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Amsterdam, Abraham Wolfgank, 1676. 4to (190 x 165 mm). In contemporary marbled paper covered boards. Extremities with wear, boards with scratches, corners bumped. Missing top 5 cm of spine. Frontispiece closely trimmed with loss to upper and lower margin. Plate no. 19 with repair in outer margin, with loss of plate. Internally generally nice and clean. (18), 476, (6) pp. + 58 plates and 1 frontispiece. Uncommon later edition – printed in Amsterdam for the first time - of Michel de Marolles' adaptations of classical fables beautifully illustrated with 58 full-page plates by Cornelis Bloemaert after Abraham van Diepenbeeck’s design depicting scenes from classical mythology and ancient fables. The prints were of exceptional quality and became an inspiration for artists and printmaker in the following decades. “In 1655 the print collector and classicist abbé Michel de Marolles (1600–81) published a book titled Tableaux du Temple des Muses (fig. 1).1 It was a folio edition illustrated with a series of engravings of 58 wellknown myths from classical antiquity, for which he wrote detailed commentaries. The prints, most of which were designed by Abraham van Diepenbeeck (1596–1675), are extraordinarily virtuosic and original for their day. Remarkably, the identity of the engraver or engravers is not known for certain. De Marolles’s publication was an international success. New editions in different languages continued appearing until well into the eighteenth century, and copies of the print series were also published. Although the engravings are still well-known, their printing history remains a little obscure. Sources relating to the patrons and artists involved are sparse. In addition, the available material has been interpreted in different ways in the past, sometimes giving rise to incorrect conclusions.” (Altena, The Tableaux du Temple des Muses) The Tableaux du Temple des Muses was protected by a 15-year privilege. In 1665 Nicolas Langlois published an edition with the illustrations only, and in 1676 Abraham Wolfgank published Le Tableaux du Temple des Muses in quarto format in Amsterdam. Brunet III, 1443: “Les beaux exemplaires ens ont peu communs”. Graesse IV, 409.

London, 1913. Without wrappers, but stitched. In "Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science", Vol. 26, No. 156. December 1913. Pp. 937-1058 a. 6 plates.(= the whole issue No 156). Moseley's paper: pp. 854-860 a. 1 plate. Fine and clean. First edition of this groundbreaking paper which Rutherford considered A WORK ON PAR WITH THE VERY DISCOVERY OF THE PERIODICAL TABLE, introducing the concept 'Atomic Number'.Moseley notes a regularity in the shifting of spectral lines when the elements (he examines 50 elements) are arranged according to atomic weight. He finds that bombardments of the various elements with cathode rays yeilds a systematic sequence of vibration frequencies, and from this he derives the concept of atomic number, which he recognizes as equal to the nuclear charge."Moseley, working under Rutherford at Manchester, used the method of X-ray spectroscopy devised by the Braggs to calculate variations in the wave-lenght of the rays emitted by each element. These he was able to arrange in a series according to the nuclear charge of the element. Thus if the nuclear charge of hydrogen is 1, in helium it is 2, in lithium 3, and so on by regular progression to uranium as 92. These figures Moseley called atomic numbers.he pointed out that they also represented a corresponding increase in extra-nuclear electrons and that it is the number and arrangement of these electrons rather than the atomic weight that determines the properties of an element. It was now possible to base the periodical table on a firm foundation, and to state with confidence that the number of elements up to uranium is limited to 92. When Moseley'stable was completed, six atomic numbers had no corresponding elements; but Moseley himself was able to predict the nature of four of the missing elements."(Printing and the Mind of Man No. 407). Another paper on the same subject was published by Moseley the next year (1914).An important paper by Rutherford and Richardson is withbound: Analysis of the gamma rays of Thorium and Actinium Products. Pp.937-948 and 1 plate.

(Berlin, Julius Springer, 1922-24). 8vo. In: "Zeitschrift für Physik", Vol. 10 (pp. 377 ff.),Vol.11 (pp.326), vol.16 (pp.228), vol.21 (pp.326-332). The entire four volumes offered here. Contemporary half cloth bindings. Two landmark papers in the history of cosmology: All first editions. In 'Über die Krümmung des Raumes' Friedman derived the non-stationary solutions to Einstein's field equations. Einstein quickly responded in a short comment ('Bemerkung'), in which he expressed his suspicion of such a model of the Universe and apparently pointed out an error in Friedman's calculations. However, Friedman now wrote a letter to Einstein, in which he enclosed his full calculations. Shortly after this, Einstein submitted a short notice (Notiz), in which he admitted that he himself had performed a calculation error and that Friedman's solutions, which shed new light on the matter, were valid. Friedman's expanding universe model was corroborated by Edwin Hubble's red-shift observations in 1929. In 'Über die Möglichkeit einer Welt mit konstanter negativer Krümmung des Raumes' Friedman derived the Friedman-equations and demonstrated that he had command of all three Friedman-models describing positive, zero and negative curvature respectively, nearly a decade before the independent discoveries of the same models by Lemaître, Robertson, and Walker.

Amsterdam, Ludwich Elzeviern, 1648. Folio. Contemp. full calf over wood. Gilt spine with gilt lettering. Lightwear to spineends. Covers with gilt lineborders. Small stamp on on foot of title-page. The engraved title depicting the author showing a geometrical drawing to William Prince of Orange. Engraved title. (6),475 pp. and 70 double-page engraved plates of which 1 is in xerox-copy (Festung Nova Palma). Old owners names on foot of title-page and verso of. Internally clean and fine. First German edition. This was the largest work hitherto published on fortification, and it is specially interesting for containing 29 plans of European fortresses (1 plan in xerox-copy) . It was originally published in Latin the year before and a French translation appeared the same year as this German edition."Magnifique publication, orné de 29 figures de fortifications et de 41 plans de villes, en tout 70 grandes planches hors texte. L Elzevier a tiré parti de ces planches en publiant dès l'année suivante des traductions de l'ouvrage en francais et en allemand." (Willems, Les Elzevier No 1064). - Sotheran Second Suppl. No 20981 (French edition) - Brunet II:788. - Klaus Jordan No 911. - Sloos, Warfare and the Age of Printing, 8029.

