Lot 215: BECQUEREL, Henri (1852-1908). ‘Sur les radiations emises par phosphorescence.’...

BECQUEREL, Henri (1852-1908). ‘Sur les radiations emises par phosphorescence.’ – ‘Sur les radiations invisibles emises par les corps phosphorescents.’ – ‘Sur quelques proprieties nouvelles des radiations invisibles emises par divers corps phosphorescents.’ – ‘Sur les radiations invisibles emises par les sels d'uranium.’ – ‘Sur les proprieties differentes des radiations invisibles emises par les sels d'uranium, et du rayonnement de la paroi anticathodique d'un tube de Crookes.’ – ‘Emission de radiations nouvelles par l'uranium metallique.’ In: Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de l'Academie des Sciences, vol. 122, pp. 420-421, pp.501-503, pp.559-564, pp.689-694, pp.762-767, 1086-1088. Paris: Gauthier-Villars, 1896.

First edition, journal issue, of the six articles documenting Becquerel’s important research on uranium. Inspired by Röntgen's discovery of x-rays in late 1895, Becquerel undertook his own investigations. In February 1896, he announced to the French Academy of Sciences that fluorescent crystals of potassium uranyl sulfate had exposed a photographic plate wrapped in black paper after both had lain for several hours in direct sunlight. His investigations suggested to the Curies the importance of further investigations of uranium ore, with the result that they discovered radium. The present volume of Comptes rendus contains well over 100 papers devoted to various aspects of x-rays and radioactivity. Garrison-Morton 2001; Norman 157.

Quarto (258 x 215mm). Half-title. Original grey half cloth over marbled paper boards, spine lettered in gilt (extremities lightly rubbed). Provenance: Institute of Physics, University of Würzburg (stamp).