SCIENTIFIC

[ John George Wood, naturalist and author. ] Autograph Signature ('J. G. Woods') on conclusion of Autograph Letter

Author: 
Rev. J. G. Wood [ John George Wood ] (1827-1889), English naturalist and author
Publication details: 
Date and place not stated.
£30.00

On one side of piece of 13.5 x 8.5 cm piece of paper. Aged and worn. Reads: 'know when I shall have an evening to myself, for in the last fifteen days or so, I have only dined at home twice, and as far as I see, that much of vagrant life seems rather on the increase than otherwise. But the first evening that I have, I will dedicate to you, & give you notice thereof | Best remembrances to your family - | Yours very sincerely | J. G. Wood'. On reverse, in another hand: 'J. G. Wood | the great naturalist'.

[ Thomas William Webb, astronomer. ] Long Autograph Letter Signed ('T. W. Webb.') to Rev. Dr Thomas Dick, on William West's Clifton Observatory, the rings of saturn, and other scientific matters.

Author: 
Thomas William Webb (1806-1885), English astronomer and clergyman [ Rev. Dr Thomas Dick (1774-1857), Scottish science writer; William West (1801-1861), artist and builder of the Clifton Observatory ]
Publication details: 
Tretire [ Herefordshire ]. 5 March 1840.
£400.00

For more information on Webb see his entry in the Oxford DNB. 3pp., 4to. On bifolium. In good condition, with light signs of age. Around ninety lines of closely and neatly written text. Addressed (with postmark and red wax seal of smith at forge) on reverse of second leaf to 'Thomas Dick, Esq. L.L.D., | Broughty Ferry | near Dundee, | Scotland.' A highly interesting and informative letter.

[ Thomas Simpson, English mathematician. ] Autograph Note Signed ('T. Simpson') to the London bookseller John Nourse

Author: 
Thomas Simpson (1710-1761), English mathematician, eponym of Simpson's Rule [ John Nourse of the Strand, London bookseller ]
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£180.00

1p., landscape 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with central spike hole. Addressed on reverse to 'Mr Nourse | Bookseller | in the Strand.' He is sending '10 Copies of Geometry', and asks him to send 'the Book of Algebra and Mr. Walmsley's Book by the Bearers'.

[ William Marrat, mathematician and topographer. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Wm. Marrat'), asking Professor Robert Wodehouse of Cambridge to give his opinion of his 'demonstration of the Binomial Theorem', which is included in the letter.

Author: 
William Marrat (1772-1852), mathematician and topographer [ Robert Woodhouse (1773-1827), Plumian Professor of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge ]
Publication details: 
54 Copperas Hill, Liverpool. 20 July 1822.
£220.00

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly aged-paper, with small piece torn from second leaf. Addressed, with postmark, on reverse of second leaf, to 'Robt. Woodhouse Esqr. A.M. | Plumian Professor of Astronomy & Experimental Philosophy, | Cambridge'. He writes: 'I have just made out the following demonstration of the Binomial Theorem, & as it is very short, & quite elementary, I shall be extremely obliged if you will condescent [sic] to honour me with your opinion of it before I make it public.' A full two pages of calculations, in a smallish hand, follow.

[ Robert Simson, Scottish mathematician. ] Autograph Letter, with incomplete signature, to unnamed printer, regarding the paying of a bill for paper.

Author: 
Robert Simson (1687-1768), Scottish mathematician, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Glasgow
Publication details: 
Glasgow, 3 May 1736.
£280.00

1p., 8vo. In poor condition, on aged paper, with wear to extremities causing loss to text, including most of the signature, and with spike hole. Describing arrangements, with reference to 'my good friend Mr Clow', to pay the recipient 'the 49£ 7s for the paper', via 'Mr William Drummond who is to be found at Messrs Bayne and Adams York Street St James's'.

[ Robert Simson, Scottish mathematician. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Rob: Simson') to unnamed recipient, regarding the shipping of 'Fifty four English Euclids Small paper', and the transit of Venus.

Author: 
Robert Simson (1687-1768), Scottish mathematician, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Glasgow [ John Bevis (1695-1771); James Short (1710-1798); James Bradley (1693-1762), Astronomer Royal]
Publication details: 
Glasgow, 1 July 1761.
£180.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, on aged paper discoloured at the corners, neatly placed in a paper windowpane mount. He asked 'Mr Foulis to pack up Fifty four English Euclids Small paper, for as they had been put up in three bundles of 18 books in each, he thought it should be left to pack up these bundles as they were rather than break one of them to take out four books'. The books have been sent to 'Borroustonness', i.e. Bo'ness (Burrowstounness), Falkirk, and Foulis has given him a receipt from 'Richard G the Master of the Neptune aboard which Ship they are <?> directed to you'.

