THE YOUNGER GENERATION EXPANDS THE REACH OF BRITISH SCIENCE English mathematician and mechanical genius; perfected a calculating machine, the forerunner of the modern computer. Autograph Letter Signed, C Babbage, two pages, octavo, Com[mitte]e Room, December 1, 1832. To W. Venning. “I regret exceedingly that on consulting my Committee they advise me not to have … [ Read More ]
inventors
Bell, Alexander Graham
AMERICAN INVENTOR OF THE TELEPHONE Letter Signed, two and one-half pages, quarto, Northampton, Massachusetts, March 15, 1906. To Dr. A. L. E. Crouter, president of the American Association to Promote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf. Also signed by three witnesses. “As I am about to sail for Europe, and since I … [ Read More ]
Boyle, Robert
ANGLO-IRISH NATURAL PHILOSOPHER, CHEMIST, PHYSICIST, INVENTOR, AND GENTLEMAN SCIENTIST Autograph Document Signed, “Ro Boyle,” one page, oblong octavo, June 26, 1675. Also signed by E Anglesey (Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey). “We doe hereby acknowledge to have recd. of the Countess of Orrery our Severall propo[rt]ions of the ballance of this acco[un]t. Witnes our … [ Read More ]
Chippendale, Thomas
English cabinet-maker. Autograph Document Signed, Thos Chippendale Junr., one page, oblong quarto, June 4, 1766. A receipt for furnishings and services from Mr. Parran, made and done for Thomas Chippendale, Sr. “Feby 22 1766, To making a new Cloaths press shelf and putting edges round two other shelves and lining them with baize and baize … [ Read More ]
Edison, Thomas A
American inventor of the phonograph. Autograph Letter Signed, Thomas Edison, in pencil, two pages, octavo, undated. To Fagan. “Call Patterson’s attention to the fact that if 90 grams of Lithia is right for say an A4 it is not right for any other size as we have found out at Lab. There is an unknown … [ Read More ]
Einstein, Albert
EINSTEIN PATENT FOR “A LIGHT INTENSITY SELF-ADJUSTING CAMERA” ALBERT EINSTEIN. German-born theoretical physicist; enunciated the Theory of Relativity. Document Signed, Albert Einstein, two pages, quarto, New York, December 5, 1936. Also signed by Gustav Bucky. Together with a copy of the patent. Einstein signs a patent assignment for the only U.S. patent he ever received … [ Read More ]
Ford, Henry
American automobile manufacturer. Superb oversize Photograph, showing Ford examining an automobile engine, signed and inscribed to “Mrs. Cameron” in the light lower portion. The black & white photograph measures 11 inches wide by 14 inches high. Henry Ford’s aversion to farm work and his interest in mechanical things, caused him to leave home at the … [ Read More ]
Fulton, Robert
American inventor and engineer; built the steamboat Clermont. Autograph Document Signed, one page, small octavo, Georgetown, August 15, 1808. Fulton orders The Bank of Columbia to “Pay the bearer six dollars.” A very fine example. Framed in beige, terra cotta and gilt, with an engraved portrait of Robert Fulton. Framed dimensions: 11 inches wide by … [ Read More ]
Guillotin, Joseph-Ignace
French physician who invented the beheading machine which was employed during the French Revolution. Document Signed, Guillotin President, as President of the Committee of Health, full page, legal folio, Paris, November 23, 1790. Concerning a request that Dr. le Doyene be given an assistant. Fine condition. Matted in tan and maroon, with a bust-length engraving … [ Read More ]
Morse, Samuel
SAMUEL F. B. MORSE. American artist and inventor of the telegraph. Sketch, in pencil, one page, irregular small octavo sheet pasted onto a quarto sheet, [1848]. Morse has drawn the face of a bearded man, wearing a cap, below which is an Autograph Note of Winfield Scott’s Chief of Staff, B[enjamin] B. French, signed … [ Read More ]
Sikorsky, Igor
IGOR SIKORSKY. Russian-born American aeronautical engineer, Igor Sikorsky; developed the helicopter. A collection of two contracts and five typewritten letters signed, as well as five documents and 26 letters, typewritten and carbon copies of letters, memos and financial papers, all concerning the publication of his book, The Story of the Winged-S, and its revised editions, … [ Read More ]
Talbot, H. F.
H. F. TALBOT. English pioneer in photography; in 1839 invented and described “photogenic drawing”, contemporaneously with the invention of the daguerreotype; process later improved and known as the calotype, or Talbotype process; discovered method of instantaneous photography [1851]; with Rawlinson and Hincks, one of the earliest to decipher cuneiform inscriptions of Nineveh. Autograph Letter Signed, … [ Read More ]
Westinghouse, George
American inventor and industrialist; chiefly responsible for the adoption of alternating current for electric power transmission in the United States. Autograph Letter Signed, Geo. Westinghouse Jr, four pages, octavo, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 11, [1880s]. On his monogrammed stationery, to his mother, Mrs. Emeline Westinghouse in Schenectady, New York. With the original envelope. “I know how … [ Read More ]