Prag [Prague], 1843. 4to. Uncut in the original printed light pink wrappers, with a dicreet new black cloth back-strip. A bit of brownspotting and minor chipping to edges pf wrappers, but overall a very nice copy of this fairly fragile publication. 15, (1) pp. The very rare first edition, off-print (separately paginated), of this important treatise on space and time, which constitutes an important part of Bolzano's philosophical-logical theory. The present paper constitutes the first public formulation of these controversial ideas on time and space, with which Bolzano sets out to establish a foundation of mathematics which is non-empirical. By uniting mathematics and philosophy and applying both to the question of space and time, Bolzano here brings both sciences to a higher level of completeness, acknowledging that his theories depart from the those of Hegel, Kant, Schelling, etc. As always, Bolzano grabs the essence of the question and the terms that he is treating and retraces the concepts that must be used, establishing their original inner connection. In the present paper, the question of space, time, and thought are treated in order to establish the precise and full nature of space, a theme which Bolzano had apparently been working on for many years but previously only discussed with a very small number of intimate acquaintances, and now publishes on for the first time. The concept of space plays an important rôle in Bolzano's ontology and is closely linked to his mathematical and philosophical logic, in which the "space-position" plays a part in the demarcation of that which is purely mathematical and logical. Furthermore, for Bolzano, truth is constituted by true propositions (which state things as they are), and his canonical form of all propositions entails that "[a] proposition is true iff the object has the property (the attribute) which belongs to the subject of the proposition. Moreover, empirical propositions must contain determinations of space and time. Without these determinations, the sentence "It is snowing" has no truth value, it is just a propositional form which does not correspond to a complete proposition; "in order to be true, [such propositions] require the addition of such specifications as to time (and often place as well), 'It is snowing today, in this place'" (SEP).

Colobne, Arnoldus Birckmannus, 1576. 4to. Lovely contemporary full richly blindstamped pigskin binding over wooden boards. Raised bands to spine and rich ornaments to baords. With the original brass/leather clasps fully preserved. Spine a bit worn, and with contemporary hand-written title. Lower edge of front board a bit sooted and a black stain to front board. Internally very fine and clean with only very minor occasional browning. A single, small, non-disturbing wormhole fron beginning to end. A few old underlinings. Woodcut title-vignette and woodcut initials throughout. (8), 179, (1) pp. The extremely scarce second edition of Toletus' hugely important commentary, with the equally important questions, on Aristotle's "On the Soul", being one of the most important Renaissance commentaries on one of the most influential and commented on philosophical works of all times. The work was of great importance to late Renaissance thought and the theories presented here widely influenced seventeenth-century scholasticism.This highly influential and extremely popular work originally appeared in 1575 and was reprinted twenty-two times by 1625. The 1570'ies editions of the work are of the utmost scarcity. No auction records have been noted within the last 40 years, the only one being the 1583-edition, which is also the most commonly found in library-holdings; only two copies of the first edition from 1575 are in libraries worldwide, and likewise merely two copies of this second edition. Apart from those four copies, the earliest edition listed by OCLC is that from 1580. Franciscus Toletus (Francisco de Toledo Herrara) (1532-1596) was a highly important Spanish Jesuit theologian, Biblical exegete and the first Jesuit Cardinal. After receiving a master of arts at Valencia, he studied theology at Salamanca under the famous Domingo de Soto. He was ordained a priest in 1556 and was already teaching philosophy at Salamanca when he became a Jesuit in 1558. In the following year he was sent to Rome where he taught philosophy and then theology, bringing with him the Thomistic outlook emphasized at Salamanca by Francisco de Vitoria and his disciple, Soto. In 1593 he became the first Jesuit cardinal. Toletus was an independent, clear thinker with a fundamentally Thomistic outlook. In philosophy his most important works were his commentaries on Aristotle's logic and treatise on the soul, which were widely read and discussed in his time. In these, he drew upon the whole previous scholastic tradition to raise and answer the most important philosophical questions of his time. His works are especially interesting, as he was neither a slavish follower of Aristotle nor limited to defend any medieval scholar of his own community, as were many other commentators of the period. Governed by reason, he respectfully and clearly analyzes the key text of the greatest philosopher of all times and draws out his own philosophical theories. "Although Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Society (the Jesuits), had established Aristotle as the basic philosophical authority and Thomas as the guide to philosophy as well as theology, the Thomism of the Jesuits turned out to be a rather moderate one, which neither closed the doors on differing positions, such as those of the Scotists and the nominalists in psychology, nor prevented its members from developing new positions of their own. An early example of this attitude was Franciscus Toletus. His commentary on "De anima", first published at Cologne in 1575, followed the traditional division of Averroes, but also gave the Greek division of the text into chapters and had the third book begin according to Greek tradition. The authors upon whom Toletus depended were the Latin commentators, especially Thomas, as well as the Greeks and Arabs, with special attention given to Averroes. However rich his commentary, the major philosophical discussion is found in the more than seventy "quaestiones", which resemble a systematic treatise." (Schmitt, Skinner, Kessler, "The Cambridge History of Renaissance Philosophy", p. 511).If one question is to be pointed out as the main philosophical one of the Renaissance, it is that of the soul's relation to reason or intelligence. " "Anima" and "Intellectus" were then the watchwords of the schools: their relation, or the nature of "anima intellective", was the point round which discussion moved and on which was invoked the authority of Averroes, Alexander or St Thomas. When the audiences in the Italian class-rooms called out "Quid de anima?" this was the subject which they desired to hear treated." (Douglas, p. 74).For Toletus, intellectual abstraction is simply a precision from accidents and a consideration of the substance of anything. In his great "De anima"-commentary, he allowed for a direct intellectual cognition of a singular material thing. And although he thinks it more probable that an agent intellect is necessary, he regards it as probable that there is no agent intellect or that the two intellects distinguished by Aristotle are one and the same. "Toletus followed a Thomistic line, but departed from Thomism in some details. He held that individuals are directly apprehended by the intellect and that the agent intellect is the same power as the possible intellect. He rejected the Thomistic doctrines of the real distinction between essence and existence and of individuation by designated matter; for Toletus individuation results from form." (Cambr. Dict. of Phil.). "Having already stated that the basic psychological positions of the church were identical with those of true philosophy, Toletus was less anxious in philosophical argument itself to adhere to the faith and more open to strictly philosophical values. This applied particularly to the problem of immortality. Citing the volitional aspects of the human soul as well as the intellectual ones, he argued that immortality could be demonstrated by natural means, while admitting that Aristotle himself was unclear on the question…." (Schmitt, Skinner, Kessler, "The Cambridge History of Renaissance Philosophy", p. 511).Toletus stands at the very centre of 16th century Spanish scholarship and counts as one of the most important Aristotle scholars of this tradition. His works formed the basis of Jesuit teaching in logic until the end of the 1600s.Only two copies in libraries world-wide (Berlin, Gotha) (and likewise only two of the first, 1575-edition). Not in Adams, which only has the 1581, 1582, 1583, and 1594 editions.

