Science Autographs and Memorabilia Gift Ideas

CHARLES F. KETTERING The GM innovator who endowed the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research with Alfred Sloan signed this sepia-toned photograph Photograph signed: "Yours Truly/C.F. Kettering." Sepia. 8x10. Photograph by Blank & Stoller, Inc. In 1909, Kettering (1876-1958) and Edward A. Deeds set up the Dayton Engineering Laboratories Co., later known as Delco. Kettering developed the first electrical ignition system and the first self-starter for automobiles. He sold Delco to General Motors in 1916. In 1920 he became President and General Manager of the General Motors Research Corp., a GM division. For the next 30 years he led teams that developed improved motor fuels, shock absorbers, variable speed transmissions, safety glass and the refrigerant Freon. Kettering retired from GM in 1947. With Alfred Sloan, the President and Chairman of GM for over 30 years, he endowed the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research. Creased at right background, not at signature. Lightly stained at his suit (barely visible head on). Paper clip impression at upper left. Otherwise, fine condition. read more...

R. BUCKMINSTER FULLER First edition hardcover copy of Tetrascroll: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, A Cosmic Tale, R. Buckminster Fuller's retelling of the fairy tale. With 21 lithographs by the American architect. Signed in 1983, less than two months before Fuller's death! Inscribed book page signed "For Dennis H Babin/Buckminster Fuller/5/9/83" on fly leaf. Color dustjacket with b/w pages, photographs and lithographs, 129 pages, 8½x11x½. Copy of Tetrascroll: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, A Cosmic Tale by Buckminster Fuller. Published by ULAE, Inc./St. Martin's Press. ©1973 and 1982 by R. Buckminster Fuller and ULAE, Inc.. First edition. Hardcover. Lightly toned. Light dents along edge of text block. Covers are lightly soiled and stained and have lightly rounded corners. Otherwise in fine condition. Accompanied by: Two pamphlets, one for "Integrity Day/A Global Event", the other a catalog from the Buckminster Fuller Insitute. Lightly toned and creased, otherwise in fine condition. Fuller (1895-1983) is best known for his development of the geodesic dome. read more...

FLORENCE SABIN. Photograph signed: "Florence K. Sabin". Sepia, 8x10. The first woman elected to the National Academy of Sciences (1925) and the first woman president of the American Association of Anatomists, Sabin (1871-1953) graduated from Johns Hopkins Medical School and later became its first female full professor. In her research work, Sabin made important contributions to the understanding of brain tissues and the development of the lymphatic system, and to the fight against tuberculosis. She played a key role in developing Colorado's public health system after World War II. Corner creases. Otherwise, fine condition. read more...

AUGUSTE LUMIERE Signed copy of a medical text by him, inscribed to French Cabinet Minister Marcel Regnier (1937) Book inscribed and signed in French on the half-title: "To Monsieur the Minister Marcel Regnier/Who it is hoped will accept the gift/of this work as a new/measure of my most deep gratitude/29.7.37/A Lumiere". His book The Horizons of Medicine, in French, in the Sciences of Today Collection managed by André George, 254 pages, 5½x7½, soft cover. Published by Éditions Albin Michel, Paris: 1937. The French chemist, industrialist and motion picture pioneer Auguste Lumiere (1862-1954), with his younger brother Louis-Jean, founded a factory for producing photographic plates, paper and chemicals in Lyons. They invented the Lumière process of color photography and the Cinématographie, an early motion picture camera, in 1895. The Lumière brothers produced the first newsreels and documentaries and, in 1895, what is considered to be the first movie, La Sortie des usines Lumière. During World War II, as shown in this letter, Lumière ran a clinic for the sick and injured under the difficult conditions of German occupation. read more...

GEORGE EASTMAN From the inventor of the Kodak camera to the founder of Universal Pictures. Autograph inscription signed: "George Eastman", 1p, 8¾x5½, on vellum. In full: "To Carl Laemmele one of the pioneers in the great industry of motion picture photography with high respect and regard of a fellow laborer in the same field". American inventor and manufacturer George Eastman (1854-1932) revolutionized the photography industry with his inventions of flexible film (1884) and the inexpensive Kodak box camera (1888). He entered the photographic plate-making business in 1880 after inventing a machine to coat glass plates. The mass production of his dollar Brownie camera in 1900 made photography available to children. Eastman's philanthropic gifts to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Rochester (New York) and the Eastman School of Music, which he founded, exceeded $100 million. ¾-inch circular stains at blank margins, 1 just touches the descender in the "G". Fine condition. read more...

