BABBAGE, OBSERVATIONS ON THE DISCOVERY... OF THE REMAINS OF HUMAN ART..., 1859, INSCRIBED

8vo (213 x 138mm.), PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR ("To George Ticknor Esquire | from the Author") on the title-page, disbound, trimmed, tears and loss to extremities

George Ticknor (1791-1871); Jonathan Hill, New York, Catalogue 43, item 2; bought from Hill, 1989

Tomash & Williams B46; cf. Origins of Cyberspace 78, Van Sinderen 75 (journal issue, where pp.59-72)

The American traveller and scholar George Ticknor (1791-1871) recorded in his journal a visit, at Babbage's "special invitation", on 12 July 1835, "...to see Babbage's calculating machine; and I must say, that during an explanation which lasted between two and three hours, given by himself with great spirit, the wonder at its incomprehensible powers grew upon us every moment" (see George Ticknor, Life, Letter and Journals of George Ticknor, Boston 1877, I, p.407). An offprint with new pagination from the Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (paper read 26 May 1859, published in volume 10, 1859-1860).