Berlin, Julius Springer, 1922-24. 8vo. 4 contemporary half cloth binding: two in uniform half green cloth and two en uniform grey/blue half cloth. In "Zeitschrift für Physik", Bd. 10, 11, 16 & 21. Entire volumes offered. All volumes with stamp to title page and front free end paper, otherwise a fine and clean set. [Friedmann:] Bd. 10: Pp. 377-386; Bd. 21: P.p. 326-332. [Einstein:] Bd. 11:P. 326; Bd. 16: P. 228. First printing of these four landmark paper in which Friedman "introduced into cosmology two concepts of revolutionary importance, the age og the world and the creation of the world" (Kragh, Cosmology and Controversy). "In his paper of 1922, Friedmann offered a complete analysis of the solutions of Einstein's cosmological field equations that went beyond the earlier solutions of Einstein and de Sitter as it also included nonstatic solutions. Friedmann did so clearly and explicitly: "The purpose of this note," he wrote, "is firstly to show that the cylindrical [Einstein]and spherical [de Sitter] worlds are special cases of more general assumptions, and secondly to demonstrate the possibility of a world in which the curvature of space is independent of the three spatial coordinates but does on time".(Ibid.).In 'Über die Krümmung des Raumes' Friedman derived the non-stationary solutions to Einstein's field equations. Einstein quickly responded in a short comment ('Bemerkung'), in which he expressed his suspicion of such a model of the Universe and apparently pointed out an error in Friedman's calculations. However, Friedman now wrote a letter to Einstein, in which he enclosed his full calculations. Shortly after this, Einstein submitted a short notice (Notiz), in which he admitted that he himself had performed a calculation error and that Friedman's solutions, which shed new light on the matter, were valid. Friedman's expanding universe model was corroborated by Edwin Hubble's red-shift observations in 1929. In 'Über die Möglichkeit einer Welt mit konstanter negativer Krümmung des Raumes' Friedman derived the Friedman-equations and demonstrated that he had command of all three Friedman-models describing positive, zero and negative curvature respectively, nearly a decade before the independent discoveries of the same models by Lemaître, Robertson, and Walker. "Friedmann made a valuable contribution to Einstein's general theory of relativity. As always, his interest was not limited simply to familiarizing himself with this new field of science but led to his own remarkable investigations. Friedmann's work on the theory of relativity dealt with one of its most difficult questions, the cosmological problem. In his paper "Über die Krümmung des Raumes" (1922), he outlined the fundamental ideas of his cosmology: the supposition concerning the homogeneity of the distribution of matter in space and the consequent homogence of "world" time for which, at any moment in time, the metrics of space will be identical at all points and in all directions. This theory is especially important because it leads to a sufficiently correct explanation of the fundamental phenomenon known as the "red shift." This solution of the Einstein field equations, obtained from the above propositions, is the model for any homogeneous and isotropic cosmological theory. It is interesting to note that Einstein thought that the cosmological solution to the equations of a field had to be static and had to lead to a closed model of the universe. Friedmann discarded both conditions and arrived at an independent solution. Einstein welcomed Friedmann's results because they showed the dispensability of the ad hoc cosmological term Einstein had been forced to introduce into the basic field equation of general relativity". (DSB). Weil 122 & 130.

Iena und Leipzig, Christian Ernst Gabler, 1796 & 1797. Tall 8vo. An absolutely lovely set, bound in two contemporary, uniform half calf bindings with blindstamped and gilt ornamentations to spines. Marbled edges. A bit of wear to extremities, but overall very well kept. Book plate of Th de Jonghe to inside of front boards. (24), 229, (1, -errata); (2), 269 pp. The rare first edition of both volumes of one of Fichte's most important and influential works. Fichte begins his fundamental "Foundation of Natural Rights" with his famous theories of self-consciousness and on the basis of this develops his system of ethical idealism, which came to greatly effect early 18th century thought. "In the history of philosophy, Fichte's thought marks a crucial transitional stage between Kant and post-Kantian philosophy. Fichte radicalized Kant's thought by arguing that human freedom, not external reality, must be the starting point of all systematic philosophy, and in Foundations of Natural Right, thought by many to be his most important work of political philosophy, he applies his ideas to fundamental issues in political and legal philosophy, covering such topics as civic freedom, rights, private property, contracts, family relations, and the foundations of modern political organization." (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy) (See PMM 244)

