Men of Mathematics (Signed, Provenance)

RARE signed copy of Eric Temple Bell's critically acclaimed and highly influential biographical work on the world's greatest men of mathematics. Flat signed by author on the dedication page and dated Christmas Day, 1937. Condition; VG/VG PROVENANCE Herbert J. Hall, staff commander, Joint Task Force 1 of the USS Cumberland Sound AV-17. The USS Cumberland Sound was launched in 1943, served in WWII and was later assigned to Joint Task Force 1. It was assigned to Operation Crossroads - the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in July of 1946. Herbert Hall dates the book on April 1946, just a few months before the infamous nuclear test. ABOUT THE BOOK Published in 1937 by Dover Publications in New York. First edition thus, first printing. In original red cloth boards with black and gold decoration and gilt lettering. Octavo, xxi, 593 pp. With its original dust jacket. Men of Mathematics: The Lives and Achievements of the Great Mathematicians from Zeno to Poincar is a book on the history of mathematics published in 1937 by Scottish-born American mathematician and science fiction writer E. T. Bell (1883 1960). After a brief chapter on three ancient mathematicians, it covers the lives of about forty mathematicians who flourished in the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries. The book is illustrated by mathematical discussions, with emphasis on mainstream mathematics. To keep the interest of readers, the book typically focuses on unusual or dramatic aspects of its subjects' lives. Men of Mathematics has inspired many young people, including John Forbes Nash Jr., Julia Robinson, and Freeman Dyson, to become mathematicians. Theoretical physicist Freeman Dyson called his encounter with the book one of the decisive moments in his early career path, noting its ability to present famous mathematicians not as saints, but as flawed individuals of mixed qualities who nevertheless accomplished great mathematics. ABOUT THE AUTHOR 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 B cher 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. CONDITION REPORT The book is in VERY GOOD collectible condition. Tight binding. Light rubbing to spine tips and corners. Some rubbing to spine. Foxing to joints, top edge of text block, on a few of the plates and a few light spots on the rear endpapers. The unclipped dust jacket is VERY GOOD - rubbing to spine, sun-toned spine and toned folds, dust soiling on rear panel. Edge wear - chipping and light creases and small tears.…