BABBAGE, AUTOBIOGRAPHIES AND BIOGRAPHIES

i. Bass, Michael T. (1799-1884). Street Music in the Metropolis. London: John Murray, 1864, original cloth, (bought from P.M. Pollak, Totnes, 1977), [T&W B112]ii. Babbage, Henry Prevost (1824-1918). Memoirs and Correspondence of Major-General Babbage. London: William Clowes, [1915], original cloth, (bought from Maggs, 2001), [T&W B70; Randell 1979 p.109]iii. Sabine, Edward (1788-1883). "Notices occasioned by the perusal of a late publication by Mr. Babbage" [in:] Philosophical Magazine and Annals, vol. 8, no. 43, July 1830, pp.44-50. London: Richard Taylor, 1830, [T&W Add38]; [bound with:] iv. [Babbage, Charles]. "Notes on a letter addressed by the Secretary of the Royal Society to the President", pp.72-73, same volume, [T&W Add1] [bound with:]v. [Babbage, Charles]. "Notes on Dr. Roget’s reply to Mr. Babbage" [in:] Philosophical Magazine and Annals, vol. 8, no. 43, August 1830. London: Richard Taylor, 1830, pp.153-4, [T&W Add2] [bound with:] vi. [Babbage, Charles]. "Remarks on Mr. Babbage’s work 'On the decline of science in England'” [in:] Philosophical Magazine and Annals, vol. 8, no. 47, October 1830. London: Royal Society, 1830 pp.354-359, [T&W Add3] (these three in same volume, bookplate with initial A "Que sursum volo videre", possible exlibris of the Adare family)vii. Dodge, Nathaniel Shatswell (1810-1874) "Charles Babbage" [in:] Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, showing the operations, expenditures, and condition of the Institution for the year 1873. Washington, DC: USGPO, pp.162-183, [T&W D58], [bound with:]viii. Quetelet, Lambert Adolphe Jacques (1796-1874) "Extracts from a notice of Charles Babbage... translated from the 'Annuaire de l'Observatoire royal de Bruxelles for 1873'", same volume, pp.183-187 (these two bought from Zeitlin & Ver Brugge, Los Angeles, 1970)ix. Davy, John (1790-1868). "A letter from John Davy..." [from:] The Philosophical Magazine for February 1865, London: Philosophical Magazine, 1865, 4pp. pamphlet, separately paginated, presentation inscription, (bought from Jeremy Norman, San Francisco, 1996), [T&W D18]x. Horsley, Victor Alexander Hayden, Sir (1857-1916). Description of the brain of Mr. Charles Babbage F.R.S. [offprint from:] Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, vol. 200, series B, London: Royal Society of London, 1907, pp.117-131., printed wrappers, wrappers torn and detached, [T&W H167]xi. Roget, Peter Mark (1779-1869) "Letters from the President and Secretary of the Royal Society, in refutation of an alleged inaccuracy in the minutes of the council" [from:] Philosophical Magazine and Annals for June 1830. London: Royal Society of London, 1830, separately paginated, 3pp., [T&W R105] [together with:] Babbage, Charles. "Notes on a letter... printed in Phil. Mag. and Annals of Philosophy", June 1830, 2pp., [T&W Add1]; "Observations by Dr. Roget in reply to Mr. Babbage", 2pp.; "Notes on Dr. Roget's Reply to Mr. Babbage", 2pp., [T&W Add2]xii. Babbage, Charles. A chapter on street nuisances. London: John Murray, 1864, second edition, later wrappers, [T&W B9; Origins of Cyberspace 83; Van Sinderen 76]8vo or 4to (8)

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Several of the items here relate to the public fight between Babbage and others regarding remarks he made in his book On the Decline of Science in England. The tenth item records the study of Babbage's brain by the eminent pathologist Victor Horsley, after it had been preserved in the Hunterian Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons. Unlike other contemporary commentators Horsley does not speculate on any apparent correlation between the cerebral morphology and Babbage's psychical characteristics.