André-Marie Ampère
French physicist and mathematician, 1775-1836
"Ampère was one of the founders of the science of classical electromagnetism, which he referred to as ""electrodynamics"". The SI unit of measurement of electric current, the ampere, is named after him. Ampère provided a physical understanding of the electromagnetic relationship, theorizing the existence of an ""electrodynamic molecule"" (the forerunner of the idea of the electron) that served as the component element of both electricity and magnetism. Using this physical explanation of electromagnetic motion, Ampère developed a physical account of electromagnetic phenomena that was both empirically demonstrable and mathematically predictive."
Source: Wikipedia
French physicist and mathematician (1775-1836). Autograph letter signed ("A. Ampère"). Paris. 01.10.1826. 4to. 1 p. on bifolium. With autogr. envelope.
$ 7,251 / 6.500 €
(49582/BN34021)
To "Mademoiselle Cuvier au jardin des plantes", daughter of the French naturalist, apologizes for delaying in seeing his friend Cuvier, and expresses the hope he may be permitted to visit him that evening to show a scientific instrument, "autrement je le laisserai au domestique, dans le cas je vous supplierai de lui offrir mes voeux pour son heureux voyage et son prompt retour [...]".
French physicist and mathematician (1775-1836). Autograph letter signed ("A. Ampère"). Paris. Large 8vo. 3 pp. on bifolium.
$ 8,367 / 7.500 €
(88567/BN58458)
Probably to the politician and writer Jean-François Roger, editor of a bilingual edition of Joseph de Jouvency's "Appendix de diis et heroibus poeticis" for the study of Ovid. Ampère was charged by the "Commission des livres classiques" of the ministry of public instruction to evaluate the possible use of this publication as a textbook. He advises against discarding any parts of the notes: "indispensable for a beginner who would study alone, they cannot be regarded as useless for students in the various institutions of public instruction" (transl.).
Ampère lauds the translations in "correct French" as "the best manner to make difficult passages understood". The only problem would be "the impossibility to examine pupils based on a copy of the book, where they see what they need to say at the bottom of the page". Therefore, Ampère conceives a system of cross-references that would allow for separating text and translation. But he immediately rejects his own ideas since they "probably have no foundation" and he might appear a second-guesser ("faire complètement le gros-jean"). - Ampère only calls the book in question "Appendix", and it is not quite clear which edition he refers to. Jean-François Roger (1776-1842) had first published his Latin-French version in 1806 and several editions followed when it was adopted as a textbook by the "Commission des livres classiques". Both Roger and Ampère were members of the Commission, and as Ampère addresses the recipient as his colleague, it is very likely that this was indeed Roger. - With a collector’s note in pencil. Minor browning..
Physiker (1775-1836). Autograph letter signed. Paris. 2 SS. auf Doppelblatt. 4to. Mit eh. Adresse.
$ 10,598 / 9.500 €
(88881/BN58824)
To the astronomer John Herschel, thanking for his work with Charles Babbage, with a recommendation from the general and engineer Guillaume Piobert, who hopes to meet Herschel in England, and regretting that he has not yet received a copy of his new paper on electrodynamic phenomena ("Théorie des phénomènes électro-dynamiques [...]", Méquignon-Marvis, 1826): "Monsieur, je désirais depuis longtemps vous écrire pour vous remercier de l'envoi que vous avez bien voulu me faire de plusieurs des ouvrages dont vous êtes l'auteur ou que vous avez publiés en commun avec monsieur Babbage [...]".