Fitch

Fitch, Val Logsdon,
Val Logsdon Fitch (geb. 1923), Physiker und Nobelpreisträger. Portraitphotographie (Reproduktion) mit e. U. ("Val S. Fitch"). Princeton, September 2004. Mit e. adr. Kuvert. - Brustbild en face in S/W, der Kopf leicht zur Seite gewandt. - Val S. Fitch hatte 1980 zusammen mit James Cronin den Nobelpreis für Physik erhalten "für die Entdeckung von Verletzungen fundamentaler Symmetrieprinzipien im Zerfall von neutralen K-Mesonen".

Val Logsdon Fitch (geb. 1923), Physiker und Nobelpreisträger. Portraitphotographie (Reproduktion) mit e. U. ("Val S. Fitch"). Princeton, September 2004. Mit e. adr. Kuvert. - Brustbild en face in S/W, der Kopf leicht zur Seite gewandt. - Val S. Fitch hatte 1980 zusammen mit James Cronin den Nobelpreis für Physik erhalten "für die Entdeckung von Verletzungen fundamentaler Symmetrieprinzipien im Zerfall von neutralen K-Mesonen".

[SW: Autograph, Manuskript, Dokument, Autographen. Abbildungen finden Sie auf unserer Webseite www.autographenhandlung.de]

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ELWES, H.J. A Monograph of the Genus Lilium (including 9 supplements). 1877

London (1877-) 1880, 1933-1962. 2 volumes. Folio (550 x 380mm). With 1 handcoloured lithographed map, 1 photograph and 88 beautifully hand-coloured lithographed plates (last 10 plates in colour lithography). Contemporary green half morocco, spines with 6 raised bands, gilt lettering and ornaments. [Together with:] Illustrations of Lilies, by Lilian Snelling. Hitchin, Wheldon & Wesley, 1970. Folio (550 x 380mm). With 30 fine hand-coloured lithographed plates. Contemporary half cloth. "A work of the greatest interest and value to all Lily growers" (Great Flower Books 56). A fine complete copy including the rare supplements as well as an extra set of the plates by Lilian Snelling of the first seven parts of the supplement. These plates are therefore double in our copy. According to a printed note (1970) of the Antiquarian Booksellers Wheldon & Wesley 'The supplement to the Monographs of the Genus Lilium has been out of print for a good many years, but there remained a few sets of the beautiful plates which came into our hands a short time ago and they are now reissued in a limited edition." Henry John Elwes (1846-1922) was a British botanist who visited the Himalayas, Tibet, China, Asia Minor and many other countries collecting and discovering many new and beautiful plants. His 'Monograph of the Genus Lilium' is his most splendid publication. The work was issued in three separate and distinct stages, that is the 'Monograph' published between 1877 and 1880, with 48 superbly handcoloured plates by W.H. Fitch, then the first seven parts of the 'Supplement' by A. Grove and A.D. Cotton between 1933 and 1940, illustrated by Lilian Snelling and finally parts 8 and 9 of the 'Supplement' by W.B. Turrill between 1960 and 1962 illustrated by Margaret Stones. Walter Hood Fitch, the artist of the first 48 plates, was one of the most prolific botanical artists of the Victorian era 'His flamboyant but accurate drawings gained him international fame and recognition and provided vitally important records of an immense number of plants new to botany' (J. Lewis, Walther Hood Fitch. A celebration p. 1). "At the age of sixty, Fitch began work on his last great series of lithographs, which were to form the illustrations of the 'Monograph of the Genus Lilium' (1877-80) of H.J. Elwes. The supplement to this famous book was illustrated by Miss Lilian Snelling, who proved a worthy successor to the industrious Scot. In the words of Sir Jospeh, Fitch was an 'incomparable botanical artist' with an 'unrivalled skill in seizing the natural character of a plant '" (Great Flower Books p. 31). Fitch made numerous plates for Curtis's 'Botanical magazine' from 1834 to 1877. He also made the illustrations of another splendid flower book, Hooker's 'Rhodondendrons of Sikkim-Himalaya'. Provenance: First volume with armorial bookplate of J.A. Mullens Nissen BBI, 594; Great Flower Books, 56;. Tomasi, An Oak Spring Flora pp. 397-399.

[SW: Phanerogams / Flowers/Flower Books (Illustrated)]

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HOOKER, Sir Joseph Dalton (1817-1911): The Rhododendrons of Sikkim-Himalaya; being an account, botanical and geographical of the Rhododendrons recently discovered in the mountains of eastern Himalaya, from drawings and descriptions made on the spot, during a government botanical mission to that country, by Joseph Dalton Hooker... Edited by Sir W.J. Hooker,