[ Jérôme De la Lande, French astronomer and freemason. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('De la Lande | de l'accad. des Sciences'), in French, with engraved portrait.

Author: 
Jérôme De la Lande [ Joseph Jérôme Lefrançois de Lalande ] (1732-1807), French astronomer and freemason
Publication details: 
'Au College royal le 13 dec. 1783'.
£200.00

Both items in good condition, with light signs of age, and both tipped in to a paper folder, on the front of which is written the entry from the1833 bookseller's catalogue from which they were purchased: 'La Lande Member of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, a very interesting Letter to some Magistrate soliciting relief for the purpose of his labouring usefully, having expended much money on his pursuits, without reserving any indemnity. It exhibits his delicacy in soliciting this assistance, and expresses a hope that his asseverations will obtain credit.

[ John Hellins, astronomer. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('J. Hellins') to unnamed rercipient, regarding 'the silver medal for me from Mr. Glendinning, in Hatton Gardens', and the sending of books.

Author: 
John Hellins (d.1827), English mathematician and astronomer
Publication details: 
'Potter's-Pury' [ Potterspury, Northamptonshire ], 23 June 1803.
£180.00

1p., 4to. On aged paper, with some discoloration and chipping to extremities. He has been hindered by an 'unexpected interruption' from sending, via 'Richd. Scrivener', 'Stewarts Quadrature of Curves', but Scrivener will bring it 'the next time he goes to London'. The middle paragraph concerns 'Langhorne's sermons', which he asks to be sent 'by Coach'. He ends by asking the recipient - if he has received 'the silver medal for me from Mr. Glendinning, in Hatton Garden', to 'wrap it up, & put it into one of the Books'.

[ César-François Cassini de Thury, French astronomer. ] Signed ('Cassini de Thury') Autograph Copy of Letter, in French, sent to 'M. Bayeux', regarding the Sieur du Tremblay.

Author: 
César-François Cassini de Thury (1714-1784), French astronomer and cartographer [ Daniel-Charles Trudaine (1703-1769), civil engineer ]
Publication details: 
Paris. 3 June 1751.
£450.00

1p., 4to. In very good condition, on lightly aged paper. Tipped into a paper wallet, on the front of which is written in a contemporary hand the entry from the1833 bookseller's catalogue from which it was purchased, indicating that the item was considered uncommon even at that time: 'Cassini, the Astronomer, relative to a Memoir of the Sieur du Tremblay. | A choice specimen of a scarce Autograph. | No 176 Thorpe's Catalogue 1833'. Cassini's copy letter, with nine lines of text, is written over the unsigned letter to which it is the reply..

[ Jean Hyacinthe de Magellan, natural philosopher. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Magellan'), in English, to the Earl of Buchan, on topics including Adair Crawford's 'new theory of heat in general'.

Author: 
Jean Hyacinthe de Magellan [João Jacinto de Magalhães] (1722-1790), Portuguese natural philosopher, latterly based in London [ David Steuart Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan; Adair Crawford (1748-1795) ]
Publication details: 
London. 21 September 1780.
£250.00

3pp., 4to. Addressed, with black wax seal, on reverse of second leaf to 'The Earl of Buchan at Kerkhill | by Edinburgh'. In fair condition, lightly aged. He is 'hardly relieved' from 'a very distressing ophthalmy withh great head-ackes [sic]', but thanks the Earl for 'sending the pamphlet of Dr. Homes on the Croup, for my friend Monsr. Le Roy, one of ye. Members of ye. Royal Acady. at Paris'. He is sending him the Philosophical Transactions, 'as regularly as they come out, by the indicated way of Mr. Donalson'. The 'Medal of ye late Captn. Cook [...] has not yet been distributed to ye.

[ Francis Maseres, lawyer. ] Autograph Letter in the third person, from 'Mr: Baron Maseres' to the printer Robert Wilks, regarding the disposal of copies of his 'Scriptores Logarithmici'.

