1st Edition – Limited. We are going to experience another full Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024. This volume was to celebrate Albert Einstein and the Solar Eclipse of Jun 30, 1954 and June 20, 1955. Unusual Signed Kilfitt/Zoomar Eclipse Book with original Einstein, Frank Back Photo. 8vo, [5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″], 40pp, signed and inscribed by Dr. Back on the second free endpaper.
“To Leslie and Duke….
We should never make statements witch are not planned correct and checked by us …we should not impress by telling sometime …stories in order to make contributions or to say something. Talking is silence. “Silence is gold”Wish you the very best from the heart. T F Back sept 11 1965″
A fine copy in handmade decorative paper covered boards, printed glossy paper label on the upper cover limited edition of 3000 copies in the original glassine outer wrapper showing some light sunning. This volume was dedicated to Albert Einstein and is the only book that was ever written by “The Father of the Zoom Lens”. With / An original black & white, silver gelatin 5 x 7 photograph of Dr. Albert Einstein and Dr. Frank Gerald Back seated together, in very fine condition acquired directly from Dr. Back’s estate. This photograph was taken circa 1954 and is one of the images published in this limited edition. With An 18″ x 22″ blueprint [folded] of the Solar Eclipse Spectrograph size “C” drawing. It was made from the original drawing, dated 4/1/55, drawn by Zoomar’s Chief Designer, Alfred Joseph Quittner (“AJQ”), & approved by Dr. Back (“FGB”). A very interesting package indeed. Dr. Back was a very close friend of Albert Einstein.
Dr. Einstein persuaded the author to take the trip commemorated in this beautifully produced volume in order to capture the total eclipse of the sun, which occurred on June 20, 1955. Dr. Back intended to provide conclusive evidence for Einstein’s theory of relativity by calculating the optical distortion, if any, of starlight caused by the sun’s gravity. Earlier, in 1919, Einstein’s general relativity principles were supported by observations of a solar eclipse. The two scientists conferred on the project for over a year. Armed with a special Zoomar designed & built, wide-angle, solar-eclipse, spectrograph, Dr. Back was off to the Philippine Islands to board a military jet & chase the eclipse. Einstein however died while Back was on his way to Manila.
Unable to report the excursion to his friend, Dr. Back dedicated this book to his memory.
Dr. Frank Back held over 200 patents directly relating to photographic equipment. He was the founder & president of Zoomar, Inc. The photographic term, “zoom” was derived from Zoomar. Dr. Back created the first widely used zoom lenses for motion picture and television; then in 1959, introduced the first zoom lens for still cameras with the introduction of the 36-82mm/f2.8 Voigtlander Zoomar. Dr. Back & Zoomar purchased the great Heinz Kilfitt optical factory of Munich, Germany in 1966 & it became a subsidiary of Zoomar, Inc. This volume was never widely distributed & when Zoomar, Inc. ceased operations at Glen Cove, Long Island, many cases of this book were discovered & unceremoniously trashed.
The existing number of copies is unknown but the book is not frequently encountered. This copy came from the personal estate of Dr. Frank Gerald Back & it is one of the few copies signed by him. An excellent example suited for collectors of Science, Astronomy, Einstein, Zoomar, or Photographic History in general. In a lovely custom clamshell case with a window insert displaying the original Einstein/Back photo.
On page 13 there is a typo. He wrote July 30,1954 instead of June 30, 1954 and was never changed.
