PAULI, WOLFGANG
FIRST EDITION IN ORIGINAL WRAPPERS of Pauli's influential paper demonstrating the superiority and validity of the new quantum mechanics. Following the development of quantum mechanics by Heisenberg, Born, and Jordan, "the first nontrivial and physically important application of quantum mechanics was made soon afterwards by Wolfgang Pauli [On the Hydrogen Spectrum from the Standpoint of the new Quantum Mechanics], who calculated the stationary energy values of the hydrogen atom by the matrix method and found complete agreement with Bohr's 1913 formulas. From this moment, there was no longer any doubt about the correctness of the theory among physicists" (Max Born, Physics in My Generation). IN: Zeitschrift für Physik, Band 36, Heft 5, pp. 336-363. Berlin: Julius Springer, 1926. Octavo, original wrappers; custom box. A few smudges to wrappers, otherwise fine. Rare in wrappers and without any institutional stamps.
HAECKEL, ERNST
FIRST EDITION OF HAECKEL'S BEAUTIFUL AND HIGHLY INFLUENTIAL COLLECTION OF "ART FORMS OF NATURE", WITH 100 STUNNNING FOLIO PLATES, MOST COLORED. "The geometric shapes and natural forms, captured with exceptional precision in Ernst Haeckel's prints, still influence artists and designers to this day. Powerful modern microscopes have confirmed the accuracy of Haeckel's prints, which even in their day, became world famous. Haeckel's portfolio, first published between 1899 and 1904 in separate installments. illustrate Haeckel's fundamental monistic notion of the 'unity of all living things' and the wide variety of forms are executed with utmost delicacy. Incipient microscopic organisms are juxtaposed with highly developed plants and animals. The pages, ordered according to geometric and 'constructive' aspects, document the oneness of the world in its most diversified forms. This collection of plates was not only well-received by scientists, but by artists and architects as well. Rene Binet, a pioneer of glass and iron constructions, Emile Galle, a renowned Art Nouveau designer, and the photographer Karl Blossfeld all make explicit reference to Haeckel in their work" (Breidbach, Olaf. et al. Art Forms in Nature). "From the delicately intricate architecture of micro-organisms such as diatoms and algae, to the graceful variations of hummingbird species, Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) visually explored the diversity of life on Earth through his stylistic and painstakingly detailed illustrations.These artworks opened people's eyes to the complexity of life forms rarely seen by his contemporaries. Even in today's world of high resolution photography and digital archiving, these illustrations remain wondrous.While it would be ideal to have more information about the images themselves, Art Forms in Nature is a mesmerising collection of science and art history" (Ten Great Books on Scientific Illustration). The plates were originally published in sets of ten before collected in this first edition. WITH: Supplement bound-in. Two volumes bound in one. Leipzig & Vienna: Bibliographisches Institit, 1904. Folio (10.5 x 14), contemporary half-morocco; later endpapers. Fading to spine. In outstanding condition with text nearly pristine and plates extraordinarily bright.
EINSTEIN, ALBERT
OVER 100 PHOTOGRAPHS (with some duplicates) from the archives of the Wide World Photos (later the Associated Press) documenting Einstein's life. Taken together, the collection - photographs with individual explanatory captions - serves as a biography in pictures through the eyes of the press and is a valuable primary source in understanding how the public's perception of Einstein was shaped by the media. Albert Einstein's fame far exceeded what one could ever have expected for a scientist - for much of his adult life he was one of the most recognized people in the world and, astonishingly, his fame has only grown since his death in 1955. How did this come to be? Einstein had the luck (or misfortune) of having a career that coincided almost perfectly with the rise of mass media, particularly in the form of newspapers, magazines, and photojournalism in general. With his revolutionary theories, bohemian attire, expressive face, and witty quotes, Einstein became the perfect subject for the new media. The public adored Einstein and because of his status as a "genius" nearly everything he did could be a source of possible interest. The collection contains dozens of photographs covering serious events -Einstein speaking on the horrors of war or oppression, meeting with other scientists or dignitaries, teaching or working in his study -but there are nearly as many photographs of Einstein involved in recreational activities, like sailing, playing the violin, sight-seeing, or celebrating his birthday. The striking thing about the included captions is that there is the same tone of excitement and even wonder, in watching Einstein do anything -everything, the media seem to be telling us, can be important if it involves Albert Einstein. Through this collection, we can understand what the public saw - and, perhaps, wanted to see - in Einstein, and how the popular image of Einstein was created - an image of Einstein that we still hold today. Later in life, Einstein said that he felt his real job was as a photographer's model, because the most celebrated photographers of the day sought him out as their subject. This archive does indeed contain some of these famous posed photos of Einstein, but the collection is dominated by candid photos many of which have rarely been reproduced. Over 100 silver gelatin prints (102 by our count, although with some duplicates), the images measuring approximately 8 1/2x6 1/2 inches (21.6x16.5 cm.), and slightly smaller, most with a Wide World Pictures or Associated Press stamp on verso and with a press captions on loose slips. Photos from Einstein's life from 1919-1955. A few photos with edgewear, but generally very good condition.
