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Sale 6
Lot 787
Men of Science. All items are in Very Good to Fine condition, with most being fine. Lot of Four Autograph Letters Signed and One Signed Photograph. Empirically-minded lot consisting of the following items:
A. Two Letters Signed by Nobel Physicist Joseph Henry. The first being Three pages, recto/verso, Quarto, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, March 27, 1856. Fascinating letter written as Director of the Smithsonian to a man attempting to answer a question raised by his curious young son: "My dear Sir, Your letter relating to an interesting experiment on sound, has just been received, and I hasten to dictate the following reply. The fact noticed by your son, is an illustration of the effect produced by the simultaneous vibrations of two mingled substances of different densities. If when bubbles of gas are rising through a liquid, sonorous impulses are given to the mixture, the waves through the denser medium move with much greater rapidity than those through the other, and consequently the latter interfere with the former and neutralize them…" Henry goes on to give a detailed explanation, and uses curious examples taken from nature to illustrate the phenomenon he describes. The second is a long letter, written ten years later, Four pages, Quarto, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, October 29, 1866, and concerns a fire that has ravaged the Portland Natural History Society, and plans for a reconstruction of the Museum to be engineered by Joseph Henry and the Smithsonian: "…After consultation with Prof. Baird, we venture to offer the following suggestions. A prominent object of the Society should be the collection and exhibition of a complete series of specimens illustrating the natural history of Maine. A great mistake is frequently made by museums in endeavoring to collect specimens indiscriminately from all parts of the world. With the large exhibitions in Boston, Cambridge and Salem, very little competition could be entered into by Portland in the way of general natural history, and little or no inducement could be offered to men of science to visit that city fro remote localities. With, however, a full series of specimens from Maine on exhibition, the rooms of the Society will constantly be a source of attraction…" Henry then goes on to suggest a possible prospectus, including suggestions for specific exhibits, and methods for promotion. Both of these substantive letters are signed in full, "Joseph Henry."
B. Autograph Letter Signed by the Inventor of the Kaleidoscope Sir. David Brewster. Two pages, recto/verso, Duodecimo, on personal letterhead, n.p., September 27, 1861. Polite letter declining an invitation to lecture: "…I regret to say that it is quite out of my power to deliver a lecture to your Philosophical Institution…" Signed, "D. Brewster."
C. Autograph Letter Signed by Geologist Sir Archibald Geikie. Two pages, recto/verso, Large Octavo, on The Windsor stationery, New York, NY, April 18, 1897. Concerning lecture dates for a proposed reception and talk at the New York Academy of Sciences, a printed invitation to which is also included.
D. Signed Photograph of X-Ray Pioneer William D. Coolidge. Sepia-tone, 9 x 7 ", studio portrait of the famous chemist inscribed, "Very sincerely yours, W. D. Coolidge." . Fine.
Estimated Value $300 - 600.
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| Realized $311 |
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