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The Origins of Cyberspace collection described as lots 1-255 will first be offered as a single lot, subject to a reserve price. If this price is not reached, the collection will be immediately offered as individual lots as described in the catalogue as lots 1-255.
VAIL, Alfred (1807-1959). Description of the American electro magnetic telegraph: Now in operation between the cities of Washington and Baltimore. Washington, D.C.: J. & G. S. Gideon, 1845.
Details
VAIL, Alfred (1807-1959). Description of the American electro magnetic telegraph: Now in operation between the cities of Washington and Baltimore. Washington, D.C.: J. & G. S. Gideon, 1845.
8o. 24 pages. Wood-engraved text illustrations. Without wrappers, stitched; boxed.
FIRST EDITION of one of the earliest printings of the 1844 revision of Morse's telegraphic code, which, under the name "American Morse" became the standard code for use within the United States and Canada. The morse code was the first widely adopted electronic data code. Vail first met Samuel F. B. Morse at the University of the City of New York, where he was a student and Morse a professor. On September 2, 1837, Vail saw Morse give one of the first demonstrations of his electric telegraph, and his imagination was immediately fired by the possibilities of Morse's invention. Vail was a skilled mechanic, having been trained in his father's ironworks, and he offered his services to Morse in exchange for a partnership share, promising at the same time to obtain financial backing from his family for Morse's venture. Morse, who was in great need of both mechanical and financial assistance, accepted Vail's offer gladly, and a contract was drawn up between the two on September 23, 1837. By the terms of the contract Vail was to construct a complete set of telegraph instruments and to secure both the United States and foreign patent rights at his own expense; in return he would receive a quarter interest in the American rights and a half interest in the overseas rights.
Vail and another partner, Leonard Gale, made several improvements to Morse's apparatus, and on January 6, 1838, this new telegraph was demonstrated successfully, using an early version of the dot-and-dash Morse code. When in 1843 Congress approved the construction of an experimental telegraph line between Baltimore and Washington Vail acted as Morse's chief assistant and received Morse's "What hath God wrought" message on May 24, 1844. The following year Vail published two accounts of the telegraph: the present 24-page pamphlet and a 208-page book entitled The American Electro Magnetic Telegraph with the Reports of Congress, and a Description of All Telegraphs Known, Employing Electricity or Galvanism. Vail's pamphlet most probably proceeded the larger work. OOC 208.
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FIRST EDITION of one of the earliest printings of the 1844 revision of Morse's telegraphic code, which, under the name "American Morse" became the standard code for use within the United States and Canada. The morse code was the first widely adopted electronic data code. Vail first met Samuel F. B. Morse at the University of the City of New York, where he was a student and Morse a professor. On September 2, 1837, Vail saw Morse give one of the first demonstrations of his electric telegraph, and his imagination was immediately fired by the possibilities of Morse's invention. Vail was a skilled mechanic, having been trained in his father's ironworks, and he offered his services to Morse in exchange for a partnership share, promising at the same time to obtain financial backing from his family for Morse's venture. Morse, who was in great need of both mechanical and financial assistance, accepted Vail's offer gladly, and a contract was drawn up between the two on September 23, 1837. By the terms of the contract Vail was to construct a complete set of telegraph instruments and to secure both the United States and foreign patent rights at his own expense; in return he would receive a quarter interest in the American rights and a half interest in the overseas rights.
Vail and another partner, Leonard Gale, made several improvements to Morse's apparatus, and on January 6, 1838, this new telegraph was demonstrated successfully, using an early version of the dot-and-dash Morse code. When in 1843 Congress approved the construction of an experimental telegraph line between Baltimore and Washington Vail acted as Morse's chief assistant and received Morse's "What hath God wrought" message on May 24, 1844. The following year Vail published two accounts of the telegraph: the present 24-page pamphlet and a 208-page book entitled The American Electro Magnetic Telegraph with the Reports of Congress, and a Description of All Telegraphs Known, Employing Electricity or Galvanism. Vail's pamphlet most probably proceeded the larger work. OOC 208.
Further details
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