The Atom Bomb: A Study of Atom Power
New York: Independent Book Associates, (1945). First printing. Black and white photographic illustrations. Pictorial wraps. Quarto. 32 pages.
Scarce and hastily produced booklet published shortly after the atomic bombings of Japan in 1945. It provides a brief history of the development of nuclear physics and the Manhattan Project, as well as an explanation of the basic principles and effects of atomic weapons.
Includes a full page photographic portrait of Austrian physicist Dr. Lise Meitner, whose research first indicated that a bomb was a practical possibility. She fled to Sweden as a refugee from Hitler in 1938.
There are photographs of other scientists, including Robert J. Oppenheimer, as well as an aerial photograph on rear cover keyed to show specific areas of destruction in Hiroshima. One photograph shows a Japanese cyclotron in Tokyo, prompting the question of how close Japan may have been to their own atomic bomb in the final days of World War II.
An uncommon atomic bomb artifact from weeks after the end of World War II, and what a great cover!
OCLC locates 9 holdings.
Covers show a few minor extremity rubs and some light surface soil. Interior mildly browned. Pencil numeric notation at top of front cover. Booklet shows evidence of possibly having been folded at fore edge. Small triangular tear to rear cover with no loss. Very good overall, with the illustrated covers still bright and striking.
Item #2128
Price: $500