An interesting assemblage

Owen, Robert Dale, Henry, Joseph

"Speech of Robert Dale Owen, of Indiana, on the Bill Organizing the Smithsonian Institution for the Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge Among men. Delivered in the House of Representatives, April 22, 1846", [a pamphlet inserted in] A Memorial of Joseph Henry

[Washington, DC]: Government Printing Office 1846, 1880. 528 pages. Large 8vo. Cloth. WITH 8 pages.

Henry's Memorial was published in 1880 and has several letter fragments affixed to the front pastedown (Smithsonian envelope fragment addressed to Dr. William P. Vail" with Vail's note thanking the sender for the book). The Owen pamphlet (published in 1846) is tipped in after page iv.

Writing and underlining throughout both the Memorial text as well as Owen's pamphlet, presumably by Vail. Good. Cloth. [29424]


Robert Dale Owen was responsible for pushing through the legislation setting up the Smithsonian Institution. Dr. William P. Vail's nephew was Alfred Vail who who assisted Morse with the original telegraph work.

"Joseph Henry (December 17, 1797– May 13, 1878) was an American scientist who served as the first secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He was the secretary for the National Institute for the Promotion of Science, a precursor of the Smithsonian Institution. He also served as president of the National Academy of Sciences from 1868 to 1878. While building electromagnets, Henry discovered the electromagnetic phenomenon of self-inductance. He also discovered mutual inductance independently of Michael Faraday, though Faraday was the first to make the discovery and publish his results. Henry developed the electromagnet into a practical device. He invented a precursor to the electric doorbell (specifically a bell that could be rung at a distance via an electric wire, 1831) and electric relay (1835).[8] His work on the electromagnetic relay was the basis of the practical electrical telegraph, invented separately by Samuel F. B. Morse and Sir Charles Wheatstone. In his honor, the SI unit of inductance is named the henry." (Wikipedia)

PROVENANCE:
From the collection of communications historian Bill Holly.

Price: $150.00