“A MAD DREAM? CERTAINLY NOT!”: 1926 FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST BOOK ON TELEVISION

DINSDALE, Alfred. Television. London: Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, 1926. Octavo, original paper wrappers, original dust jacket. Housed in a custom slipcase. $6500.

First edition of the first book on the newly invented television, richly illustrated, in original printed wrappers.

This important work focuses on the pivotal television research of Scottish engineer John L. Baird, who produced televised objects in outline in 1924, recognizable human faces in 1925, and in 1926 became the first person to televise pictures of objects in motion. He later went on to develop a color television system, and he sent the world's first trans-Atlantic television transmission, from London to New York, in 1929. The BBC initially adopted his mechanical television system in 1929, though it was later replaced by Marconi's electric system. Alfred Dinsdale was the editor of Television magazine. Richly illustrated with 12 black and white plates, including the "first photograph ever taken by Television in the world's history." This copy in scarce original wrappers (many extant copies appear to have been rebound) and dust jacket. Armorial bookplate laid in.

Text and wrappers fine, rare original dust jacket nearly so, with modest soiling to spine. Rare, especially such nice condition.