[CIVIL WAR; CIVIL WAR DIARY]. SMITH, CHARLES E.
A REMARKABLY EXTENSIVE ARCHIVE OF A UNION SOLIDER, INCLUDING DIARIES FROM 1861-1865 SPANNING HIS ENTIRE CIVIL WAR CAREER. THE SOLDIER, CHARLES E. SMITH, PARTICIPATED IN SOME OF THE MOST CRITICAL CAMPAIGNS OF THE WAR, INCLUDING THE SEIGE OF VICKSBURG, THE FALL OF ATLANTA, AND SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA. Background: Charles E. Smith (1836-1905) was born in Berlin Township, Ohio. He worked as a farmer and country schoolteacher in Alum Creek, Delaware County, Ohio. He enlisted in the 32nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry at the age of 25 on September 3, 1861 and mustered in September 7, 1861. He was promoted to the rank of corporal in Company I of the regiment on January 30, 1864. He was slightly wounded on July 29, 1864 during the Atlanta Campaign. He mustered out of the service on July 20, 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky. The 32nd Ohio Infantry was organized at Mansfield, Ohio, on August 20-September 7, 1861, and mustered in for three years' service under the command of Colonel Thomas H. Ford. The regiment was involved in several important engagements and operations during the Civil War, including the Battle of Greenbrier River, the Battle of McDowell, the Battle of Harpers Ferry, the Battle of Champion Hill, the Siege of Vicksburg, the Atlanta Campaign, the Battle of Jonesborough, Sherman's March to the Sea, the Carolinas Campaign, and the Battle of Bentonville. The 32nd Ohio Infantry mustered out of service at Louisville, Kentucky, on July 20, 1865. The Collection: The collection consists of 26 dairies, dating from 1859 to 1866. Except for four volumes, covering a period from 1856 to April 1861 and one covering the period September 18, 1865 to December 5, 1866, the remaining dairies (21 volumes) span his entire Civil War career in the 32nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, covering the period September 3, 1861, the date of his enlistment, to the date of his mustering out of the service, on July 20, 1865. The diaries, of various sizes, average approximately 100+ pages, with few blank pages. His daily entries in his Civil War diaries, many of which are detailed, consist of descriptions of the weather, diet, geographical locations, his devotion to the Union, camp activities, military news, and description of engagements. He also included several drawings in the diaries, some in color. He described his day of enlistment of September 3: "Enlisted at Lewis Center between 8 and 9 oclock in Captain Dyre's company of 3 years volunteers. I bid good bye to all my folks and started having resolved to assist in sustaining the Government. But the feelings which came over me, when I left home, friends and all that seemed dear to me I cannot describe." The new enlistees moved to Camp Dennison and Smith records the daily activities in camp as his company prepared for their first movement. From Camp Dennison, the 32nd Ohio was ordered to western Virginia (present-day West Virginia) to assist in driving Confederate forces out of the region. On October 3, 1861, the 32nd Ohio participated in the inconclusive Battle of Greenbrier River. Smith records in his diary, beginning on September 29 through October 3: â â "In the evening we received orders, to march to make an attack on Greenbrier about 12 miles distant. Our company numbered 86 men. Our regiment probably numbered 900 men present and able to perform duty. The 32nd. Went in advance and cleared out the road and took one prisoner. Our regiment stopped at the cross roads within four miles of Greenbrier, and stopped. We expected there that the