London: Reeve, Benham, & Reeve, 1849-1851. Folio. (19 5/8 x 14 1/2 inches). Title with tinted lithographic vignette, 2 letterpress part titles, 1p. list of subscribers, 1p. preface to part II. Hand-coloured lithographic frontispiece and 29 fine plates, drawn on stone by John Nugent Fitch from drawings by J.D. Hooker, printed by Reeve, Benham & Reeve (12), Frederic Reeve (4) and Reeve & Nichols (14). Original oatmeal morocco-grained cloth, covers blocked with double fillet border, the flat spine lettered in gilt 'Rhododendrons of Sikkim-Himalaya.', g.e., contained within a modern brown cloth box, titled in gilt on black morocco lettering-piece on spine. A very fine copy of the rare second edition of this beautifully illustrated work on the wide-ranging but always elegant Rhododendron family - 'An important work for both the botanist and horticulturalist since it contains descriptions and plates of many of the best Rhododendron species...and an account of their discovery' ('Great Flower Books') The Rhododendrons of the Himalayas amply demonstrate the adaptable nature of the plant kingdom: the species described vary from ground hugging 'alpines', to small shrubs, climbers, large shrubs and trees. For example: of the thirty-two species illustrated and described by Hooker in this important monograph, eight are described as trees by Hooker and vary in height from the 'Rhododendron lanatum' (a small tree), to the magnificent 'R. Campbelliae' and 'R. barbatum' at around 40 feet. The beautiful plates are amongst the best examples of the work of Walter Hood Fitch (1817-1892), one of the greatest botanical artists of the nineteenth century. Fitch had attracted the attention of Sir William Hooker (1785- 1865) when he was working as an apprentice to a Glasgow firm of calico designers. 'When Hooker was appointed Director of Kew Gardens, he carried his protege south with him. That was in 1841: for the next fifty years Fitch remained at Kew, and his career is inseparably associated with those of Sir William and his son Joseph.' (Great Flower Books 1990, p.46). 'Fitch had the greatest competence of any botanical painter who has yet appeared in drawing the rhododendron' (Great Flower Books). 'In his lithographs he has captured the exuberant form and colour of these flowering shrubs.. Sometimes at the base of the plate, magnified views of the pistils, stamens and sections of the ovaries are presented. The first plate is unusually attractive because the plant... is shown in its native habitat, growing among the trunks of fallen trees against a hazy background of blue mountains.' (Oak Spring Flora). Fitch remained the chief (and usually sole) artist for the Botanical Magazine for forty-three years, producing over 9000 drawings including some of the most memorable images of his age. The plates are all based on J.D. Hooker's original drawings. Hooker spent several years exploring Sikkim, as well as parts of Nepal and Tibet. His field notes were sent to England from India to his father, Sir William Hooker, who edited the text for this work and contributed a preface giving an interesting overview of the discovery of the genus by western science. In addition to the many botanical discoveries that J.D. Hooker made during his exploration of the region, his 'observations on the geology and meteorology of Sikkim are still fundamental, and he explained the terracing of the mountain valleys by the formation of glacial lakes.' (DNB). A great many of the species of Rhododendron discovered and described here by Hooker were subsequently successfully introduced to western cultivation Cf. Blunt & Stearn The Art of Botanical Illustration p.264; cf. Bradley Bibliography II, p.676; Desmond The European Discovery of the Indian Flora p.144; cf. Great Flower Books (1990) p.101; cf. Nissen BBI 911; cf. Oak Spring Flora 104; cf. Stafleu & Cowan TL2 2969.

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RUMSEY, James (1743?-1792): A Short Treatise on the Application of Steam, Whereby is Clearly Shewn, From Actual Experiments, That Steam May be Applied to Propel Boats or Vessels of Any Burthen Against Rapid Currents With Great Velocity. The Same Principles are Also Introduced with Effect, by a Machine of a Simple and Cheap Construction, for the Purpose of Raising Water Sufficient for the Working of Grist-Mills, Saw-Mills, &c. and for Watering Meadows and Other Purposes of Agriculture,

Philadelphia: printed by Joseph James, 1788. Small octavo. (8 3/4 x 5 3/8 inches). [1-]26 pp. Contemporary paper wrappers, early manuscript title on upper wrapper, uncut (wrappers with repaired tears). Second edition, second issue of this important early pamphlet on steam navigation by one of the two American steam pioneers. James Rumsey's pamphlet was first published under a slightly different title (A plan wherein the power of steam is fully shewn... ) in 1788. It was then reprinted with this title, in two different issues (the first with the word 'chep' on the title, the second with the word correctly spelled, as here). Rumsey states in the "Advertisement" on the verso of the title that this pamphlet is reprinted from "a pamphlet published in Virginia, to prove the authors prior right of applying steam, to propel boats &c. as well as to establish the principles on which he has done it, a few copies were then thought sufficient for that purpose, but as Mr. Fitch intends to answer the pamphlet, it is therefore necessary to re-publish as much of it as respects Mr. Fitch, which is done with no other variation, from the original, than to correct a few of the omissions and mistakes that were introduced into the first publication". Rumsey and John Fitch entered into a controversy over whose steam-powered boat had priority. Fitch was the first to publicize his invention and obtained a 14-year privilege for the manufacture of steam vessels, giving him a virtual monopoly on its production in America. Rumsey's pamphlet prompted John Fitch to reply by publishing his Original steamboat supported, (1788) in which Fitch attacked Rumsey's claim to priority. Though neither man was financially successful, Fitch went on to inaugurate the first commercial steamboat service on the Delaware River in 1790. Evans 21442; Norman 1859; Sabin 74128; Streeter sale 3961; Rink 2924; Howes R499 'b'.

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