Annual general meeting . . . W. Crookes, F.R.S., President, in the chair. Offprint Inscribed by Crookes to E. Becquerel

Crookes, William (1832-1919). Annual general meeting, March 21st, 1889. W. Crookes, F.R.S., President, in the chair. Offprint from Journal of the Chemical Society 55 (1889). [2], 251-288pp. 5 plates. 217 x 139 mm. Original wrappers, inscribed by Crookes to Edmond Becquerel (1820-91) on the front wrapper: "Monsieur E. Becquerel Hommage de l'Auteur." Gummed label with manuscript notation, typical of offprints from the Becquerel library, on the front wrapper. Lower portion of spine split, otherwise very good.

First Edition, offprint issue. Crookes, inventor of the Crookes tube (an early vacuum tube), early investigator of cathode rays, and discoverer of the element thallium, presented this copy of the Chemical Society's 1889 annual report to French physicist Edmond Becquerel (father of Henri). Much of the 1889 report is devoted to spectroscopy, a topic of great interest to both Crookes and Becquerel. Crookes's autograph is uncommon.