FIRST RUSSIAN CALCULATOR

SLONIMSKI, CH. Z. [CHAIM ZELIG SLONIMSKI], [HAYYIM SELIG].

Allgemeine Bemerkungen über Rechenmaschinen, und Prospectus eines neu erfundenen Rechen-Instrument (+) Eine allgemeine Formel für die gesammte jüdische Kalenderberechnung.

Berlin, G. Reimer, 1844. 4to. In "Journal für die reine und angewandte Mathematik, 28 Band, 2. Heft, 1844". In the original printed wrappers, without backstrip. Fine and clean. [Slonimskyi:] Pp. 179-183; Pp. 184-190. [Entire issue: Pp. 97-192, (2) + 1 plate.].

First printing of Slonimsky's paper on the design of his calculator or multiplying device, probably the earliest Russian contribution to designing a calculator.

"In the middle of the last century, the mathematician Zinovy (Zelig) J. Slonimsky (1810-1904) invented a simple multiplication device to implement one of the theorems, which he had proven. The device could multiply every number of permitted length (i.e. the length permitted by the device-design) by every simple number. In other words, the device was something like a mechanical multiplication table. Later, the Slonimsky theorem was used for another simple multiplication device, namely for the calculating bars designed by Jofe. Both devices are interesting as examples of technical implementations of complicated mathematical ideas rather than as mechanical innovations." (Trogemann, Computing in Russia, P. 29).

Order-nr.: 45144