New Acquisitions in Science

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The Discovery of the X-Ray:

Rontgen, Wilhelm Conrad. "About a new kind of rays”. 1898 First complete edition of Rontgen’s announcement of the discovery of the X-Ray. $2400. View page.

The Birth of Wireless Communication:

Hertz, Heinrich. “Uber sehr schnelle electrische Schwingungen” [with] Nachtrag zu der Abhandlung uber sehr schnelle electrische Schwingungen. 1887 First printings, of Hertz's first two papers on electromagnetic waves. “This discovery and its demonstration led directly to radio communication, television and radar” (Dibner). $2000. View page.

Hertz, Heinrich. Electric Waves: Being Researches on the Propagation of Electric Action with Finite Velocity Through Space. 1893 First edition in English of Hertz's collected papers on electromagnetic waves; the foundation for wireless communication. With the signature of Lord Kelvinon presentation bookplate: This copy was presented as a gift to a student at the University of Glascow by Lord Kelvin, Professor of Natural Philosophy at the university and one of the most accomplished scientists of the nineteenth century. (Kelvin was also the author of the preface to the present volume.) PMM 377. $4200. View page.

Radioactivity:

Curie, Marie Sklodowska. "Radio-Active Substances." Extraordinarily rare first edition in English of Marie Curie's famous doctoral thesis, her most significant publication and one of the most important papers in the field of radioactivity. Fine condition in original wrappers. PMM 394. $8500. View page.

A revolution in twentieth-century physics:
Bohr’s epochal “On the constitution of atoms and molecules”

Bohr. Niels. On the Constitution of Atoms and Molecules. Parts I-III. First printing in original wrappers of all three parts of Bohr’s landmark paper marking the definitive break from using classical physics at the atomic level. In exceptionally fine condition. Exceedingly rare in this condition. $10,000. View page.

Another copy, rebound. $3700.  View page.

Einstein's General Theory of Relativity
1916 first edition

Einstein, Albert. Die Grundlage der allgemeinen Relativitatstheorie. First printing, offprint issue, of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. "The theory's impact upon twentieth-century science and thought can hardly be overstated." $5600. View Page.

Three papers that defined a discipline:
The theoretical foundation for quantum mechanics

Heisenberg, Werner. Uber quantentheorestische Umdeutung kinematischer und mechanischer Beziehungen. WITH: Born, Max and Jordan, Pasqual. Zur Quantenmechanik. WITH: Born, Jordan, and Heisenberg. Zur Quantenmechanik II. First printings of three critically important papers in the development of quantum mechanics. Together, the three papers, published in consecutive volumes of Zeitschrift fur Physik, (1925-1926) form the theoretical basis for quantum mechanics. Rare. $6800. View Page.

One of the Most Important Discoveries in all of Science:
The Heisenberg Uncertaintly Principle, Rare First Printing 

Heisenberg, Werner. Uber den anschaulichen Inhalt der quantentheoretische Kinematik und Mechanik. 1927 The first printing of Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, one of the most important and celebrated findings in modern physics. Rare. $6500. View Page.

Nuclear Fission

Meitner, Lise and Frisch, Otto. On the Products of the Fission of Uranium and Thorium under Neutron Bombardment. 1939 First edition, first printing, in original wrappers, of one of Meitner and Frisch’s early important papers on nuclear fission. Fine condition. $950. View Page.

Quantum mechanics' description of nature confirmed:
First printing of Bell's refutation of the EPR Paradox

Bell, John S. On the Einstein Podolsky Rosen Paradox.1964 First printing of John Bell's dramatic refutation of the Einstein Podolsky Rosen (EPR) Paradox, confirming the "completeness" and accuracy of quantum theory. $3600. View Page.

The Foundation of the Internet

Cerf, Vinton G. and Kahn, Robert E. A Protocol for Packet Network Intercommunication. 1974 First printing of the most important article on the Internet’s development: Cerf and Kahn’s creation of the Transmission Control Program (TCP), the blueprint for the Internet. $2300. View Page.