[On Electric Clocks] Uber electrische Uhren nach dem Systeme von M. Hipp in Neuchatel Schweitz.

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German clockmaker Matthäus or Matthias Hipp (1813–1893) was a pioneer inventor and manufacturer of electric clocks in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.  Hipp’s numerous inventions included precision instruments such as an electrical pendulum clock, a marine chronometer, and speedometers for locomotives. In 1851, Hipp invented an electromagnetic copy telegraph, a kind of early telefax machine for images.¹ This 1868 pamphlet illustrates and describes Hipp’s system of battery-powered electric clocks.

At first glance, the pamphlet Über electrische Uhren (“On Electric Clocks”) appears to have been handwritten. It was, however, likely printed by lithography. At the bottom of the decorated cover title there appears the legend “Autographie” followed by a cypher, likely the initials of the person who copied out the text and technical illustrations onto the lithographer’s stone. The place where Hipp’s factory was located, “Neuchatel,” and the date “1868” are seen on the last line of the final page.

OCLC records other titles—not this one, however—and all are outside of America (save for one) and all are rare.

Price: $350.00