Books

1896. Paris, Gauthier-Villars, 1896 a. 1898. 4to. Bound in 2 contemp. hcloth, spines gilt and with gilt lettering. In: "Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de L'Academie des Sciences", Tome 122 a. 127. - 1633 pp. + 1302 pp. Both with halftitle and title-page. Title-pages with a punched stamp to lower margin. The papers (tome 122:) pp. 420-421, 501-503, 559-564, 689-694, 762-767, 1086-1088. (Tome 127:) pp. 175-178, 1215-1217, 1218. Internally clean and fine. First appearance of the landmark papers in which Becquerel documents his discovery of Radio-activity, PROMPTING THE NUCLEAR AGE, and the papers which the Curies announced the discoveries of the 2 elements Polonium and Radium.Becquerel was an expert in fluorescence and phosphorescence, continuing the work of his father and grandfather. Follwing the discovery of X-rays by Röntgen, Bexquerel investigated fluorescent materials to see if they also emitted X-rays. He exposed a fluorescent uranium salt, pechblende, to light…

A detailed account of the landmark discovery of radium by Marie Curie, highlighting the challenges and excitement faced during the breakthrough.