PORTIER (Paul). - Lot 249

PORTIER (Paul). Bar-sur-Seine, 1866 – Paris, 1962. French zoologist and marine biologist. Autograph card signed “P. Portier,” addressed to a friend. Bar-sur-Seine, undated. 2 pages, in-12 format. A charming greeting card, written in a tone that is both friendly and witty, sent from Bar-sur-Seine, where Portier was staying for a few days. The author expresses his New Year’s wishes before mentioning a recent encounter in Paris, humorously recalling the circumstances of a lecture given at the Schola Cantorum, which was attended by several colleagues. The tone then becomes lighthearted and slightly mocking, as Portier revisits a far-fetched comparison made by the lecturer between pterodactyls and the composer Ambroise Thomas—a comparison he deems “offensive to biologists,” not without irony. This quip attests to the scholar’s sharp wit and quick repartee. This document is interesting for its personal and lighthearted tone, revealing an intimate side of a major scientist of the early 20th century. A collaborator of Charles Richet, Paul Portier participated in research on anaphylaxis and conducted important work on marine biology, notably at the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco.