. He stayed at Princeton until 1970, and in those days came up with a micro-crystalline collagen. This led to the creation of the Avitene hemostat, which uses collagen, and is now used in every operating room across the nation." Below this, on the cover's lower margin, the scientist boldly inscribes and signs in black ballpoint: "Wishing Paul Johnston every / success / Orlando A. Battista / 10/31/79." Attractive and most unusual.
Price: $75.00