[HOWARD HUGHES] and JEAN PETERS Jean pens a short letter to Hughes informing him of her plans for the night, with Hughes penning several notes back to her. A reclusive billionaire, Hughes lived in separate quarters (but in the same house) from his wife and was mostly confined to his bedroom, speaking to her almost entirely in notes and letters. Autograph letter signed: "J", "JP" 1 page, 8½x11. No place, no date, but circa 1964. Peters' letter begins: "Dearest Love". In full: "I assume you had your enema session last night. I hope you are feeling alright now. I am going to see Arlen for a few hours. I got up at 6:00 + will be up till 7:00 or 8:00 to night. I miss you and love you", "Please give to Mr. Hughes. Thank you". Hughes has penned (but unsigned) several notes: "I hope I didn't wake you! Please forgive me. I promise to be OK I will settle for tomorrow", "You're not upset with me the way you were, are you?", "Without you I am lost. That is what I meant in my message". The relationship between business tycoon HOWARD HUGHES read more...

LUTHER BURBANK Luther Burbank sends a typed letter about the studying of Latin in school. Typed Letter Signed: "Luther Burbank", 1p, 8x5. Santa Rosa, California, 1923 March 9. To Miss Carol Barrington, Oakland. In full: "In reply to yours of March 7th , in my own opinion the study of Latin in school or college is in nine cases out of ten nearly wholly wasted time except for certain definite purposes. Not one in twenty who study it ever find it very much use to themselves in anyway. I have myself learned all the Latin that is necessary with plant names in botany just by seeing the position in which they are used. Respectfully yours," Luther Burbank developed the Burbank potato, which was introduced in Ireland to help combat the blight epidemic. He later developed improved varieties of cultivated plants, plums, berries, lilies, roses, tomatoes, corn, squash, the Shasta daisy and the Fire poppy. Lightly creased. Otherwise, fine condition. Framed in the Gallery of History style: 22½x17¾.. read more...

SIMON LAKE Small black and white photograph signed framed not in Gallery of History style. Photograph Mount signed: "Yours Sincerely/Simon Lake". B/w, 2¾x4 overall, image 1¾x3 (two surfaces). Newspaper photograph affixed to a card. Inspired by Jules Verne's, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, Simon Lake (1866-1945) designed a submarine and submitted plans to the U.S. Navy in 1892. In 1894 he built his first experimental submarine, The Argonaut, Jr., which was successfully demonstrated at Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. The success led to the formation in 1895 of the Lake Submarine Company of New Jersey, which built the Argonaut, in 1898, the first submarine to operate successfully in the open sea. In 1901, the Argonaut was followed by the Protector, a surprisingly modern torpedo boat design that was adopted by the U.S. Navy during WWI. Lake, who supplied over 100 submarines for the war effort, also helped to design a practical periscope and invented submarine apparatus for recovering sunken vessels and their cargoes. Lightly shaded around photograph, touching the upper loops of the letters in Sincerely, else fine condition. Framed, not in the Gallery of History style: 14x15½. read more...

JOHN A. DAHLGREN The gun inventor and Civil War Rear Admiral extends an invitation Third Person ALS: "R: Admiral Dahlgren", 1p, 5x8. No place, no date but late January, 1866. In full: "R: Admiral Dahlgren requests the pleasure of your company on Thursday eveng Febr 1st at 8½ oc. 402 L. Street. The favor of an answer is requested." John A. Dahlgren (1809-1870) was on ordnance duty in Washington from 1847-1863, reorganizing and equipping Washington's Navy Ordnance Yard. In 1851, Dahlgren devised a new 11-inch muzzle loading cannon known as the Dahlgren gun. In July 1863, Rear Admiral Dahlgren became Commander of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and in 1864, aided in the capture of Savannah. John Dahlgren's brother, Charles Dahlgren, was a Confederate General. His son, Col. Ulric Dahlgren, was killed in 1864 during an abortive raid on Richmond, the purpose of which is still hotly debated by historians. John Dahlgren devoted much time in his later years to refuting the claim that the intended purpose of this raid was to assassinate Jefferson Davis. Lightly creased. Fine condition. read more...