S.-Peterburg, 1880. 8vo. Contemporary half calf. Capitals and corners with wear. Some crayon-underlinings and some brownspotting. (2),160; 80 pp + 12 folded plates. Scarce first edition of this fundamental guide of aeronautics, which constitutes one of the most important works in aviation history. The work formed the basis for Russian aeronautics, influencing the likes of Tsiolkovsky. The great Russian chemist D.I. Mendeleev suspected that, in the highest levels of the Earth atmosphere, the Ether might exist at natural vacuum. It is this thought that sparks his growing interest in meteorology and aeronautics, which begins to take form in the 1870'ies. For Mendeleev aerodynamics and aeromechanics was inseparably linked to hydrodynamics and hydromechanics, and also to the theory of shipbuilding. He viewed these as belonging to one general problem, which he called media resistance and which he summarized and described in detail in his important work "On the Resistance of Liquids and Air flying"/" About Liquids Resistance and Aeronautics", 1880 [i.e. the present work]. A great part of the work is dedicated to the questions of hydrodynamic theory and contains important analyses of the development of liquids resistance theory from Newton till Froud. Pinpointing the weakest points of the hitherto most important theories, he concluded that even the most important scientists were not able to understand the not examined resistance and thus that theoretical studies alone will not be able to resolve the issue, but require conjoint regular tests of models in hydrodynamic laboratories. Thus, Mendeleev initiated a new school, namely that of experimental hydrodynamics of ships, and the present work became one of the fundamental guides for work in shipbuilding, aeronautics, airplane construction, and ballistics. It greatly influenced the likes of Tsiolkovsky and Zhukovsky and thus formed the basis of Russian aeronautics. It is in the present work that Mendeleev first describes his famous aerostat, the first attempt by Russian. His aerostat was supposed to be able to reach the stratosphere, but the project was never realized. His interest in aerostatics, however, as presented in the present work, led to his famous baloon ride in 1887, to watch the full solar eclipse."The earliest attempts to establish the theoretical possibility of air flight were made by Leonardo da Vinci, whose observations of bird flight inspired him to conceive the ideas of flying on heavier-than-air machines, of the helicopter, and of the parachute. But credit for the further development of his theoretical ideas and their realization belongs to the Russians... A large contribution to the development of aviation was made by D.I. Mendeleev, who conceived of a stratospheric balloon and devised plans for its construction in 1875. The first foreigner to construct a stratospheric balloon was Picard in 1931. In 1887, Mendeleev ascended 3,350 meters in the balloon to observe a solar eclipse. Mendeleev defined the future significance of aviation with great foresight. His "On the Resistance of Liquids and Aeronautics" (1880) served as one of the fundamental guides for work in shipbuilding, aeronautics, airplane construction, and ballistics." (Geldern & Stites edt.: Mass Culture in Soviet Russia, p. 480).

Moskau - Moskva (Moscow), 1764. 8vo. Nice contemporary brown half calf ith 5 raised bands and gilt title-label to spine. A bit of minor wear to corners and spine. A very nice and clean copy, with almost no brownspotting or soiling. (8), 268 pp. The extremely scarce first Russian edition of this classical text-book which served as the basis for the basic teaching of science to the youth in Russia for decades, printed in Moscow in 1764, 19 years before the freeing of the book printing in Germany, which later led to numerous German works being widely distributed in Russia. The work was originally published in French with German translations following shortly after. This is the first Russian-German edition and the first Russian edition of the text at all. Johann Heinrich Samuel Formey (1711 - 1797) was a German author who wrote in the French. He is now primarily remembered for his educational science-work for the youth, which was highly popular throughout Europe and which became an educational standard-work. He also worked with Diderot and wrote about Rousseau.

Kopenhagen, Nicolaus Möller, 1774-78. 4to. Bound in 2 contemporary similar but not uniform half calf bindings. Vol. 2 with gilt lettering to spine and having slightly wider margins compared to vol. 1. Wear to extremities of both volumes and hindges weak. Stamp and previous owners names to half titles. Stamp to verso of plates. Vol. 1 split in innner margin in a few places. A few occassional brownspots and first few leaves in both volumes with light dampstaining, but generally internally fine. XVI, (6), 501, (1);(16),479 pp. 1 large folded map, "Tabula Iteneraria... Terrae Yemen... 1763." and 124 engraved maps and plates (complete). First edition of Niebuhr's great travel account of Arabia being a testament to one of the most significant and captivating exploratory journeys of the 18th century. Through meticulous mapping, cultural documentation, and scientific observations, Niebuhr's travelogue provided invaluable insights into Arabia, expanding geographic knowledge and influencing the field of Orientalism.Like his "Beschribung von Arabien", his "Reisebeschreibung von Arabien" "provided a mass of new geographical, regional, and historical information... Among is many exact maps and plans, the map of the Red Sea and of Yemen served as the most reliable information for more than 50 years.""Despite its tragic course, the expedition was a complete success with regard to its scientific and scholarly results. It was especially due to Niebuhr's efforts to preserve and continue his and his collegues' , that the Royal Danish Library was eventually equipped with a host of oriental manuscripts, maps, and drawings, as well as many botanical and zoological specimens... It was Niebuhr who edited and published Forskåll's Flora Aegyptiaco-Arabica (1775) and Descriptiones Animalium (1775), together with the drawings of Bauerfeind. In 1772 he had alredy published his systematic and geographically organized beschreibung von Arabien, which was followed between 1774 and 1778 by the first two volume of his three-volume chronologically arranged Reisebeschreibung nach Arabien. (the item offered, the third volume was published many years later, 1837). Both works, written in a clear and sober language and illustrated with numerous precise drawings, maps, and plans, provided a mass of new geographical, regional, and historical information... Among is many exact maps and plans, the map of the Red Sea and of Yemen served as the most reliable information for more than 50 years."(Josef Wiesehöfer).

