Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers, Volume 20, January - December 1932 (13 magazines in Hardcover Binder, no DJ) 

 

 

•    Chairman, Board of Editors:                    Alfred N. Goldsmith   

•    Publisher:            The Institute of Radio Engineers, Inc.   Menasha, WI  U.S.A.    1932-3

 

20th anniversary (1932, Volume 20) collection of the 12 monthly Proceedings magazine for the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE), plus the 1932 Yearbook of Membership, bound in a hardcover notebook.  Each magazine contained information about both national & local IRE activities, meetings, government regulation affecting members, as well as around a dozen technical papers, literature reviews and pages of manufacturer advertisements.   

 

This set is historically significant because a technical paper written by a young Bell Lab engineer working in Holmdel NJ established the birth of RADIO ASTRONOMY.  The December 1932 magazine is the 1st edition of that article. 

 

Directional Studies of Atmospherics at High Frequencies by Karl G. Jansky, pp.1920-1932 In Proceedings of the IRE, vol.20, no.12 (Dec.1932), marks THE BIRTH OF RADIO ASTRONOMY

 

 "Working at Bell Labs, (Karl G.) Jansky was given the task of investigating factors that could interfere with radio waves used for long-distance communication. He designed a linear directional antenna, which, mounted on wheels from a Model T Ford, could scan the sky. He identified all the sources of interference, such as thunderstorms, except for one weak emission. This he found to be unconnected with the Sun and in 1931 he discovered that the radio interference came from the stars. Jansky published his findings in the Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers in December 1932 ['Directional Studies of Atmospherics at High Frequencies'], the date that marks precisely the beginnings of radio astronomy" (Biographical Encyclopedia of Scientists). 

 

The collection contains 155 original papers, lists members and the applicants for membershio during 1932 with demographic information, lists both local and international conventions and has several hundred ads for appliances and equipment then used in the industry. 

 

Each monthly magazine bound separately as a softcover with glue and stapled binding.  Hardcover binder holds each magazine into place with metal bands into metal braces.  Binder is embossed with faded gold highlights and has minor rust on metal.  Some magazines have a POS, which adds no value.  We found it stored in an outbuilding so has been cleaned and pages are aged and somewhat brittle. 

 

•    Size:  4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall,    2,704pp.

•    Condition:  Good Magazines & Hardcover Binder w/o DJ  –   1st Edition & Always Privately owned. 

 

No ISBN, ISSN, LCCN nor MSR. 

 

Notes on Condition/Edition ratings:

 

Fine – means like new, but any book produced over 10 years ago isn't “brand new” or even “new.”  Booksellers needed some word to describe this...

 

Like New – A new book, no marks no damage (except maybe remainder marks or shelf-wear) except not obtained directly from the publisher or in packaging from the publisher. 

 

Good – How someone else might take care of a book. Also referred to as “standard.” This is the most likely condition for books of this age & title, shows the book has been read or previously owned.  

 

 Acceptable – How a young child, student or a librarian might take care of a book. (Either trying to make sure someone doesn't steal it by plastering ownership everywhere, filled it with copious notes or a book that has been damaged.)

 

Poor – Combination of “acceptable” factors above. Most likely with water damage as well. Might have

missing pages (you should ask).

 

Near – Means “almost” in an optimistic sense. e.g., “Near Fine” means very good, but on the high end.

 

1st Thus – Unique somehow, maybe 1st paperback, new illustrator, misprint or even the 1st edition. A collector might desire this copy.

 

Thanks for looking!