science

SIR HUMPHRY DAVY  —  NOTES THE DANGERS OF MERCURY POISONING AND HIS ’VAIN’ ATTEMPT AT FLY-FISHING

DAVY, SIR HUMPHRY.  (1778-1829).  British chemist, best known for his experiments in electrochemistry and for his invention of the miner’s safety lamp.  Good Autograph Letter Signed, “H. Davy”.  Four pages, octavo.  “Monday”.  Fine condition.  To “My dear Lord [Holland]”. 

A MOST INTERESTING COLLECTION OF CONGRATULATORY LETTERS UPON A TESTIMONIAL DINNER FOR AMBROSE SWASEY, A LEADING SCIENTIST AND INVENTOR THAT INCLUDES LETTERS FROM ORVILLE WRIGHT AND THOMAS EDISON AND MANY MORE OF THE LEADING SCIENTIFIC / INDUSTRIAL MINDS OF THE EARLY 20^TH CENTURY

ORVILLE WRIGHT —  Typed Letter Singed, “Orville Wright,” on his name-imprinted letter head. One page, quarto.  May 12, 1929.

THOMAS EDISON —  Typed Letter Signed, “Thos. A Edison,” on his name-imprinted “From the Laboratory of” stationery. One page, octavo. May 6, 1926.

HUDSON MAXIM:  “A MOMENT WHEN THE WORLD IS TEETERING ON THE RIM AND VERGE OF … HELL.”

MAXIM, HUDSON (1853-1927) U.S. inventor and chemist who invented a range of explosives, including a high power smokeless gunpowder. The book: Capitalism vs. Bolshevism by George L. Walker Inscribed on front free endpaper: “To my friend Dr. W.R. Whitney with great regards and all best wishes for Christmas 1919 – a moment when the world is teetering on the rim and verge of … hell…”

OPPENHEIMER TO LILIENTHAL  —   HIS BOOK: THE FLYING TRAPESE: THREE CRISES FOR THE PHYSICIST – INTIMATELY INSCRIBED:  “WITH AN OLD, CONSTANT AND GRATEFUL LOVE,  ROBERT”.   

OPPENHEIMER, ROBERT J.  (1904 –1967)  American theoretical physicist; director of the Los Alamos Laboratory during World War II; credited as the “father of the atomic bomb” for his role in the Manhattan Project, the research and development project that was responsible for the first nuclear weapons.   His book:  The Flying Trapeze: Three Crises for the Physicist. 1964, Oxford University Press, London. Red cloth covered boards.  Octavo, 65 pages. Very fine condition.  Inscribed on half title page: “with an old, constant and grateful love,  Robert”.  

THE NOTED ASTRONOMER, HERSCHEL, REVEALS THAT: “I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE IN THE USE OF MICROSCOPES”

HERSCHEL, SIR JOHN FREDERICK WILLIAM. (1792-1871). British mathematician, astronomer, and inventor; known for his discoveries related to the moons of Saturn and Uranus and for his pioneering work in early photographic processes, including coining the word ‘photography’ itself;   President of the Royal Astronomical Society.  Scarce Autograph Letter Signed “J. F. W. Herschel”. One page, octavo. No place, no date.

SCARCE ALS OF THE DEVELOPER OF THE BUNSEN BURNER ~~ A NAME KNOWN TO EVERY STUDENT WHO HAS EVER TAKEN A CHEMISTY CLASS!

BUNSEN, ROBERT WILHELM.  (1811-99).  German chemist; discovered the elements cesium and rubidium;  developed the laboratory burner that now bears his name. Scarce Autograph Letter Signed, “R.W. Bunsen”, in German.  Two pages, octavo.  Heidelberg, November 14, 1852.  Very fine condition.

A FASCINATING LOOK INTO THE LESIURE AND SAILING ACTIVITIES OF LORD KELVIN

THOMSON, WILLIAM. (1824-1906). First Baron Kelvin; Irish and British mathematical physicist and engineer from which we get the Kelvin measure.  Uncommon and lengthy, Autograph Letter Signed “William Thomson” on black bordered The Athenaeum impressed stationery.  Eleven very full pages, octavo. [No place], May 10, 1871.