ATLANTIC CABLE Proceedings at the banquet held in honour of Cyrus W.Field, Esq., of New York, in Willis’s Rooms, London, on Wednesday, 1st July, 1868. London, 1868
8vo. 80pp. Orig. cloth, stained. Lacking ffe. Bookplate of Frederick Harford, who was present at the banquet. The laying of the Atlantic telegraph cable was one of the greatest heroic enterprises in the history of science and engineering, making instant communication possible at distances of 3000 miles and more, and thus shrinking the globe. It took nearly 13 years and four attempts, with increasingly sophisticated cable and on-board cable-laying plant, but in 1866 it was finally achieved. Its success was due to the foresight and perseverence of the American merchant, Cyrus Field, and when he visited to London in 1868 he was widely feted. This rare little book records the great dinner held in his honour. It lists all the guests, amongst whom were many of the most famous names in 19th century society, and the adulatory addresses which were made at the dinner. This copy belonged to Frederick Harford, of the eminent Bristol banking and mercantile family, who was present at the dinner.
£180
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