London, Taylor & Francis, 1910. 8vo. Bound with the original wrappers in recent full blue cloth with black lettering to spine. In "The Philosophical Magazine" for February 1910, vol 19, no. 110. The entire issue offered. Wrappers reinforced in margin, otherwise a fine copy. Pp. 209-228 [Entire issue: pp. 209-336]. First edition of Millikan's landmark experiment in which he first provided the definitive proof that all electrical charges are exact multiples of a definite, fundamental value, namely the charge of the electron which in essence made possible the measurement of the electrical charge. In this paper, Millikan makes "the important discovery that individual drops always carried an exact multiple of the smallest charge measured - this being the first accurate measurement of the charge of the electron" ( Davis, Science in the Making, Volume 3, 10-11). Today it is primarily known as the 'oil-drop experiment'. "By 1909 Millikan was deeply involved in an attempt to measure the electronic charge. No one had yet obtained a reliable value for this fundamental constant, and some antiatomistic Continental physicists were insisting that it was not the constant of a unique particle but a statistical average of diverse electrical energies. Millikan launched his investigation with a technique developed by the British-born physicist H. A. Wilson; it consisted essentially of measuring, first, the rate at which a charged cloud of water vapor fell under the influence of gravity and then the modified rate under the counterforce of an electric field. Using Stokes's law of fall to determine the mass of the cloud, one could in principle compute the ionic charge. Millikan quickly recognized the numerous uncertainties in this technique, including the fact that evaporation at the surface of the cloud confused the measure of its rate of fall. Hoping to correct for this effect, he decided to study the evaporation history of the cloud while a strong electric Held held it in a stationary position.But when Millikan switched on the powerful field, the cloud disappeared; in its place were a few charged water drops moving slowly in response to the imposed electrical force. He quickly realized that it would be a good deal more accurate to determine the electronic charge by working with a single drop than with the swarm of particles in a cloud. Finding that he could make measurements on water drops for up to forty-five seconds before they evaporated. Millikan arrived at a value for e in 1909 which he considered accurate to within 2 percent. More important, he observed that the charge on any given water drop was always an integral multiple of an irreducible value. This result provided the most persuasive evidence yet that electrons were fundamental particles of identical charge and mass.Late in 1909 Millikan greatly improved the drop method by substituting oil for water. Because of the relatively low volatility of this liquid, he could measure the rise and fall of the drops for up to four and a half hours. Spraying the chamber with radium radiation, he could change the charge on a single drop at will. His overall results decisively confirmed the integral-multiple values of the total charge. As for the determination of e itself, Millikan found that Stokes's law was inadequate for his experimental circumstances because the size of the drops was comparable with the mean free path of the air. Using the so-called Stokes-Cunningham version of the law, which took this condition into account, by late 1910 he had computed a charge for e of 4.891×10-10 e.s.u. Realizing that the accuracy of this figure was no better than that of the key constants involved in the computation, Millikan painstakingly reevaluated the coefficient of viscosity of air and the mean-free-path term in the Stokes-Cunningham law. In 1913 he published the value for the electronic charge, 4.774±.009×10-10 e.s.u., which would serve the world of science for a generation." (DSB). In 1923 Millikan became the first American-born Nobel laureate for his work on determination of Planck's constant on the basis of Einstein's theory of the photoelectric effect.

Prague, Jednota Ceskoslovenskych Matematiku a Fysiku, 1929. 8vo. Uncut and unopened in the original printed wrappers. A bit of minor chipping and bending to extremities. A very nice copy. 118, (2, -blank) pp. The rare first edition of one of the most important early works by the pioneer of the structural analysis of language and one of the most influential linguists of the 20th century, with presentation-inscription for one of the leading French linguists of the period: "A Mr J. Vendryes, homage respectueux del'auteur" on the title-page. The work constitutes the starting point of a new approach in linguistics and phonology.The work was published as No. 2 of the foundational "Travaux du Cercle Linguistique de Prague", the publication from the seminal Prague School of Linguistics, of which Jakobsen was a founder. The Prague School held its first international conference, of Slavic linguists, in 1929. Here Jakobson presented his research on the phonological evolution of Russian and other Slavic languages, which had led him to conclude that there was a correlation between the description of sound systems and the explanation of their evolution. "He identified the phoneme as the minimal unit of language capable of discriminating word meanings and viewed the phoneme as an indivisible atom. These advances constituted the starting point of a new approach in linguistics and phonology, according to which each language is distinguished from all others by its phonemic system, that is, by the inclusion or omission of particular phonemes available to human speech." (American National Biography). The work is fundamental for Jakobson's development of a universal structural-functional theory of phonology, which was the first successful theory of its kind in accordance with Saussurean hypotheses. The concept of the phoneme that Jakobson had reached became a fundamental element of linguistic theory and came to greatly affect scientific descriptions and analyses of language. Roman Osipovich Jakobson (1896 - 1982) was a famous Russian linguist and literary critic, who became one of the most influential linguists of the 20th century. He is probably most famous as the pioneer of structural analysis of language and as the co-founder of structuralism.Jakobson was born into a Russian Jewish family. Early on, he showed a great interest in the theory of language, and already as a student he became a leading figure of the Moscow Linguistic Circle. He was very much influenced by Husserl's phenomenology and the work of Saussure, and he developed a deep interest in the question of how language, the human speech, functions and is possible.Due to political troubles in Russia, in 1920 Jakobsen moved to Prague, where he was to become even more influential. Here, in 1926, he co-founded the Prague School of linguistic theory, which, together with the Copenhagen School, was the most influential school of linguistics of its time and of decades to come. It is here that Jakobson develops his seminal ideas of phonology as well as the term structuralism and the contents of it. Among his most important works from this period is his present work in which he compares the phonological evolution of the Russian language to that of other Slavic languages, a foundational work for the development of his theories on the structure and function of language.When the Second World War broke out, Jakobson moved to Scandinavia, where he met the Copenhagen School of linguistics and its main figure, Louis Hjelmslev. Later he fled to America, where he met Claude Lévi-Strauss, Quine, Bloomfeld and many other important thinkers within the field of language theory.Jakobson's structuralist theories of language differentiate much from other parts of the structuralist movement in that he constantly bases them on knowledge from other sciences, from mathematics, philosophy, psychology etc., and as such, Jakobson's theories are among the most influential and wide-ranging in the history of linguistics, as they come to also affect and profoundly influence several other scientific fields.Joseph Vendryes (1875-1960) was a much respected and quite influential French linguist specialized in Celtic languages. He was involved with the standardization and presentation of the universal language Interlingua.

London, Macmillan & Co., 1932. 8vo. In the original green embossed cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Printed on thick paper. A few pages with light marginal pencil annotations. A small tear to p. VII. Otherwise a very fine copy. XII, 141, (3) pp. With author's presentation inscription to front free end-paper: "Apologia pro vita sua / L .C. R." First edition, presentation-copy, of Robbins's landmark publication, in which he sought to define more precisely economics as a science. With the present publication he became instrumental in shifting Anglo-Saxon economics from its Marshallian direction, which eventually caused the breakthrough of neo-classical (Walrasian) definition of economics. The work is "one of the most cited, if not most read, books on the subject in the period 1932-60, and it influenced greatly economists' views about the nature of their discipline." (The New Palgrave). The definitions of economics presented here "were widely accepted by the world of academic economists and are still propagated" (The New Palgrave).Robbins put forth two central themes, both having a lasting and deep influence upon economics of the 20th century, the first being: "That economic science could be clearly demarcated from those discussions of economic issues that involved value judgments - by which latter term Robbins meant evaluation statements of the form 'better or worse' where inter-personal comparisons of utility were involved. He also argued that there was a clear demarcation between economic science and other branches of social enquiry such as social psychology, sociology, politics and so on."The second major theme was that the subject matter of economic science was not a particular activity (for example, Cannan's view that economics was the science of wealth), but rather an aspect of all human conduct. This aspect was the 'fact' of economic scarcity - a manifestation of unlimited ends on the part of individuals and society and means of satisfying those ends that were limited in supply. In word so often quoted in economics text Robbins defined economic science as 'that science that studies the relationship between ends and means that have alternative uses' - a definition that is more than reminiscent of Menger's exposition of the economizing process." (The New palgrave)Lionel Robbins (1898 - 1984) was a British (mainly theoretical) economist and head of the economics department at the London School of Economics. In macroeconomics Robbins's was a firm exponent of the Hayek's - and the Austrian school in general - teachings whom he brought to the London School of Economics in 1928. His liberal view was expressed when he famously, together with Joseph Schumpeter, advocated that nothing should be done about the 1929-depression and that it had to run its course since this alone would create a lasting development out of the depression.

