拍品 789
  • 789

COMRIE, 9 ITEMS

估價
250 - 300 GBP
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描述

  • A collection of 9 items, relating to computing and astronomy, comprising:
i. "The application of calculating machines to astronomical computing" [reprinted from:] Popular Astronomy, vol. 23, no. 4, April 1925. Northfield, MN: Carleton College, 1925, wrappers, (bought from Interlibrum, 1993), [T&W C132]ii. "The application of the Brunsviga Twin 13Z Calculating Machine to the Hartmann formula for the reduction of prismatic spectrograms" [reprinted from:] The Observatory, vol. 60, no. 754, March 1937. Eastbourne: Hailsham, 1937, pp.70-73, wrappers, (bought from Interlibrum, 1993), [T&W C134; Origins of Cyberspace 271]iii. "The application of the Hollerith Tabulating Machine to Brown's tables of the Moon" [reprinted from:] Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 92, no. 7, May 1932, pp.694-707. London: Priestley & Weale, 1932, wrappers, (bought from Interlibrum, 1993), [T&W C136; Origins of Cyberspace 266; Randell 1979 p.119]iv. Memoirs of the British Astronomical Association. Vol. XXIV, - Part I. First report of the computing section, London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, September 1921, original wrappers, (Weinreb Collection, Bloomsbury, 28 October 1999, lot 71, where bought by Erwin Tomash), [T&W C145; Origins of Cyberspace 253]v. Reprint of articles and reviews in the Journal of the British Astronomical Association, vol. 36, no. 9 (1926). London: British Astronomical Association, 1926; eight items by Comrie, including: [Review of] Bibliotheca Tabularum Mathematicarum: Being a descriptive catalogue of mathematical tables by James Henderson, Part I: Logarithmic Tables (A. Logarithms of Numbers). London, Cambridge University Press, 1926, [T&W C155, C138]vi. "The rigorous calculation of the moon's parallax and apparent semi-diameter with the aid of a calculating machine" [in:] Journal of the British Astronomical Association, vol. 51, no. 5, June 1941. London: British Astronomical Association, 1941, pp.159-161, [T&W C156] [also including:] "On the Distance between Two Neighbouring Points on the Sphere", p.162; "Line of Planets", p.163; original pale yellow wrappersvii. "Phenomena of Saturn's Eclipses" [in:] Memoirs of the British Astronomical Association. Vol. XXX, Part III Second Report of the Computing Section. Perth: for the Association by Milne, Tannahill & Methven. December 1934, pp. 33-106, original blue wrappers, [T&W C154, C158], lacking lower wrapper viii. Porter, John Guy (1900-1981). "Obituary: Leslie John Comrie, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S." [in:] Journal of the British Astronomical Association, vol. 61, no. 5, April 1951 pp.132-134. London: British Astronomical Association, 1951, [T&W P104], wrappersix. "Suggested Formation of a Computing Section", p.313; "Occultations during the Lunar Eclipse, October, 1920", pp.2901-291; "Phenomena of Saturn's Satellites (with Diagram)", pp.292-293; [in:] The Journal of the British Astronomical Association, vol. 30, no. 9, June, 1920. London: British Astronomical Association, 1920, wrappers, spotted, [T&W C159]8vo 

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

Comrie was the foremost computer and table maker between the two world wars, with mechanical calculators his lifelong passion, which started when he was recovering from the amputation of his leg following injury in World War I. In 1938 he formed the only commercial scientific computing service of the day, Scientific Computing Service Ltd, based in London. He is known for his innovative application of commercial accounting and punched card machines to scientific computation. The third item records his recognition of the power of the standard Hollerith (IBM) punched card equipment as an aid to complex astronomical calculations. He was one of the first to apply these machines to navigational problems.