拍品 749
  • 749

BABBAGE. DIFFERENCE ENGINE. COLLECTION OF WORKS

估價
1,200 - 1,800 GBP
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描述

  • A collection of 14 volumes relating to his Difference Engine, comprising:
i. [Hollcroft, T.R.]. "Babbage's calculating engine." [in:] The American magazine of useful and entertaining knowledge, vol. 1, pp.88-96. Boston: Boston Bewick Company, 1835, contemporary half calf, (bought from Dailey Rare Books, Los Angeles, 1994) [T&W A67; Checklist of American imprints 30041], spotted, binding very worn, covers partially loose ii. Baily, Francis (1774-1844). "On Mr Babbage's new machine for calculating and printing mathematical and astronomical tables." [in:] Astronomische Nachrichten 2 (November 28, 1823), Altona, 1824, cols 409-422, 2 volumes, original marbled boards, (Bibliotheca Academica; bought from Yelm Books, Whitestone, NY, 2000, Catalogue 17, item 233), [T&W B77; Origins of Cyberspace 34]iii. [Brewster, David (1781-1868)]. "On machinery for calculating and printing mathematical tables." [in:] Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, vol. 7, pp.274-281. Edinburgh: Archibald Constable, 1822, modern paper covers, preserved in folding cloth box, (bought from Biblion, 1983), [T&W B249; Origins of Cyberspace 301]iv. Buxton, Leonard Halford Dudley (1889-1939)‎ "Charles Babbage and his difference engines" [in:] Transactions of the Newcomen Society,  vol. 14, 1933-1934, pp.43-65. London: Newcomen, 1933, original paper covers, (bought from Yelm Books, Whitestone, NY, 2000, Catalogue 17, item 236), [T&W B307; Randell 1979 p.116]v. [Anonymous]. "Calculating machines" [in:] The Saturday Magazine, part 1, vol. 18, no.547, 9 January 1841; part 2,  vol. 18, no.549, 23 January 1841; part 3, vol. 18, no. 552, 6 February 1841. London: John William Parker, 1841, disbound (bought from Graham Weiner, London, 1998), [T&W C10; Origins of Cyberspace 59]vi. Dodd, George (1808-1881‎). The curiosities of industry and the applied sciences. London: George Routledge & Co., 1854, original pale purple cloth decorated in blind, preserved in cloth folding box (bought from Morgan, 1988), [T&W D57; cf. Origins of Cyberspace 70 (edition 1852)]vii. Knight, Charles (1791-1873). "Calculating machines." [in:] Knight's Cyclopædia of the Industry of all Nations, Cols. 486-89. London: Charles Knight, 1851, original cloth, (A.E. Terman, exlibris; bought from Jeremy Norman, San Francisco, 1994), [T&W K54; Origins of Cyberspace 68], cloth worn, faded with some tearsviii. Lardner, Dionysius (1793-1859). "Babbage's calculating engines." [in:] The Edinburgh Review, vol. 59, no. 120, July 1834, pp.263-327. Edinburgh: Edinburgh Review, 1834, later calf gilt, (bought from Biltcliffe, 1993), [T&W L32; Origins of Cyberspace 51; Randell 1979 p.144]ix. Marshall, William Prime (1816-1906) "Babbage's calculating machine" [in:] Proceedings of the Birmingham Philosophical Society, vol. 1, 2nd Session, 1877-1878 pp.33-48 Birmingham: Corns, Sherriff & Rattey, 1879, nineteenth-century half calf, (bought from Yelm Books, Whitestone, NY, 2000), [T&W M41; Randell 1979 p.150], some spotting, binding wornx. Rosse, William Parsons, 3rd Earl (1800-1867) "Address of the President." [in:] Proceedings of the Royal Society, vol. 7, no. 10, November 30, 1854, pp.248-258. London: Royal Society of London, 1854, original wrappers, (bought from Biblion, 1993), [T&W P20; Randell 1979 p.161]xi. Fitzgerald, William G. "The romance of the museums. V..." [in:] The Strand Magazine, vol. 11, pp.713-715. London: George Newnes, 1896, original pale blue cloth, cloth torn on spine (Gateshead Public Library, deaccession stamp), [T&W S203; Randell 1979 p.130]xii. [Chambers, Robert (1802-1871)] "Mr Babbage's calculating machine." [in:] Chambers' Edinburgh Journal, no. 134, August 23, 1834, p.240, original stitched wrappers, [not in T&W]xiii. [Anonymous]. "On machinery for calculating and printing mathematical tables [in] Museum, vol. 1, no. 6, pp.513-518, stitched wrappers, preserved in folding box, [not in T&W], some soiling (14 volumes, 8vo and 4to)

Condition

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."

拍品資料及來源

Lardner's paper contains extensive discussions on mathematical tables, followed by a prolonged analysis of the Difference Engine. Marshall's article is a detailed description of the operation of the Difference Engine, based on a set of specially prepared drawings of the machine. Ross describes the Royal Society's role in the progress the Engine, and the author's attempt in 1852 to persuade the government to finance the completion of the machine, claiming that the money spent earlier had been amply repaid by the improvements in mechanical engineering that resulted. Chambers reviews Babbage's own article on the Calculating Machine in the 120th Number of The Edinburgh Review, written in the wake of the collapse of the Difference Engine project.