A Philatelic Ramble through Chemistry [Hardcover]

Edgar Heilbronner (Author), Foil A. Miller (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 3906390179 | ISBN-13: 978-3906390178 | Publication Date: March 1998 | Edition: First Edition

This is not a history of chemistry which uses stamps instead of the usual illustrations, but a collection of short essays and comments on such chemistry as can be found on postage stamps and other philatelic items. In other words, the choice of topics is dictated by the philatelic material available, with the necessary consequence that important parts of chemical history will be missing for the simple reason that they have not found their way onto postage stamps. Thus, the reader may find detailed comments on lesser known chemists, such as Wilhelm August Lampadius who has been honoured with two stamps by the German Post Office, but hardly anything on such luminaries as Robert Bunsen, who have not been deemed worthy of a commemorative issue.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"…will lift your spirit, delight your vision, and expose you to our history…To the authors: Thank you for producing such a memorable piece of work." (Clinical Chemistry, January 2005)

"…this book has served its purpose in documenting, in the highest quality, our chemical heritage as depicted on philatelic material...this book is a thoroughly enjoyable read." (Bulletin for the History of Chemistry, Spring 2005)

"This is a gem of a book. […] I recommend it to all those to whom chemistry means more than an academic discipline, but a multifaceted part of human culture, as Heilbronner and Miller so beautifully demonstrated." (Interdisciplinary Science Reviews)

"The creation of an exceptional book must be driven not only by knowledge but also by passion. This book by two chemists, Heilbronner and Miller, is clearly the product of a love for the world of postage stamps as well for chemistry in its widest sense." (Advanced Materials)

"It is the kind of book published only once in a generation. I can whole-heartedly recommend it to any chemist and even to non-chemists who enjoy art." (Chromatographia)

"As a history of chemistry this book would be worth reading. As a compendium of stamps with chemical themes it is a must for chemist stamp collectors. Combine the two and you have a book for all chemist." (Chemistry in Britain) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

This is not a history of chemistry which utilises postage stamps instead of the usual illustrations, but a collection of short essays and comments on such chemistry as can be found on postage stamps and other philatelic items. In other words, the choice of topics is dictated by the philatelic material available, with the necessary consequence that important parts of chemical history will be missing for the simple reason that they have not found their way onto postage stamps. Thus, the reader may find detailed comments on lesser known chemists, such as Wilhelm August Lampadius who has been honoured with two stamps by the German Post Office, but hardly anything on such luminaries as Robert Bunsen, who have not been deemed worthy of a commemorative issue.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 278 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-VCH; First Edition edition (March 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3906390179
• ISBN-13: 978-3906390178
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,580,721 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book, April 13, 2009

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Joao Olimpio Tognolli Jr. "JTog" - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Philatelic Ramble through Chemistry (Paperback)

This book shows the history of chemistry magnificently illustred by post stamps. It joins the philately and chemistry enriching the knowledge.