Disegni di Macchine.
Il Codice S.IV.5 della Biblioteca Comunale degl'Intronati di Siena. Introduction by Carlo Maccagni. Approx. 100 facsimile drawings, 403pp., thick 4to, cloth, board slipcase; (slightly rubbed). Genova: IBM Italia, (1986). More
INVENTION
Cryptic Autographed Letter Signed by an inventor seeking a patent
Stockton, CA: 1919. 1 page, 11 x 8.25 inches, on ornate personal colorized "Defiance Tires and Tubes" letterhead, depicting a touring car (with passengers) circling the globe, Stockton, California, April 19, 1919. Intriguing letter written by Frank Justin, a part-time inventor who had successfully filed a patent for a piano stool in 1869 through the assistance of Scientific American Magazine, sending an unsolicited letter to the American Aeronautic Association, asking for assistance in filing a patent, in full: "Gentleman, I.... More
Autographed Letter Signed on personal letterhead
Denmark Hill, Surrey: 1880. 1 page, 6.75 x 4.5 inches, Denmark Hill, Surrey, September 6, 1880, inviting the recipient to visit his estate, in full: "I enclose my card which if presented at the Lodge will secure you a walk through the grounds and erneries. I fear the beauty of the season is over but such as it is you are welcomed to see it." Two horizontal folds; very good condition. English inventor whose steel making process would become the... More
Autographed Note Signed in Spanish
Bernal, Argentina: 1924. 1 page, 5 x 8.25 inches, Berrnal, Argentina, June, 1924 -- translated in full: "The radio will one day be able to transport human ideas to the ends of the earth. Bernal June 1924, C. Braggio." Very good condition. Argentinean inventor who developed a booster to increase the range of two-way radios. He set the world distance record for two-way radio communication in 1924 with a relay between Argentina and China. This is essentially a manuscript souvenir... More
Looking Forward: Life in the Twentieth Century as Predicted in the Pages of American Magazines from 1895 to 1905.
New York: American Heritage, 1970. Interpretive text by Ralph K. Andrist. Numerous b/w illus., 352pp., Folio, red cloth, d.w. New York: American Heritage, (1970). A near fine copy in very good dust wrapper. More
Engines of Democracy: Inventions and Society in Mature America.
New York: Scribner, 1940. Illustrated. Thick 8vo, blue cloth. New York: Scribner, 1940. First Edition. Very good (+). More
Autographed Manuscript Signed
Geneva, NY: 1823. Original detailed autographed manuscript signed, folio, 10 pages (front and back), 13 x 8 inches, Geneva, New York, May 20, 1823 -- an extensive draft describing an invention that was called "a machine for hulking and cleaning clover seed," a device that was granted a patent by the United States Government on March 18, 1824. Burrall explains in detail that his innovation is unique because previous models wasted much of the seed, worked slowly, and ran at... More
Souvenir Typescript Signed
1964. 2 pages, 11 x 8.5 inches, an excerpt from "Of Leaders and Leadership," circa 1964, in small part: "For our method of electing a President is crude in the extreme. Pre-convention juggling with local political bigwigs is obscure (often, one fears, on a low plane), and it, and the travel and speechmaking, cost millions, the sources of which are sometimes questionable. Our national conventions are at best ludicrous, and at worst scandalous. They are conducted by delegates, chosen ofttimes... More
Rare typed letter signed "Coop"
New York: 1927. 1 page, 11 x 8.5 inches, 1040 Lexington Avenue, New York City, docketed in pencil January 1927 to Jim [Hastings], touching base after a lapse of communication, in full: "It has taken a week for your letter to follow me to my new home here at 1040 Lexington Avenue -- don%u2019t forget the new address. Wish I could join your table at the Explorer's Club Dinner but I am at George Putnam's table already. As soon as... More
Autographed Letter Signed about his "caloric" engine invention
1857. 1 page, 10 x 8 inches, no place, August 8, 1857. Rare and early autographed letter signed by the Swedish-born American engineer and inventor of advances in ship-building, regarding his "caloric" (steam) engine invention, in part: "...Of course we cannot test our obion system unless we have a boat that will float in open water and, if we fail, you then meant, a tight boat to put the caloric engine into..." Blind-stamped in the upper left corner. Blue wax-crayon... More
They Made America; From the Steam Engine to the Search Engine: Two Centuries of Innovators.