battle commenced. but they [Confederate troops] did not come, and we. crept into the thick laurel bushes to lay till morning. When I awoke it was daylight, and other regiments were passing. The artillery was hurrying along as fast as possible, each gun was drawn by six horses, and about nine oclock the canons began to roar. It was kept up till two oclock, on both sides, when our communication failed, and our men withdrew from the field without losing any guns. The canons roared very loud and the sound rolled over the Mountains and valleys, and made everything ring once more. Our loss was, including those that were killed on the field and those that died of wounds after the battle, about 12 men. We took 13 prisoners."â Smith describes an engagement with Confederate forces around Beverly, Virginia, on December 18, 1861: "The rebels came out and met our forces, and a bloody fight ensued. The 32nd fought bravely and drove the enemy back. The 25th were in the advance, and were cut up dreadfully. They fell back and the 32nd stood their ground and fought them like tigers. Our men made two or three gallant charges and drove them out of their entrenchments and were forced out themselves. Our boys could not drive them out again, and after a desperate and bloody struggle our troops retreated., having lost about one hundred men." After spending the winter in Beverly, Virginia, the 32nd Ohio participated in the Shenandoah Campaign of 1862, where they engaged Stonewall Jackson's Confederate force at the Battle of McDowell, Virginia, on May 8, and were defeated. On that day, Smith recorded the following: "We formed into line and gave three cheers to the cavalry and were waiting to welcome the infantry, when a dispatch came for us to report immediately at headquarters, armed and equipped. We went forthwith and formed into line of battle on an open field. The rebels came down on the hills & tried to pick a spot to plant a gun and our boys threw shell amongst and drove them out. The rebels gathered on a mountain at the right of town, about 4,000 men. Our boys did not find out what they were at or where they were till late in the afternoon. Two regiments went up the mountain and the ball was opened. The battle lasted till after 8 oclock at night when our boys withdrew bringing the wounded and mostly all the dead from the field. The fight lasted about 4 hours." The 32nd Ohio retreated to Franklin, Virginia, where they joined General John C. Fremont's comma
FIRST EDITION, SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY McCARTHY. McCarthy's masterpiece and one of the most influential works of the 20th century. Inscribed in ink on the half-title: "For Darla / All best / Cormac McCarthy." With detailed letter of provenance (available upon request). "In the entire range of American literature, only Moby-Dick bears comparison to Blood Meridian. Both are epic in scope, cosmically resonant, obsessed with open space and with language, exploring vast uncharted distances with a fanatically patient minuteness. Both manifest a sublime visionary power that is matched only by still more ferocious irony. Both savagely explode the American dream of manifest destiny of racial domination and endless imperial expansion. But if anything, McCarthy writes with a yet more terrible clarity than does Melville." (Shaviro, Steven, "A Reading of Blood Meridian"; Southern Quarterly. 30 (4); 1992). New York: Random House, 1985. Octavo, original half red cloth over red boards, original pictorial dust jacket. Book fine (nearly perfect), dust jacket with a tiny amount of edgewear. A spectacular copy of McCarthy's most significant work, very rare signed.
