"Radiant Matter." A resume of the Principal lectures and paper of Prof. William Crookes, on the "Fourth State of Matter." ... Price 50 cents ...
Philadelphia, PA: James W. Queen & Co. circa 1881. First Edition. 45, [3-ads] pages. Plus advertisements for twenty-one types of Crooke's tubes on the inside cover, and testimonials dated 1881 inside the rear cover about those tubes. The rear cover notes the contents of the pamphlet, and offers additional reference sources. 6 x 9 inches. Gray printed wrappers. A thin volume with portions of the spine paper perished, and the front cover re-tipped at some point. Several stains to the front wrapper, including an old library stamp. Some careful taping to the spine panel by a previous owner. Very Good. Wraps. [27893]
OCLC notes at least one copy at University of Pennsylvannia with 7 trailing ads instead of the three present in this copy. The digitized copy at Indiana is the same as ours, but is lacking the rear cover. Dated based on testimonials on rear wrapper.
The publisher, James W. Queen & Co, was a maker and distributor of scientific instruments including Crookes' tubes. This pamphlet, a rare survival, is one way of marketing those tubes to the scientifically minded - complete with many very nice woodcut illustrations. Crookes' tubes light up when electricity is run through them and are a collector favorite. Material specifically about them (and Crookes) is scarce, most original articles published in scientific journals, some reproduced here in abstract, some in full. A beautiful pamphlet not often seen in the marketplace.
ITEM SOLD