Mathematics - Queen & Servant of Science

Eric Temple Bell

Published by McGraw-Hill, 1951

About this Item

Mathematics: Queen & Servant of Science Eric Temple Bell ***RARE signed book on mathematics by Eric Temple Bell, known by the pseudonym John Taine for his science fiction novels. With its scarce dust jacket.*** Flat signed by author on the title page and dated May 1955. Condition; NEAR FINE/VERY GOOD Published in 1951 by McGraw-Hill in New York. First edition, first printing: in original blue cloth boards with gilt spine lettering. Octavo, xx, 437. With its original dust jacket. Eric Temple Bell (February 1883 December 1960) was a Scottish-born mathematician, educator and science fiction writer who lived in the United States for most of his life. He published non-fiction using his given name and fiction as John Taine. Bell was part of the faculty first at the University of Washington and later at the California Institute of Technology. While at the University of Washington, he taught Howard P. Robertson and encouraged him to enroll at Caltech for his doctoral studies. Bell researched number theory; see in particular Bell series. He is the eponym of the Bell polynomials and the Bell numbers of combinatorics. In 1924 Bell was awarded the Bôcher Memorial Prize for his work in mathematical analysis. In 1927, he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1937. He also wrote several science fiction novels by the pseudonym John Taine, which independently invented some of the earliest devices and ideas of science fiction. Bell wrote a book of biographical essays titled Men of Mathematics which inspired notable mathematicians including Julia Robinson, John Forbes Nash, Jr., and Andrew Wiles to begin careers in mathematics. His book on Fermat's Last Theorem, The Last Problem, was published the year after his death and is a hybrid of social history and the history of mathematics. It inspired mathematician Andrew Wiles to solve the problem. CONDITION REPORT: NF/VG The book is in beautiful NEAR FINE condition. Clean, unfaded cloth. Tight binding. Impressively white pages. Light rubbing to spine tips and corners, former owner info blacked out with a marker on front pastedown else FINE. The price clipped dust jacket is VERY GOOD - sun toning to spine and rear panel; edge wear chipping and small tears and creases, and some larger chips from front fold and spine tips. A few closed tears. Overall, a rare SIGNED first printing of the famous mathematician and author's book with its scarce dust jacket.

Seller Inventory # 250501002

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Mathematics - Queen & Servant of Science
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill
• Publication Date: 1951
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)