Halle, 1930. 4to. Unbound, as issued, with the original paper backstrip. Spine a little loose. A very fine copy with only minor soiling. VI, 71 (also numbered (239)-309) pp. + 1 f. ("Lebenslauf"). Scarce first edition, offprint, with a 3-line presentation-inscription from Husserl (Signed "Ihr/ E Husserl") of Fink's inaugural price-dissertation, which also appeared in Husserl's "Jahrbuch für Philosophie und Phänomenologische Forschung" - there under the title "Vergegenwärtigung und Bild". This notorious dissertation was officially defended in front of Husserl and Heidegger and caused Fink to be chosen as Husserl's assistant. The present copy encapsules one of the most important periods in the history of phenomenology - the 1930'ies is a period of turmoil in the great phenomenologists life, a period in which Husserl transforms many of his basic ideas, and Fink, Husserl's assistant and the person closest to observing this transformation, is the primary witness to this historical change. "In the last decade of his life (from 1928 to 1938), Husserl sought to develop a new understanding of his transcendental phenomenology (in publications such as "Cartesian Meditations", "Formal and Transcendental Logic", and the "Crisis") in order to combat misconceptions of phenomenology then current (chief among which was Heidegger's hermeneutic phenomenology as articulated in "Being and Time"). During this period, Husserl had an assistant and collaborator, Eugen Fink, who sought not only to be midwife to the birth of Husserl's own ideas but who also wanted to mediate between Husserl and Heidegger. As a result of the Fink-Husserl collaboration there appeared a rich flow of works that testify to the depth with which transcendental phenomenology had been rethought." (Dermot Moran, Fink's Speculative Phenomenology: Between Constitution and Transcendence).The important German philosopher Eugen Fink initially studied under Husserl in Freiburg, before he famously became his assistant. He counts as one of the most important representatives of phenomenological idealism and is famous for his definition of philosophical problems as "pre-questions" that lead, through ontological practice, to true philosophy. "Eugen Fink was Edmund Husserl's research assistant during the last decade of the renowned phenomenologist's life, a period in which Husserl's philosophical ideas were radically recast." (R. Bruzina, Edmund Husserl and Eugen Fink. Beginnings and Ends in Phenomenology, 1928-1938).

Berlin, 1934. 8vo. Original printed wrappers. Front wrappers loose and wrappers a bit chipped at extremities. Otherwise very fine. Inscribed at front wrapper and with a 7 line marginal not to p. 15. Pp. 15-32. First edition, offprint, with presentation-inscription from Husserl ("Mit freundlichen Grüssen von E Husserl") and a 7-line marginal note in Husserl's hand, referring to Fink's "Die/ Phän. Philo-/ sophie/ Edm. Husserls". The present copy encapsules one of the most important periods in the history of phenomenology - the mid 1930'ies is a period of turmoil in the great phenomenologists life, a period in which Husserl transforms many of his basic ideas, and Fink, Husserl's assistant and the person closest to obeserving this transformation, is the primary witness to this historical change. Fink's works from the 30'ies on Husser's philosophy are pivotal to the understanding of the transformation of Husserl's thought - and thus the transformation of phenomenology in general. One can hardly imagine a more interesting association-copy caputing this period of phenomenological transformation. The important German philosopher Eugen Fink initially studied under Husserl in Freiburg, before he famously became his assistant. He counts as one of the most important representatives of phenomenological idealism and is famous for his definition of philosophical problems as "pre-questions" that lead, through ontological practice, to true philosophy. "Eugen Fink was Edmund Husserl’s research assistant during the last decade of the renowned phenomenologist’s life, a period in which Husserl’s philosophical ideas were radically recast." (R. Bruzina, Edmund Husserl and Eugen Fink. Beginnings and Ends in Phenomenology, 1928-1938).

Roma, TipografiaSalviucci, 1858. Lex 8vo. Original printed boards. Upper part of spine replaced, with title written in hand, Wear along upper part of front hinge, otherwise fine, with just a bit of soiling and some fading to the delicate pink colour. Some occasional brownspotting. (12), VI, 216 pp. + 9 plates (depicting sunspots). The very rare first edition of this beautifully printed work, which is a treatise on the work of Piccolomini to which is added 8 hitherto unpublished letters from Galilei, from the years1619-24, here published for the first time. Furthermore we here have 9 plates made after drawings by Galilei to document his observations of sunspots between the 3rd and 11th of May 1612.

Upsala, Stenhammar och Palmblad, 1813. 8vo. In the original printed wrappers. Ex-libris pasted on to verso of front-wrapper. From the library of Swedish crime author Henning Mankell. Light soiling to extremities and front wrapper partly detached, otherwise a fine and clean copy. (4), 106 pp. The rare first full transation of any of Shakespeare's works into Swedish. A translation of a scene from Coriolanus appeared in 1796, but Macbeth was the first of his plays to be printed in Swedish. From the libary of Swedish crime writer, children's author, and dramatist, Henning Mankell, best known for a series of mystery novels starring his most noted creation, Inspector Kurt Wallander.

