German mathematician (1845-1918) who created set theory, which has become a fundamental theory in mathematics. Cantor established the importance of one-to-one correspondence between the members of two sets, defined infinite and well-ordered sets, and proved that the real numbers are more numerous than the natural numbers. ALS in German, one page both sides, 4.25 x 7.25, April 14, 1894. Handwritten letter to important French mathematician Charles-Ange Laisant, promoting his idea of an International Congress of Mathematicians at the earliest known date. Charles-Ange Laisant (1841-1920), was a French mathematician and politician. In 1888, he served as President of the Société Mathématique de France. In part (translated): "It is with great pleasure that I have read your letter, and I am glad that the idea of the International Congress of Mathematicians is sure to be actively backed by you. I hope to have, in a not too remote future, the honour to salute you in person. In the spring 1884, the first time (and up to now, unfortunately, the only one) I went to Paris for 8 days, I met with only four colleagues mathematicians at their place: Mr. Charles Hermite, whom I had already met at C. F. Gauss centenary celebrations in 1877, and Messrs. Appell, Picard and Poincaré, whom I met for the first time on that occasion. Speaking of scientific correspondence, I was also in contact with Mr. Valson in Lyon, Mr. Barthélémy St. Hilaire, Mr. Jules Simon, Mr. Charles de Freycinet and the late Mr. Adolphe Franck, who passed away one year ago. Perhaps you will find the opportunity to friendly remind one or several of them of me, and ask them, on my behalf, if they would be kind enough to back our idea of an International Congress of Mathematicians." A French translation has been penned on the adjoining sheet in the hand of mathematician Émile Lemoine, a common friend of Cantor and Laisant. In fine condition.
Cantor played a prominent role in establishing the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM). He is credited along with Felix Klein with putting forward the idea of such a congress in the 1890s. This letter, which seems to have remained unknown to Cantor’s biographers, is a stunning testimony to his efforts and sheds a very precious light on the early history of the ICM, three years before the Zurich congress in 1897. The mentions of Poincaré, Hermite, and Picard in this letter are quite striking and significant.
In his biography of Cantor, Joseph W. Dauben writes: 'The earliest reference I have found to Cantor’s efforts in promoting the idea of an international congress is a letter to Vassilief dated July 4, 1894.' He then goes on: 'See also letters to Laisant of April 25, 1895 [and] September 22, 1895.' The references he gives for these letters are Cantor’s letter-book, now part of the collection of the Akademie der Wissenschaften. Cantor’s letter to Laisant of 25 April 1895 is not included in the very few Cantor’s letters known to have been kept by Laisant, and we are not aware of any reference anywhere to the original document, which seems to have been lost. The present letter seems to have remained completely unknown until today.
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