Uebe Eine Neue Art Von Strahlen (Vorläufige Mittheilung)

RÖNTGEN, Wilhelm Conrad (1845–1923). Uebe eine neue Art von Strahlen (Vorläufige Mittheilung) . Würzburg: Sitzungsberichte der Würzburger Physik.-medic. Gesellschaft, 1895. First printing of the first announcement of x-rays, in original printed wrappers. Röntgen dedicated the end of 1895 to “investigating the properties of the new emanations, which, because of their unknown nature, he called ‘x-rays’. On 28 December 1895 he announced his discovery and gave an accurate description of many of the basic properties of the rays: they were produced by cathode rays (electrons) at the walls of the discharge tube; they traveled in straight lines and could cause shadows; all bodies were to some degree transparent to them; they caused various substances to fluoresce and affected photographic plates; they could not be deflected by magnetic fields.” (Oxford Companion to the History of Modern Science). To ensure priority for his discovery, Röntgen immediately submitted a “Vorläufige Mittheilung” (preliminary notification) to the editors of the Physical and Medical Society of Würzburg in the last week of December 1895. An updated notification was published the following March, but the present paper is that very first announcement of Röntgen’s discovery. For this work, Röntgen was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. Octavo (230 × 150mm). Leaved uncut. Original yellow printed wrappers (vertical center fold, color faded on front wrappes); black cloth folder.

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