London, Taylor and Francis, 1913-14. 8vo. Bound in two recent uniform full cloth bindings with gilt lettering to spines and front boards. Extracted from "The London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine" Sixth Series Volume 26 Nos 156 and 160, entire issues offered. A fine and clean set. Pp. 1024-1034 + 1plate; pp. 703-713. First edition of this groundbreaking paper which Rutherford considered A WORK ON PAR WITH THE VERY DISCOVERY OF THE PERIODICAL TABLE, introducing the concept 'Atomic Number'.Moseley notes a regularity in the shifting of spectral lines when the elements (he examines 50 elements) are arranged according to atomic weight. He finds that bombardments of the various elements with cathode rays yeilds a systematic sequence of vibration frequencies, and from this he derives the concept of atomic number, which he recognizes as equal to the nuclear charge."Moseley, working under Rutherford at Manchester, used the method of X-ray spectroscopy devised by the Braggs to calculate variations in the wave-lenght of the rays emitted by each element. These he was able to arrange in a series according to the nuclear charge of the element. Thus if the nuclear charge of hydrogen is 1, in helium it is 2, in lithium 3, and so on by regular progression to uranium as 92. These figures Moseley called atomic numbers.he pointed out that they also represented a corresponding increase in extra-nuclear electrons and that it is the number and arrangement of these electrons rather than the atomic weight that determines the properties of an element. It was now possible to base the periodical table on a firm foundation, and to state with confidence that the number of elements up to uranium is limited to 92. When Moseley'stable was completed, six atomic numbers had no corresponding elements; but Moseley himself was able to predict the nature of four of the missing elements."(Printing and the Mind of Man No. 407). Another paper on the same subject was published by Moseley the next year (1914).

Copenhagen, Bianco Lunos, 1918. 4to. Original printed wrappers. Lower right corner of front wrapper bent. Small closed tear to front wrapper. Spine strip renewed. Otherwise fine and clean throughtout. First printing of the second part of Bohr's seminal work "On the Quantum Theory of the Line-Spectra" (which appeared in three parts and which was never finished), author's off-print (with "Separate copy" printed on front wrapper), presentation-copy, inscribed by Bohr: "Hr. Professor K. Prytz / med venlig Hilsen / fra Forfatteren"."By 1918 Bohr had visualized, at least in outline, the whole theory of atomic phenomena. ... He of course realized that he was still very far from a logically consistent framework wide enough to incorporate both the quantum postulates and those aspects of classical mechanics and electrodynamics that seemed to retain some validity. Nevertheless, he at once started writing up a synthetic exposition of his arguments and of all the evidence upon which they could have any bearing; in testing how well he could summarize what was known, he found occasion to check the soundness of his ideas and to improve their formulation. In the present case, however, he could hardly keep pace with the growth of the subject; the paper he had in mind at the beginning developed into a four-part treatise, 'On the Theory of Line Spectra', publication of which dragged over four years without being completed; the first three parts appeared between 1918 and 1922 [of which the second from 1918 is offered here], and the fourth, unfortunately, was never published. Thus, the full impact of Bohr's view remained confined to the small but brilliant circle of his disciples, who indeed managed better than their master to make them more widely known by the prompter publication of their own results" (D.S.B. 2: 246-47).The present second part deals with the hydrogen spectrum, whereas the first part dealt with the general theory, and the third with the spectra of elements of higher atomic structure. Peter Kristian Prytz (1851-1929), to whom the work is inscribed, was an important physicist of the generation before Bohr. He did immense work to better the conditions of the teaching of physics at the Polytechnic Institute in Copenhagen, where Bohr studied for many years and where he later became a teacher. Prytz introduced the teaching of experimental physics here and fought for more space, more apparatus, more money for teaching assistance and more time for teaching. Thus, he played a great role in the physics-environment in Copenhagen both during Bohr's years as a student and as a teacher.Most importantly, it was Prytz who (in 1907) attracted the necessary money for the institute which enabled him to create the physical laboratory that constituted the foundation of Danish experimental physics, the field of which Bohr became professor in 1916 (till 1920 - the years during which he was working on the "On the Quantum Theory of the Line Spectra").Rosenfeld, Bohr-Bibliography, 15.

Neuchâtel, Dialectica, 1958. 8vo. Original printed wrappers. The entire issue 47/48 offered here. Uncut and unopened. First edition of Gödel's 'Dialectica-paper' in which he presented his consistency proof for arithmetic. In 1931 Gödel formulated and proved his second incompleetness theorem; that the consistency of Peano arithmetic cannot be proved using Peano arithmetic itself or any of its direct extensions. The title of Gödel's famous 1931 paper (Über formal unentscheidbare Sätze der Principia Mathematica und verwandter Systeme I) states that it is the first part of several papers. Gödel mentions, in a footnote, that the second part of his paper will deal with the source of the incompleteness of formal systems using the theory of types. But no actual continuation of Gödel's 1931 paper ever appeared. However, in his 1958 "Dialectica-paper" (the offered item) Gödel showed how type theory can be used to give a consistency proof for arithmetic. In this paper Gödel furthermore discussed some of the philosophical implications of his results. Paul Bernays thought highly of this paper, and planned to publish an English translation, but during the revision of the paper Gödel became dissatisfied with the philosophical introduction and rewrote it completely. When the proof sheets of the revised paper arrived from the printer, Gödel once again became unpleased with the sections concerning his philosophical views. He never returned the proof sheets. The issue offered, which is a festschrift on the occasion of Paul Bernay's 70th birthday, furthermore contains original contributions by Ackermann, Carnap, Curry, Fraenkel, Robinson, Skolem.

Baltimore, John Murphy & Co., 1879. 4to, entire issue present (Vol. II, no. 4). With the original printed wrappers. Uncut. Wrappers loose and with tears and loss to extremities. Backtrip gone. Stitching a bit loose. Internally nice and clean. First paper: A Quincuncial Projection of the Sphere pp. (394)-396 + 1 folded table. Second paper: On the Ghosts in Rutherfurd's Diffraction-Spectra pp. (330)-347. [Entire issue: pp. (293)-404 + IV, (2) pp] Scarce first printings of these seminal papers, the first of which introduces Peirce's quincunical projection, the second of which documents his discovery of hitherto unknown diffraction phenomena called "ghosts".The Peirce quincuncial projection (published here for the first time) is a conformal map projection that presents the sphere as a square, which allowed for the displaying of the entire sphere with most areas being recognizable . Peirce called his projection quincuncial, after the arrangement of five items in a quincunx. "For meteorological, magnetological and other purposes, it is convenient to have a projection of the sphere which shall show the connections of all parts of the surface." Peirce himself wrote. (American Journal of Mathematics. Volume II. Number 4, 394 pp.)In "On the Ghosts in Rutherfurd's Diffraction-Spectra" Peirce documented his discovery of hitherto unknown diffraction phenomena called "ghosts." In his spectrum meter experiments, Peirce compared wave-lengths of light with the breadth of a diffraction plate. He used a machine called a comparator, a spectrometer he himself designed, and a diffraction plate designed by Lewis M. Rutherfurd.

