Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

Forty Centuries of Ink or a Chronological Narrative Concerning Ink and its Backgrounds [INSCRIBED]

New York: The Banks LawPublishing Co., 1904. First edition, as stated. Hardcover. Inscribed "Very Sincerely, November 7. 1914 David N. Carvalho" atop title page. Small Quarto.viii, 374pp. Original salmon pebbled cloth with gilt lettering on red and black leather lables of spine, brown and gilt ruling. Comprehensive work on the history and the use of ink by David Nunes Carvallo, the son of the first Jewish photographer Solomon Nunes Carvallho. After accompnying his father to Martinique in 1872 Carvalho took a position at the New Jersey Stereoscopic View Co.most likely between 1872 to 1876. He established a photo studio in New York, active there from 1877 to 1885, and was assigned patent 225456 A in 1880, with Ernest Marx, for a method to shorten exposure times. Carvalho held several other photographic patents and later became an expert in handwriting and inks. The New York Times mentioned him on numerous occasions for his participation in court cases in this capacity. Carvalho proved, among other cases, that the document that lead to the conviction of Dreyfus was a forgery which lead to the release of Dreyfus.

The subtitle on the title page of this volme reads; "Introducing incidental observations and deductions, parallels of time and color phenomena, bibliography, chemistry, poetical effusions, citations, anecdotes and curiosa together with some evidence respecting the Evanescent character of most inks of to-day and epitome of Chemico-Legal Ink." And the foreword states: "The unfortunate conditions surrounding the almost universal use of the oddly named commercial and with few exceptions record inks, and the so-called modern paper, is the motive for the writing of this book. The numerous color products of coal tar, now so largely employed in the preparation of ink, and the worse material utilized in the manufacture of the hard-finished writing papers, menace the future preservations of public and other records. Those who occupay official position and who can help to ameliorate this increasing evil, should begin to do so without delay." (Author). Binding slightly rubbed with very light wear to edges. Binding and interior in overall good+ to very good condition. g+ to vg. Item #44608

Price: $950.00

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