New York: Little Brown, 2004. Many color and b/w Illus. 496pp. 4to, 1/2 black cloth, d.w. New York: Little Brown, (2004). Book Club Edition. Very good. More
Historically Important Manuscript about early Firefighting alarm technology
Boston: 1852. Partial unsigned manuscript consisting of four pages, 9.75 x 7.75 inches, labeled "2" through "5," of a more extensive document, all in the hand of Moses G. Farmer from 1852-1853, discussing the earliest trial-runs of the first ever Electric Fire Alarm System implemented in Boston. Though placed into service on April 28th 1852, Farmer's notes (in diary form) start on June 21st, assessing the system while constantly citing ways to improve his new invention, in very small part... More
Fessenden: Builder of Tomorrows
New York: Coward-McCann, 1940. Frontis. vi + 362pp., 8vo, cloth. New York: Coward-McCann, 1940. A very good copy. New York: Coward-McCann, 1940. A very good copy. More
Conquerors of Time; Exploration and Invention in the Age of Daring
London: John Murray, 2004. Illus. 444pp. 8vo, gray cloth, d.w. (London): John Murray, (2004). Very good. More
Typed Letter Signed on scarce "American Television Laboratories" letterhead
Chicago: 1947. 1 page, 11 x 8.5 inches, Chicago, January 13, 1947, to Dr. Walter Ransom Baker, electrical engineer who contributed greatly to the development of radio and television, in full: "I am deeply gratified to read what you say in the January issue of Radio-Craft [enclosed pages] regarding my work in the electronic field, a field to which you have, yourself, contributed so generously." Some discoloration throughout the body of the letter due to the previous enclosure of a.... More
Framed Signed Photograph
1975. 9.5 x 7.5-inch black-and-white photo of Fuller standing outdoors wearing a jacket and tie -- no place, no date, circa 1975. Signed with excellent contrast in the upper right. Matted in dark gray and set in a silver and black frame measuring 15.25 x 13.25 inches. Several faint creases, but still in very good(+) condition. Architect, author, designer, and inventor. More
The Ingenious Yankees.
New York: Thomas Crowell, 1976. Illus. 8vo, brown cloth, d.w. chipped, bottom of front cover and d.w. lightly soiled. New York: Thomas Crowell, (1976). More
The Ingenious Yankees.
New York: Thomas Crowell, 1976. Illus. 8vo, brown cloth, d.w., ink and pencil marks in some margins, otherwise very good. New York: Thomas Crowell, (1976). More
Original Patent with Drawings
1856. 4 pages on oversize vellum, 19 x 13.5 inches -- a very scarce patent issued to William M. Henderson, April 8, 1856, a resident of Baltimore, Maryland, with two original highly detailed drawings, colorized on heavy wax paper identified as "IMPROVEMENTS TO SLIDE VALVE ENGINES" with a technological page devoted to the explanation on how Henderson's invention would function. Fine signature by the Secretary of the Interior, Robert McClellland, with all ribbons and seals intact. Near fine. William Henderson... More
Original Scarce Patent for Steam Engines
Washington, D.C. 1865. 4 pages on vellum, 20 x 15 inches, Washington, D.C., December 5, 1865. Very scarce patent issued to William M. Henderson, a resident of Baltimore, Maryland, with an original highly-detailed drawing of an independent steam engine, colorized on heavy waxed paper identified as "IMPROVEMENTS IN DIRECT ACTION INDEPENDENT STEAM ENGINES," with a technological page devoted to the explanation of how Henderson's invention would function. Fine signature by the Secretary of the Interior, W.I. Otto. All seals and... More
Lewis Miller: A Biographical Essay
New York: Putnam, 1925. Introduction by Thomas A. Edision. Frontis., illustrated. xi + 208pp., 8vo, blue cloth, d.w.; dust wrapper chipped. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1925. A very good (+) copy in a rubbed and chipped dust wrapper. More
Inventors: Men of Achievement.
Frontis. port., b/w illus. 299pp. 12mo, maroon cloth. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1894. Very good. More
Rare partly-printed Document Signed "F.E. Ives"
Chicago: 1925. "Ives snubs his Nobel-nominated son Herbert!" Outstanding and exceedingly rare document, 1 page, 11 x 8.5 inches, Chicago, Illinois, no date, circa 1925 -- a questionnaire sent out by Funk & Wagnall's to notable Americans for inclusion in their Famous Family Series. Ives provides relevant information pertaining to his parents and children, in part: "...Large families on both sides, mostly male, and mostly married young and had numerous children. My father was one of eleven and my mother... More
De l'Auscultation Mediate, ou Traite du Diagnostic des Maladies des Poumons et du Coeur.
Paris: Brosson, 1819. 2 volumes. Illustrated with 4 folding engraved plates at the end of first volume. [5], vii-xlviii, 456, [8], xvi, 472 pages. 8vos, bound in early mottled calf with red & black leather spine labels (spines quite worn but solid; scattered light foxing), marbled endpapers. Paris: Brosson et Chaude, 1819. First edition. Overall a very good copy. Of the greatest rarity. This classic work, by "one of the greatest physicians of all times" announces his invention of the... More
De l'Auscultation Mediate, ou Traite du Diagnostic des Maladies des Poumons et du Coeur.
Paris: Brosson & Chaude, 1819. 2 volumes. Illustrated at the end of the first volume with 4 folding engraved plates (2 of the plates have been divided, making the work appear to have six plates). [5], viii-xlviii, 456, [8]; xvi, 472pp. Bound in old calf-backed patterned boards; gilt and blind-tooled spines; marbled page edges. Paris: Brosson et Chaude, 1819. First edition. Near fine. Of the greatest rarity. This classic work, by "one of the greatest physicians of all times" announces... More