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William Henry Bragg

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:2,000.00 - 2,500.00 USD
William Henry Bragg

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Auction Date:2018 Jun 13 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Signed book: From the National Gallery Laboratory, with a preface by Sir William Bragg, and an introduction and notes by Ian Rawlins. First edition. London: Printed for the Trustees by Harrison and Sons, 1940. Hardcover, 8.75 x 11.5, 50 pages. Affixed to the first free end page is Bragg's autograph manuscript for the book's preface, signed "W. H. Bragg," beginning: "The ether waves which are just too long to have any effect upon the eye, and the x-ray waves which are also invisible because they are far too short, are shown in this book to have a very interesting story of their own to tell about ancient paintings." Rawlins signs above the draft in pencil with his initials, "F.I.R.," adding the date of receipt. Also includes an ALS from Bragg to Rawlins affixed to the front pastedown, dated August 15, 1940, in part: "I hope this will do. Do you want pictures & typescript back all at once?" Autographic condition: fine, with light edge toning. Book condition: VG/None, with light staining and soiling to boards, and sunning to spine. An original mailing envelope addressed to Rawlins, postmarked 1955, is loosely laid in.

This remarkable book, which features x-ray photographs of numerous paintings held by the National Gallery, is one of the the first texts treating modern scientific techniques of connoisseurship and art restoration. This example bears a pencil bookseller's notation describing it as "Rawlins' copy." Rawlins was an expert in spectroscopy and served as scientific advisor to the National Gallery.