Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution (82 volume set) (1870-1964, with some gaps)

Smithsonian Institution. Board of Regents.; United States National Museum.

Washington : Smithsonian Institution, 1870-1964.

Massive 82 volume set.  Hardcover, most in Smithsonian green cloth, with Smithsonian Seal in Gold on most front boards. Institutional stamp on title pages. Numerous plates and photographs throughout text.  Some color plates, fold out maps.  Most volumes in excellent shape, with tight bindings and attractive covers.  Approximately 4 volumes have weak bindings or cracked spine hinges.  Containing bound editions of the years: 1870, 1891-1910; 1912-1929 (61 vols.); 1950-1964 (17 vols.); as well as the 1849-1964 index volume and two additional volumes of Proceedings (1903), geographical tables. 

A mammoth collection spanning 94 years of the Smithsonian's history.  Leonard Carmichael, Secretary of the Smithsonian, states that the Annual reports "a selection of papers (some of them original) embracing a considerable range of scientific investigation and discussion... The subjects treated in Smithsonian Report articles cover almost the entire gamut of scientific disciplines.  If any subjects predominate they would be in the general fields of biology, geology, and anthropology." As well as, "astronomy, physics, chemistry, meteorology, medicine, and engineering."  "Many of the earlier Reports contain articles of great historical interest as recording scientific discoveries which have exerted vast influence on the lives of all of us up to the present time.  For example, Roentgen records in the 1897 Report his history of the penetrating radiation which he called X-rays... The beginnings of practical human flight are recorded by Wilbur Wright in the 1902 Report and Orville Wright in that for 1914... And by Wendell M. Stanley's attempt to relate viruses to cancer, genes, and life in the Report for 1957." (Carmichael, Index to Smithsonian Annual Reports, iii, iv p.) Please note that our set includes all of these groundbreaking reports.  See the 1897 Report, "X-Rays," by W.C. Rontgen, p. 137-155.  See 1902, "Some Aeronautical Experiments," Wilbur Wright, p. 133-148. (With photographic plates!). 1914, "Stability of Aeroplanes," Orville Wright, p. 209-222 (With photographic plates!). 1957, "The nature of viruses, cancer, genes, and life," Wendell M. Stanley, p. 357-370.  Another interesting article from the 1927 Report is authored by Albert Einstein, "Isaac Newton," p. 201-207.  In this article Einstein discusses Newton's work and lays out its limitations.  He goes on to propose a General Theory of Relativity.  (The next article is also fascinating, "The Nucleus of the Atom," by J.A. Crowther, discussing Bohr's theory of X-ray spectra and the discoveries of Ellis and Meitner.)  Smithsonian gold seal on cover reads: "For the Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge Among Men." Note: Lacks the 1911 Report. This is an oversized or heavy set, which requires additional postage for international delivery outside the US.