Author: 
'Baron Maseres' [ Francis Maseres ] (1741-1824), English lawyer, Attorney-General of the Province of Quebec
Publication details: 
[ London. ] 5 March 1807.
£250.00

1p., landscape 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with central spike hole. Addressed on reverse 'For Mr: Wilks, printer, in Chancery Lane'. Having received a letter from 'Dr: Mackay' he gives instructions regarding copies of the fifth volume of the book, 'which he proposes to be sent to Newcastle and Inverness, and other places in Scotland'. If Wilks has not received copies from the bindery, he should 'take the said six copies back from Mr: Maseres's chambers'. He also asks for a copy to be sent to Dr Aikin.

[ Cyril Leslie Collenette, entomologist. ] Typed Letter Signed ('C. L. Collenette') as joint secretary of the Scientific Expeditionary Research Association, to Prof. C. G. Seligman, discussing Council business, with pencil notes by Seligman.

Author: 
C. L. Collenette [ Cyril Leslie Collenette ] (1888-1959), entomologist, secretary of the Scientific Expeditionary Research Association, London [ Charles Gabriel Seligman (1873-1940), anthropologist ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Scientific Expeditionary Research Association, 50 Pall Mall, London. 1 June 1923.
£56.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged paper with wear to extremities. A twenty-three line letter discussing Council business, with the last paragraph reading: 'I have to thank you on behalf of the Council for the notes which you so kindly sent in for use at the last meeting. Mr. Hornell will do a certain amount of ethnological work, but in view of your opinion and that of others on the Council as to the difficulties involved, it is not proposed to appoint anyone else for this branch.' On the reverse of the letter are pencil notes by Seligman, made while reviewing a book.

[ Edmund Beckett, 1st Baron Grimthorpe. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Edm Beckett'), inviting 'Dr Griffith' to dinner.

Author: 
Edmund Beckett, 1st Baron Grimthorpe [ previously Sir Edmund Beckett, 5th Baronet and Edmund Beckett Denison ] (1816-1905), lawyer, horologist and architect
Publication details: 
No place. 1 September 1879.
£90.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. On aged paper, with minor damp staining. If the recipient has 'come home' he invites him to dine. 'We have already such a preponderance of the female sex, from ladies staying here, that I am sorry we cannot ask any more.' If his son is 'still at Sandridge instead of you we shall be glad to have him as your locum tenertem here also'. He is directing the letter 'accordingly', 'but out of the multitude of your name in Crockford [the clerical directory] I dare not make a shot at his Christian name'.

Three Autograph Letters Signed "J.A. Fleming" (electronic engineer ) to Sir Henry Truman Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir John Ambrose Fleming
Publication details: 
November 1915 to February 1916; London.
£250.00

English electronic engineer (1849-1945), inventor of thermionic valve. Widely considered to be 'the founder of electronics'. All three items good though grubby and on slightly discoloured paper. Item three dog-eared and grubby in top left-hand corner. All signed 'J. A. Fleming' and bearing the Society's stamp. ITEM ONE (two pages, quarto, 15 November 1915, University College, Gower St, to Wood, docketed): On the subject of a paper he proposes to give to the Society entitled 'The Organisation of Scientific Research'.

[ Electric Telegraph patents, 1874. ] Manuscript Memorandum of Agreement between Rev. Henry Highton and William Henry Allcard and George F. Smith.

Author: 
Rev. Henry Highton (1816-1874), Principal of Cheltenham College and experimenter in telegraphy; William Henry Allcard; George Frederick Smith ]
Publication details: 
20 January 1874.
£150.00

6 + [1] pp., folio. On two bifoliums stitched together with black thread. Laid out in the customary legal style, with embossed tax stamp. Unsigned. The agreement is 'Between The Reverend Henry Highton of the Cedars, Putney, in the County of Surrey, Clerk, (hereinafter referred to as 'the Patentee') of the one part and William Henry Allcard of New Burlington Street in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, and George Frederick Smith of Golden Square in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, of the other part'.

[ Terry Jeeves, science-fiction artist and fanzine editor. ] Typed Letter Signed ('Terry') to Don Malcolm, on a number of topics including his lifelong interest in aeronautics and space travel.

