First offprint of Plancks modified academy paper on the Quantum Hypothesis, 1914, provenance Otto Stierstadt

Beschreibung

Max PLANCK; [Otto STIERSTADT, Provenance]: EINE VERÄNDERTE FORMULIERUNG DER QUANTENHYPOTHESE [A Modified Formula of The Quantum Hypothesis]. Sitzungsberichte der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. XXXIV. 1914. Sitzung der physikalischen-mathematischen Classe vom 30. Juli. Mitteilung aus der Gesammtsitzung vom 23. Juli. Sonderabdruck [Offprint]. Berlin: Verlag der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften (In Commission bei Georg Reimer, Reichsdruckerei), 28th August 1914.

Imperial 8vo (25,3:17,7 cm). 6 pages, numbered 918-923. Letterpress on machine paper, in original publisher’s brochure on orange-coloured stock with black title printing.

First offprint, in the original wrappers of this important paper by Planck, provenance of physicist Otto Stierstadt.

Provenance: Personal copy of Otto Stierstadt (1905-95), founder of the Berlin »Research Institute for Physics« in Berlin-Dahlem in 1935 and head of this high profile research laboratory, with the owner’s remark „Otto Stierstadt / 1929“, as well as library stamp „Forschungsinstitut für Physik“ and inventory number „557“ at the front wrapper. Stierstadt came into possession of present copy in 1929 and later obviously transferred it to the library of the institute. During WWII, the „Stierstadt-Institute“ was transferred to Schloss Caputh where a group of scientists under leadership of Stierstadt tried to apply Plancks insights on thermodynamics to research on the scientific background for constructing weapons of mass destruction for the Wehrmacht.

Condition: Wrappers at margins minimally torn at margins and slightly dusty, otherwise very fine, unique copy.

Rarity: JAP/APO (1988ff.) and ABPC (1973ff.) record no copy at all at auction.

Reference: Köhler, Europäische Profile II (1954) cit. WBIS/DBA II 1267,220-222;III 887, 284-285.