RUTHERFORD, Ernest (1871-1937). Radio-Activity. Cambridge: University Press, 1904.

RUTHERFORD, Ernest (1871-1937). Radio-Activity. Cambridge: University Press, 1904.

8o. One photographic plate, numerous illustrations and diagrams in text. Original green diced cloth, gilt-lettered on front cover and spine (some light wear at ends of spine, a few minor scuff marks on covers). Provenance: A Macheau (signature on verso of front flyleaf); Harvey Plotnick (his sale, Christie's New York, 24 October 2002, lot 224).

FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST TEXTBOOK ON RADIOACTIVITY. Thorium emanations had been discovered in 1900, and Rutherford worked towards further developing concepts of atomic structure. "He discovered and named alpha and beta rays emitted from radio-active salts and predicted that disintegration of some radioactive elements would generate helium. He also produced in the laboratory the first artificial transmutation of one element into another" (Dibner Heralds of Science 51). Grolier/Horblit 91; Norman 1870.