By Bonhams….
Nobel Prize medal awarded to George Minot, with diploma and other related materials
The Nobel Prize medal awarded to George Minot in 1934 for his pioneering work on the treatment of pernicious anemia is to be sold at Bonhams History of Science and Technology Sale in New York on September 21. It is estimated at US$200,000-300,000.
Minot (1885–1950) and his fellow scientists William. P. Murphy and George. H. Whipple won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for their work in the study of anemia. Minot and Whipple discovered that pernicious anemia could be treated effectively with liver, which is rich in vitamin B12. Further work confirmed B12 as a vital compound in the development of the treatment.
Minot came from a medical family. His father was a physician and one of his great-grandfathers, James Jackson, co-founded Massachusetts General Hospital. His home in Brookline, Massachusetts is designated a National Historic Landmark.
Bonhams Director of the History of Science Cassandra Hatton said:
“Nobel Prize awards represent the summit of human endeavor and it always creates great excitement among collectors when a medal comes up for sale. George Minot’s work has saved and improved countless lives over many decades. It is interesting to note that Minot himself suffered from diabetes and had it not been for the discovery of insulin by earlier Nobel Prize winners in the 1920s he would almost certainly not have lived to make his own important contribution to the lives of others.”
The medal is being sold with the Nobel Diploma and other related materials.
About Bonhams
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street and Knightsbridge; and a further three in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to www.bonhams.com.