Leipzig, J. C. Hinrichs, 1900. 8vo. Contemporary green half cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Very light brownspotting to front free end-paper and title-page, otherwise a very fine and clean copy. (4), 189, (3) pp. The very rare first edition of Harnack's seminal and hugely popular work on the essence of Christianity, which later gave birth to the movement of Liberal Protestantism. Today it is widely regarded as being one of the most influential works of modern protestantism. "No other book has so deeply stirred the world of theological thought as Harnack's work on the essence of Christianity" (The Catholic University bulletin, 9. Binding, P. 206)."Harnack expounded what he believed to be the core of the Christian religion, set free from the encrustations of dogma that had been laid down through the centuries. The core is to be reached by penetrating back to the teaching of Jesus himself, and Harnack represented this teaching as proclaiming the fatherhood of God, the infinite worth of the human soul, and the ethical ideal of the kingdom of God. The supposedly original gospel of Jesus is also claimed to be the only version of Christianity that can make sense for modern minds, since it is free from theological and metaphysical mystifications." (Borchert, Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Vol. 4, P. 228)."These lectures of 'The Essence of Christianity' by the then professor of church history at Berlin University were received with an enthusiasm unparalleled for centuries in the field of religious pamphleteering. They proclaimed the fundamental concord of the tenets of the early Church as preserved in the non-Roman Churches with the social and economic morality of the twentieth; and innumerable reprints and translations broadcast this message of liberal Protestantism all over the world. [...] Harnack's influence upon the intellectual life of Germany was enormous". (PMM 390)The vast popularity of the of the book is attested to by the well documented fact that at one point in 1900 the railway terminal in Leipzig was brought to a standstill by goods trains loaded with printed copies of the book!PMM 390

Venetia, Ruberto Meietti, 1596. (Colophon: In Venetia, 1596, Per Giovani Alberti). 4to. 18th century marbled blue paper binding with traces of wear, especially to spine and extremities. Handwritten paper title-label to spine. A few leaves evenly browned , and some leaves with a damp stain to upper margin, mostly faint. a bit of light brownspotting, but overall a nice and clean copy. Very discreet "stamp" to title-page ("tarquin") and a handwritten symbol with initials (a cross with A. L. M. F. at the ends) to verso of title-page. Woodcut allegorical title-vignette, woodcut printer's device to colophon, and large woodcut initial at beginning. A lovely printing. (8), 215, (1). With a preface, in which Speroni's friend Ingolfo Conte de Conti dedicates the work to the Duke of Urbino. ("Di Padoua di 16. Decembre, 1596"). The scarce first edition of Speroni's highly important work of orations, which is responsible for establishing the entire genre of moral orations and for Speroni's reputation as the first Italian orator. Sperone Speroni, one of the important cultural figures of the time, known from Torquato Tasso, his pupil, as "Sperone, who possesses fully all the arts and sciences", counts as the dominant literary figure on the "terraferma" in the generation following Bembo. During the early 1520s Speroni studied with the greatest of the Renaissance philosophers, Pietro Pomponazzi, and by the 1530s had become a major light at Padua, where he became professor of logic and general philosophy. Due to his eminent oration skills and his widely acknowledged and remembered speeches, he became known as the first Italian orator, and as the first modern thinker to incorporate moral themes into his speeches"Il passait pour le premier orateur de l'Italie... il a réussi dans ses poésies par la grâce et la vivacité, enfin, selon Ginguené, "son style en prose est un des meilleurs de cd siècle"... il est le premier Italien qui ait traité dans ce genre des questions de morale." (N.B.G.)He is widely famed for having helped found and shape the Paduan Accademia degli Infiammati (1540).The present work contains his 9 famous orations that each in their way came to influence the development of rhetoric, morals and politics of the Renaissance. In his "In morte del Cardinal Pietro Bembo", he showed that a great literature might be produced if Petrarch were studied and imitated in Italian just as the classics were in Latin, directly influencing the emergence of Petrarch-scholarship.But the most famous of the orations is probably the controversial "Contra le Cortigiane" ["oratin against the Courtesans"], in which he accuses the courtesan of being a glutton and vain, and taking advantage of the name "corte" (court), which associates her erroneously with the noble and honourable environment of the court. "Oh, diabolic pride! Base prostitute, of which state, and of which subjects are you a mistress?". His words finally metamorphose her from woman to serpent or half beast and half devil. (See: Paola Malpezzi Price, "Moderata Fonte: Women and Life in Sixteenth Century Venice", p. 74). The collection of his orations in the first printing became highly influential in the late Renaissance and came to determine the development of the art of writing speeches as well as a certain way of presenting philosophy and moral thought to the people.

(Architectura civilis:) Nuremberg, Paul Fürst, (no year); (Theatrum Machinarum Novum:) Nuremberg, 1703. Folio (345 x 240). In contemporary full calf with six raised bands. Extremities with wear. Boards with scratches, front board missing leather in lower margin. Frontiespiece of vol. 1 missing paper in outer margin. A few plates with tears but overall internally fine. (Architectura civilis:) (Frontiespiece), 5 ff. + 43 engraved plates; (Frontiespiece), 5 ff. + 30 engraved plates. (Theatrum Machinarum Novum:) (Frontiespiece), (10), 40 pp. + 153 engraved plates, wanting plate no. 8. Later edition of Wilhelm’s famous "Architectura civilis", first published in 1668. It reached several editions and remained a standard work for timber architecture until the second half of the 18th century. Withbound is Georg Böckler’s reissue from 1703 of his extensive work on windmills, pumps and other hydraulic machines.