COMPUTER CONFERENCES AND SYMPOSIA - DOSS, INFORMATION PROCESSING EQUIPMENT, 1955 (2 COPIES)

FIRST EDITION, 8vo, original orange-brown cloth, dust-jacket, (Calvin Northrup Mooers (1919-1994), the American computer scientist, ink-stamp on front endpaper), [T&W D61; Origins of Cyberspace 574 (also with dust-jacket)]; together with another copy (without jacket) (2)

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."

The final paper deals with calculating machines and computers. The copy in jacket was owned by the American computer scientist Calvin Northrup Mooers, especially known for his work on information retrieval and for the programming language TRAC. He coined "Mooers's law" (not to be confused with "Moore's law") in 1959, which stipulates that "an information retrieval system will tend not to be used whenever it is more painful and troublesome for a customer to have information than for him not to have it".