BAIRD, JOHN. (1888-1946). Scottish inventor who produced the first televised picture of a moving object in 1926 and developed color television in 1928. TLS. (“J.L. Baird”). ½p. 4to. London, January 7, 1936. On Baird Television Limited stationery. To Mr. A. Buckley.
“I regret that I have not previously replied to your letter of the 17th December; I have been on holiday in Switzerland.
February 27th would be a more convenient date if you can arrange this…”
John Baird
Baird was an inventor with many interests who, early in his career, dabbled in such diverse areas as synthetic diamonds, a glass razor, pneumatic shoes, thermal “undersocks,” fiber optics, radar, and video recording. His major scientific contribution was his pioneering television transmission in 1925. His demonstration was repeated for the Royal Society the following year and, in 1927, he transmitted the first long-distance television images between London and Glasgow. In 1928, he again made television history by transmitting television’s first color images. Baird International Television, Ltd. was formed in 1928 to explore the commercial applications of his innovations, and, beginning in 1929, the BBC transmitted its programs using one of Baird’s systems. His commercial success was hindered by the loss of his Crystal Palace laboratory by fire in 1936, and, in 1937, the BBC switched its transmissions to the competing Marconi system. Nonetheless, Baird continued to make important innovations in television broadcasting up until his death nearly a decade later.
Folded into quarters with normal creasing, wear and two irregular file holes in the right margin. In very good condition. Rare.