Author: 
Terry Jeeves [ Byron Terry Jeeves; B. T. Jeeves ] (1922-2011), Science-Fiction artist, writer and fanzine editor [ Don Malcolm, Scottish science fiction expert; Glasgow, Scotland; British sci-fi ]
Publication details: 
On his illustrated letterhead, 230 Bannerdale Rd, Sheffield. 8 July [no year, but circa 1970 ].
£90.00

2pp., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. On two leaves stapled together. The letterhead, printed in red, is a cartoon portrait of the artist with palette and brush, pointing to the address on a blackboard. A long chatty letter, listing the titles and prices of an order Malcolm has made, describing his activities at a time when he is 'pushed like mad', arranging an 'interview for ERG', discribing the contents of the four albums of his stamp collecting ('I wouldn't call myself a philatelist . . . .

Publishers' 'Specimen Of First Seven Plates' in 'An Elementary Text-Book of Entomology' by 'W. F. Kirby, of the British Museum'.

Author: 
W. F. Kirby [ William Forsell Kirby (1844-1912) ], of the British Museum [ Swan Sonnenschein & Co., Paternoster Square; William Wesley & Son, London, Booksellers and Publishers ]
Publication details: 
London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co., Paternoster Square. 1885. [ With stamp of William Wesley & Son, Booksellers and Publishers, 28, Essex Street, Strand, London. ]
£38.00

16pp., 4to. Unbound and unstitched pamphlet. On aged and worn paper. The first page has the Wesley stamp, and is headed 'Specimen Of First Seven Plates' It also carries nine lines describing the 'object of the author'. The seven plates are accompanied by captions, and there is also an explanation regarding them.

[ Sir James Dewar, Scottish scientist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('James Dewar') to 'Miss Pollack', explaining his reason for missing an appointment.

Author: 
Sir James Dewar (1842-1923), Scottish chemist and physicist [ The Royal Institution of Great Britain, London ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Royal Institution of Great Britain. 3 December 1906.
£35.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He explains his 'great and chief excuse' for breaking his promise to call on her that morning. 'The fact is I have to give an address on Monday evening as President of the Society of Chemical Industry'.

[ Robert Bentley, botanist. ] Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed correspondent, regarding 'an order for the Gardens'.

Author: 
Robert Bentley (1821-1893), English botanist, Professor of Botany at King's College London
Publication details: 
King's College, London. 4 February 1873.
£56.00

1p., 8vo. In fair condition, on aged grey paper, laid down on paper mount, and slighty discoloured by glue used. He apologises for being unable to provide him with the desired order, 'but on any particular day you may require one I shall be glad to assist you as far as I can'. He suggests that they speak 'after lecture'. In a contemporary hand, written at foot of mount: 'Professor Robert Bentley F.L.S. (Professor of Botany) Author | born 1821.'

[ Sir Patrick Moore. ] Typescript of 13 scripts for South African radio (series title 'Into Space'), with covering note from the South African Broadcasting Corporation and copy of letter from Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation.

Author: 
Sir Patrick Moore [Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore] (1923-2012), English astronomer and writer and populariser of astronomy
Publication details: 
Moore's typescript without date or place. [Selsey, England, 1972.] The note and letter dating from 1972.
£165.00

ONE: Typescripts of 13 radio talks. 65pp., 4to. On loose leaves. Titles: 1, 'Our Earth in Space'; 2, 'Dreams of other Worlds'; 3, 'Rockets into Space'; 4, 'Man-made Moons'; 5, 'Man in Space'; 6, 'Space Research and Ourselves'; 7, 'Contact with the Moon'; 8, '"One small Step . . . ."'; 9, 'Space Stations and Lunar Bases'; 10, 'Mariners to Mars'; 11, 'Into the Hot Regions'; 12, 'The Grand Tour'; 13, 'Flight to the Stars'. TWO: Typed Note, signed on behalf of T. Van Heerden, Head of External Services, SABC. 16 March 1972.

[ Sir Patrick Moore. ] Typescript, with Autograph corrections, of 13 scripts for South African radio (series title 'Into Space'), with version rewritten for publication, and four Autograph Letters Signed, and Autograph Card Signed to H. David Lloyd.

