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Hammond, Robert.
The Electric Light in Our Homes.
Publisher: Frederick Warne and Co, London;
Date of Publication: 1884
Stock Code: 6786
FIRST EDITION. Octavo, pp. xii, 205, [1] illustration, [6] catalogue. 3 mounted original Woodburytype photographs as called for, including frontispiece, with captions to mount leaves. 64 engraved figures within text, plus head- and tail-pieces. Publishers’ decorative brown cloth with titles in black and gilt to spine and upper board; upper board blocked in gilt with a central pendant light-fitting motif and different designs of light bulb to corners, within double border in gilt and black. Floral grey endpapers. Covers lightly soiled and rubbed with corners of upper board bumped and minor loss to spine tips; top 1-inch of lower joint split. A little minor scattered foxing and 2 leaves corner-creased to margin only, otherwise contents clean; no annotation or inscriptions. Overall a Very Good copy. Scarce, particularly with the full complement of 3 photographs of domestic interiors illuminated by electricity, which must be amongst the earliest known examples of photographs featuring electric light in the home. The photographs also give a fascinating insight into the type of setting in which the lights were expected to be used. The text discusses the supply and installation of electricity, and the dangers, as well as the different types of illuminant. £250.00