155

[Medicine & Science] Posselt, Emanuel Anthony (1858-1921) The Jacquard Machine Analyzed and Explained: With an Appendix on the Preparat

[Medicine & Science] Posselt, Emanuel Anthony (1858-1921)
The Jacquard Machine Analyzed and Explained: With an Appendix on the Preparation of Jacquard Cards, and Practical Hints to Learners of Jacquard Designing.

Philadelphia: Under the Auspices of the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art, 1888.

First edition, small folio, illustrated throughout with text diagrams and two folding plates, bound in publisher's dark brown cloth, titled in gilt on front cover and spine, some dents to front board, generally good, shadows of the turn-ins from a former hand sewn jacket of striped fabric burned onto endleaves and pastedowns; with a long strip of graph paper inscribed by hand in ink and pencil with working instructions for dressing a loom for a woven fabric pattern loosely inserted, 10 3/4 x 7 1/2 in.

Posselt was a master weaver who emigrated to the United States from the Czech Republic (then Reichenberg, in the Austrian Empire) in the 1870s, after graduating from weaving school. At home, he managed his father's textile mills and toured Europe to learn more about the industry. He embarked upon similar pursuits in this country, eventually settling in Philadelphia at the Pennslyvania Museum and School of Industrial Art, where he served as its first director of the textile division. His broad knowledge of weaving informs this exhaustive and copiously illustrated treatise describing the workings of the Jacquard loom.

In addition to the Jacquard machine's value to the textile industry, its invention also represents an important advancement in the development of mechanical computing. The loom executed a complicated series of binary code operations (which thread was over or under its crossing thread at any given intersection) by way of punch cards. The earliest computers designed by IBM worked by using the same punched card technology pioneered by Jacquard's invention.

Stephen Jay Gould, in his essay, "For Want of a Metaphor," published in the collection, The Flamingo's Smile, argues that the punch card also presented a new way for scientists to imagine how biological processes unfold. He proposes that our understanding of the development of an embryo was hindered before the punch card came along. Once we digested the idea of an object seemingly unrelated in look to the finished product that nonetheless contains the code for executing it, we opened the door to much bigger ideas.

Origins of Cyberspace 355.

  • Condition:
    Please contact the Specialist for the auction to request a condition report.

    Condition reports and additional images are provided as a courtesy and should be used by you to aid in the formation of your own opinion regarding condition. All material is sold subject to Swann's standard Terms and Conditions of Sale as published in our catalogues and posted on our website, and include the following terms: (1) all property is sold "as-is"; and (2) works cannot be returned on the basis of condition.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Upon request, Swann will facilitate the shipping of purchases to out-of-town buyers at an additional charge for packing, shipping and insurance, but will not be responsible for any loss, damage or delay resulting from the packing, handling and shipping thereof. Unless specific instructions are received, Swann is the sole judge of the method to be used for shipment. Packing and shipping costs will be noted on the invoice mailed to successful bidders after the sale, and are based on the actual costs involved. Be advised that a full commercial invoice must accompany any purchase shipped outside the US.

May 4, 2023 12:00 PM EDT
New York, NY, US

Swann Auction Galleries

You agree to pay a buyer’s premium, as outlined below, and any applicable taxes and shipping.
Buyer's Premium
$0 - $100,000:
27.00%
$100,001 - $1,000,000:
22.00%
$1,000,001+:
12.00%

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $149 $10
$150 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $5,999 $200
$6,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 $499,999 $20,000
$500,000 + $50,000