Author: 
Sir Patrick Moore [Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore] (1923-2012), English astronomer and writer and populariser of astronomy [ H. David Lloyd of South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) ]
Publication details: 
Moore's correspondence on his letterhead, Farthings, 39 West Street, Selsey, Sussex. Dated between 11 November 1972 and 5 February 1973. The talks undated, but from shortly before this.
£600.00

Collection of eleven items. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: Typescripts of 13 radio talks. 65pp., 4to. On loose leaves. Titles: 1, 'Our Earth in Space'; 2, 'Dreams of other Worlds'; 3, 'Rockets into Space'; 4, 'Man-made Moons'; 5, 'Man in Space'; 6, 'Space Research and Ourselves'; 7, 'Contact with the Moon'; 8, '"One small Step . . . ."'; 9, 'Space Stations and Lunar Bases'; 10, 'Mariners to Mars'; 11, 'Into the Hot Regions'; 12, 'The Grand Tour'; 13, 'Flight to the Stars'. With a few manuscript emendations by Moore in black felt-tip pen, and other editorial emendations.

[ Victorian course of education. ] Proof of article titled 'Some Rough Notes on Charlie's Education', with the aim of making a boy a 'scientific man', sent to study the Cambridge Mathematical Tripos, and avoiding the 'secret vice' of 'Self-Pollution'

Author: 
Victorian course of education to make a boy a 'scientific man', 1878 [ University of Cambridge; Clifton College, Bristol, Somerset ]
Publication details: 
No publication details. Dated 'September, 1878.'
£90.00

In two columns, on one side of piece of 50 x 30.5 cm paper. Aged and worn, with chipping and loss to margins. Two pencil notes in margin: 'this was ommitted [sic]' and 'the truth acquired mostly forgotten'. Clearly not intended for publication, and apparently the advice of a knowledgeable and well-educated man of scientific bent to his family, regarding the future of 'Charlie' (his grandson?). A reference to Clifton College may suggest a West Country origin. The piece begins: 'The subject of Education is in a great state of confusion, and great diversities of opinion exist about it.

[ 'Le Docteur Revel' and Doctor Hugues Cléry of Marseilles, printed pamphlet in French on asthma. ] L'Asthme et La Poudre du Docteur H. Cléry, Antiasthmatique du Tigré. Par le Docteur Revel.

Author: 
'Le Docteur Revel' [ Doctor Hugues Cléry of Marseilles, France ]
Publication details: 
Paris, 1893. [Imprimerie Wattier Frères, 4 rue des Déchargeurs, Paris.]
£120.00

31 + [1]pp., 12mo. Disbound. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. No copy of the present item traced, either on COPAC or OCLC WorldCat, or in the Bibliothèque Nationale, but WorldCat does record one copy of ''La Vérité sur le remède d'Abyssinie poudre antiasthmatique' by Hugues Clery (Marseilles, 1874).

[ Seymour Aubrey Papert, MIT mathematician and computer scientist. ] Typed scientific paper in French: 'Sur les treillis des ouverts et les paratopologies | par Mrs Dona Papert et Seymour Papert'.

Author: 
Seymour Aubrey Papert (b.1928), MIT mathematician and computer scientist, pioneer of artificial intelligence, inventor of Logo Programming System [ Dona Papert Strauss; Charles Ehresmann (1905-1979) ]
Publication details: 
'Faculté des Sciences de Paris | Séminaire de Topologie et de Géométrie Différentielle (C. Ehresmann) | Année 1957 / 58.'
£200.00

Papert has been described by by Marvin Minsky as 'the greatest living mathematics educator'. At the time of this paper he was studying for a PhD at Cambridge University and living in London, where he was a leading figure in the revolutionary socialist circle centred on the magazine 'Socialist Review'. 9pp., 8vo. On nine leaves stapled together. In fair condition, aged and worn, with creasing to last couple of leaves. Divided into three parts: '1. Propriétés des treillis des ouverts et représentation des treillis comme treillis d'ouverts; | 2.

[Civl List Pension, 1838; signed and annotated by Chairman] 2. Select Committee on Pensions. Paper delivered in to the Committee. |PENSIONS connected with LITERARY or SCIENTIFIC EMINENCE, and with USEFUL INVENTIONS and ATTAINMENTS in the ARTS, ETC

Author: 
[E.A. Sanford, M.P., Chairman of the Select Committee on Pensions, & others]
Publication details: 
'Paper delivered in to the Committee, 21 July 1838'
£450.00

Pp, [1]-81[82], folio, unbound as issued, stitched, p.[82] being a sort of title, minor wear and tear to outer leaves, mainly good condition. P.[1] signed by the Chairman of the Select Committee, E.A. Sanford, M.P., writing boldly to p.[82] "My Papers & Mem's as Chairman of the Civil List Pension Committee", and adding a few words of information to the margin of p.52.

