Very Early Papers on Alexander Graham Bell’s Photophone Invention October-December 1880, and the First Wireless Communications

Ten Papers in Seven Issues of the Comptes Rendus on Graham Bell’s June 1880 invention.

“The photophone was in fact the World’s first device for wireless communications.  So optical wireless communications came first and wireless radio communications appeared some years later.  Bell did not just invent and patent the concept, he also built the Photophone and demonstrated it transmitting speech over distances of several hundred meters.”–Visible Light Communications dot com

“Imagine a solar-powered telephone, and you’re close to understanding the important gadget Alexander Graham Bell invented on June 3, 1880, four years after he had patented the telephone. Bell considered the photophone one of his most important inventions. He’s probably right, since the technology behind the photophone led to the technology that helps computers send information around the world today…”–America’s Library

These are very early papers on the photophone, following closely on the heals of what I think is the first appearance in print in The Electrician, September 18, 1880. Nature published a suite of articles on September 23, November 4 and 18 (which I offer for sale elsewhere on this site) which fit nicely with the Comptes Rendus articles below.

7 issues of the Comptes Rendus, with 10 papers on the photophone, all detached from larger bound volumes, and offered with their original front wrapper. The wrapper covers are generally pretty tatty along the edges, but at least they are there. The issue all have an old vertical crease through teh text that runs down the center from when someone no doubt folded them into their coat pocket.  GOOD condition.  7 issues: $850

BREGUIT, Antoine (1851-1882).“Sur les experiences photophoniques du professeur Alexander Graham Bell et de M. Sumner Tainter. Note lue par Ant. Breguit”, Vol 91, no. 15, 11 October 1880, pp 595-598, with lovely text illustration. BOUND WITH:

CROS, Charles (1842-1888). “Sur les actions mecaniques de la lumiere; considerations theoriques pouvant servir a intereter les experiences realisees par M. G. Bell. Note de M. Cr. Cros.” p. 622-623.

BREGUET, A. “Sur le photophone de Mm. Graham Bell et Sumner Tainter. Note lue par M. Antoine Breguet.” Vol 91, no. 16, 18 October 1880, pp 652-654 in the issue of pp 633-696

**BELL, Alexander Graham. “Sur l’application du photophone a l’etude des bruits qui ont lieu a la durface solaire. Note presentee par M. Jansseb au nom de M. Alex. Graham Bell, Vol 91, no. 18, 2 November 1880, pp 726-727 in the issue of pp 697-736

• Also in this issue is an announcement of Henry Draper’s first photograph of a nebula (Orion), p 716.

**BELL. “De la production du son par la force de rayonnement”, Vol 92, no. 21,  25 May 1881, pp 1206-1224 (an extremely long piece for the CR) BOUND WITH  

MERCADIER, Ernst. “Sur ;a radiophonie: thermophone reproduisant la voix”, pp 1224-6 AND BOUND WITH

MERCADIER, E. “Sur la radiophonie; thermophone reproduisant la voix”, pp 1226-7.

MERCADIER, E. “Sur la radiophonie”, vol 91, no. 23, 6 December 1880, pp 929-931 in the issue of pp 897-948

MERCADIER, E. “Sur la radiophonie”, vol 91, no. 24, 13 December 1880, pp 982, in the issue of pp 949-1002.

MERCADIER, E. “Sur l’influence de la temperature sur les recepteurs radiophoniques a selenium”, vol 92, 1881, no 24,  pp 1407-1408