SCARCE FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE of Khrushchev's 'Secret Speech' Which Attacked Stalinism and Changed the Course of World History. On February 14, 1956 the twentieth congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union assembled in Moscow for their first meeting following the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953. Almost nothing was said about the deceased leader until, in a closed session on February 25th, 1,500 delegates and visitors with special passes listened to a shocking speech by First Secretary of the party Nikita Khrushchev entitled The Personality Cult and its Consequences. In this speech Khrushchev denounced Stalin, seeking to destroy the beloved image and legacy of the late dictator. Guests and members of the press were excluded, and the Polish translation was the only version circulated during the Cold War. We have on offer the scarce first printing of the Polish text which included the recorded interjections which were edited out of subsequent printings. The official Russian text was not published until 1989. In his speech, Khrushchev recounted numerous instances in which Stalin committed horrific crimes. He quoted from correspondence, memoranda, and his own observations, providing details of Stalin's heinous actions during the Terror of the late 1930s, Stalin's lack of the preparedness at the time of the Nazi invasion in 1941 and throughout World War II, Stalin's inhumane deportation of various ethnic groups (including the Kalmyks, Chechens, and Crimean Tatars) in 1943 and 1944, and Stalin's tyrannical and abusive behavior towards party members. Khrushchev also referenced V.I. Lenin's Testament, published in 1923, in which Lenin warned that Stalin was power hungry and should be removed from his position as General Secretary. Khrushchev spoke for four hours as his audience sat in complete silence, stunned by the appalling accusations. When Khrushchev was finally done, there was no applause and the audience departed in a state of shock. By distancing himself from Stalin and blaming Soviet failures on the "cult of personality" that Stalin encouraged, Khrushchev sought to absolve the Communist party itself of any grave mistakes that had been committed under Stalin. This speech also served as a starting point for Khrushchev's de-Stalinization campaign to revert official policy to an idealized Leninist model. The decision to deliver the speech was contentious. Khrushchev had argued vehemently with those who saw Stalin as the divine father, finally agreeing that the speech was not to be published as part of the congress's proceedings nor reported in the Soviet press. However, copies were sent to regional party secretaries who briefed rank-and-file members. The U.S. State Department received a copy of the speech from Eastern European sources. The speech was a bombshell, Soviet sources reported that some twentieth congress delegates suffered heart attacks and others committed suicide. People in the Soviet Union were shaken to the core and Khrushchev's words changed the Soviet Union with ripples felt for decades to come. At the 1961 party congress Khrushchev and others attacked Stalin's memory again in an open session. After this meeting Stalin's body was removed from the mausoleum in Red Square that he had shared with Lenin. Stalingrad and other such places were renamed. Mikhail Gorbachev, who became General Secretary in 1985, publicly praised Khrushchev for his courageous speech and pursuit of de-Stalinization. Determined to carry on Khrushchev's reform work Gorbachev explained that the secret speech laid the foundation for perestroika by addressing "not only the cult of personality, but also.ways to manage the country." (Bigg) The speech also had far-reaching consequences in Central and Eastern Europe, fueling hopes of political change and revolution, particularly in Poland and Hungary. It eventually led to a period of liberalization known as the "Khrushchev thaw" and freedom for tens of thousands of political prisoners. The speech caused many western Communists to abandon the movement and shocked many western powers. On February 8, 1956, prior to the meeting of the Communist Party congress, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) sent out a policy statement about the meeting explaining that it would "probably not bring any surprises." Thus, western powers were astonished when in March 1956, word leaked out that on February 25th at the twentieth congress, Stalin had been censured and condemned. The speech, and Khrushchev's de-Stalinization campaign, also had major repercussions in Asia. China's Chairman Mao Zedong saw Khrushchev's speech as a threat to his authority and the speech was a major cause of the Sino-Soviet split. Mao criticized Khrushchev for deviating from the path of Lenin and Stalin, using adherence to Stalinist values as an excuse to strengthen his own cult of personality. In North Korea, activists within the Workers' Party of Korea attempted to remove Chairman Kim Il Sung, criticizing him for not "correcting" his leadership methods, distorting the "Leninist principle of collective leadership," developing a cult of personality, and using arbitrary arrest and executions. (Lankov) The attempt to overthrow Kim failed, the activists (labeled anti-party factionalists) were arrested and executed and Kim further strengthened his own cult of personality. This extremely scarce and important first edition of Khrushchev's secret speech, is one of the defining texts of twentieth century geopolitics and the Cold War. Khrushchev, describing Stalin as a despot and terrorist who had committed crimes against humanity, disrupted the traditional belief that Stalin was a savior of the Soviet people and unleashed forces that changed the course of history. It planted the seeds that led to revolutions throughout Eastern Europe and eventually contributed to the demise of the USSR. With "Wylacznie do uzytku organizacji partyjnych" ("Exclusively for inner-party use") p