[John Findlay Drew Shrewsbury, bacteriologist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J. F. D. Shrewsbury') to Lord Nathan, Chairman of Council, Royal Society of Arts, London, about his 'plea for assistance' regarding the publication of his 'history of Plague'.

Author: 
J. F. D. Shrewsbury [John Findlay Drew Shrewsbury] (1898-1971), Professor of Bacteriology, University of Birmingham
Publication details: 
Cottage Farm, Pinley Green, Claverdon, Warwickshire. 29 December 1962.
£56.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He thanks him for his reply to his 'plea for assistance in connexion with the possible publication by a foreign press of my history of Plague'. He had 'no intention' in writing 'of soliciting any financial aid from the Society, because any such solicitation would have been an impertinence on my part.' He would need £20,000 to have the book 'privately printed by one of the smaller English presses, such as Messrs.

[Printed scientific journal.] Compte Rendu de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences de St.-Pétersbourg. Précédé de l'État de son Personnel. Année 1853.

Author: 
M. P. H. Fuss [Paul Heinrich von Fuss (1798-1855)], Secrétaire Perpétuel, l'Académie Impériale des Sciences de St.-Pétersbourg [The Imperial Academy of Sciences of St Petersburg; Imperial Russia]
Publication details: 
St.-Pétersbourg. Imprimerie de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences. 1854.
£220.00

[2] + 99pp., 8vo. The leaves in fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, but with signatures detached, and creasing to the last couple of leaves. In worn and chipped printed wraps, with front cover detached. With the blind stamp of the 1846 Prussian-British Convention on Copyright (which all books imported from Prussia had to bear). Scarce: no copies on COPAC, and six runs on OCLC WorldCat all at American institutions.

[Printed caricature of Professor Sir Michael Foster as 'The Myke', one of 'The Fauna of Cambridge'.]

Author: 
[Professor Sir Michael Foster (1836-1907), English physiologist; Cambridge University]
Publication details: 
'Supplement to the Cambridge Review, June 9, 1898.'
£80.00

On one side of piece of 31 x 25 cm shiny art paper. In fair condition, lightly aged, with wear at head and foot and vertical fold at right hand edge. Image undamaged. At head: 'THE FAUNA OF CAMBRIDGE. | With apologies to the Authors of "ANIMAL LAND," E.T.R., and the "GRANTA." | THE MYKE.' At foot: 'THIS wyse little animile nose all about what is going on inside, but he is very korshus when he tels you about it.

[Count von Brühl and Duke of Marlborough.] Autograph Letter Signed from Marlborough and Autograph Notes by von Brühl, about the 'Difference of Level between a Blenheim Barometer in the Duke of Marlborough's dressing Room, & the Harefield Barometer'.

Author: 
Hans Moritz von Brühl (1736-1809) [John Maurice, Count of Brühl], German diplomat and astronomer; George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough (1739-1817), FRS, English nobleman and amateur astronomer
Publication details: 
Marlborough's letter from Blenheim [Woodstock, Oxfordshire], 9 November 1796. [von Brühl's notes from Harefield, circa 1796?]
£850.00

A Fellow of the Royal Society, Marlborough's main scientific interest was astronomy, a subject on which he corresponded with von Brühl. The four items in good condition, with light signs of age and wear. They are accompanied by a typewritten (1960s?) report (3pp., folio), whose purpose is to disprove any connection between them and 'the name of Henry Cavendish and his work on the barometer'.

[Presentation copy of offprint.] Nouvelles Recherches sur les Propriétés des Courants Électriques Discontinus, et dirigés alternativement en sens contraires, par M. A. de la Rive, Professeur de Physique a l'Academie de Geneve.

Author: 
Auguste Arthur de la Rive (1801-1873), Professor of Physics at the Geneva Academy, and pioneer in the field of electricity
Publication details: 
'(Extrait des Archives de l'Electricité, Supplément à la Bibliothèque Universelle de Genève.)' [1841.]
£150.00

80pp., 8vo. Stitched and unbound. All but the first few leaves unopened. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with traces of the original blue wraps adhering at spine. In manuscript at head of title-page: 'hommage de l'auteur'. At the time of his death de la Rive's work was deemed by one obituarist ' indispensable for the scientific student of electricity', and the phrase was repeated in the eleventh edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Scarce: no copy in the Bibliothèque Nationale, and of the seven copies on OCLC WorldCat, five in Swiss libraries.

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