112

(SCIENTISTS.) KELVIN, WILLIAM THOMPSON; BARON. Autograph Letter Signed, "Kelvin," to Henri Becquerel, with a small ink drawing.

DISCUSSING PERPETUAL MOTION AND HIS FAILURE TO CREDIT DISCOVERER OF RADIATION (SCIENTISTS.) KELVIN, WILLIAM THOMPSON; BARON. Autograph Letter Signed, "Kelvin," to Henri Becquerel, with a small ink drawing. The letter, thanking him for photographs showing "phosphorescence-rays," explaining that he thought it unnecessary to credit him in a recent article since everyone knows who discovered the phenomena [Becquerel is not mentioned in the article by Kelvin, Beattie and Smolan, "Experiments on the Electrical Phenomena produced in Gases by Röntgen Rays, by Ultra Violet Light, and by Uranium" in Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 21, (1897): 393-428], discussing similarities between Becquerel's work with "phosphorescence-rays" and some experiments Kelvin described in a recent lecture demonstrating a "quasi-perpetual motion" machine, and reporting that he is bound for New York with his wife aboard the Campania. The drawing, a diagram illustrating his "quasi-perpetual motion" machine, at upper edge of fourth page, 1x3½ inches. 7¾ pages, 8vo, written on two folded sheets, "Netherhall" stationery with address struck out in ink; faint scattered offsetting, horizontal fold. With the original envelope. Liverpool, 7 August 1897

". . . The specimens of photographic work done by your wonderful phosphorescence-rays, after passage through aluminum, which you kinldy send me are most interesting . . . . It will be a great pleasure to me to show them . . . at Toronto, and . . . I . . . look forward to soon seeing a published paper describing your results. I am afraid [Carruthers] Beattie and [Smoluchowski de] Smolan, and myself with them, are to blame for not having given references to your paper sufficiently for some readers who may possibly not know, so thoroughly as we have known all along, that the discovery of the 'uranium rays,' and of their electric properties, and of the transparency of aluminum for them and for some phosphorescence rays, is wholly yours. . . . [A]ll scientific people in this country look to you and your father, and your grandfather, as the main source of 19th century knowledge in this subject . . . .
"In a lecture on Contact-Electricity of Metals, which I gave before the Royal Institution in London last May . . . I called attention to a 'quasi-Perpetual Motion' by uranium rays which I showed in a very simple experiment. A piece of uranium . . . is placed [diagram] between polished plates of zinc and copper connected by thin copper wires with the terminals of a quadrant electrometer E [in diagram]. . . . [T]he experiment proves that there is a continuous current of electricity through the wires C C' [in diagram], as long as metallic contact is maintained at M. This current generates heat continually (? for years; ? forever ?) in the wires! What is the source of energy drawn on for this emission of heat? I forbear to conjecture. . . ."
In 1903, Henri Becquerel shared the Nobel Prize in physics with Pierre and Marie Curie for "joint researches on the radiation phenomena discovered by Professor Henri Becquerel."

  • Provenance:

    ". . . The specimens of photographic work done by your wonderful phosphorescence-rays, after passage through aluminum, which you kinldy send me are most interesting . . . . It will be a great pleasure to me to show them . . . at Toronto, and . . . I . . . look forward to soon seeing a published paper describing your results. I am afraid [Carruthers] Beattie and [Smoluchowski de] Smolan, and myself with them, are to blame for not having given references to your paper sufficiently for some readers who may possibly not know, so thoroughly as we have known all along, that the discovery of the 'uranium rays,' and of their electric properties, and of the transparency of aluminum for them and for some phosphorescence rays, is wholly yours. . . . [A]ll scientific people in this country look to you and your father, and your grandfather, as the main source of 19th century knowledge in this subject . . . .
    "In a lecture on Contact-Electricity of Metals, which I gave before the Royal Institution in London last May . . . I called attention to a 'quasi-Perpetual Motion' by uranium rays which I showed in a very simple experiment. A piece of uranium . . . is placed [diagram] between polished plates of zinc and copper connected by thin copper wires with the terminals of a quadrant electrometer E [in diagram]. . . . [T]he experiment proves that there is a continuous current of electricity through the wires C C' [in diagram], as long as metallic contact is maintained at M. This current generates heat continually (? for years; ? forever ?) in the wires! What is the source of energy drawn on for this emission of heat? I forbear to conjecture. . . ."
    In 1903, Henri Becquerel shared the Nobel Prize in physics with Pierre and Marie Curie for "joint researches on the radiation phenomena discovered by Professor Henri Becquerel."
  • 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.

June 25, 2024 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