Winner of the 1996 Dexter Prize from the Society for the History of Technology and a 1996 Choice Outstanding Academic Book

"A splendid history of plastic. The book is authoritative, thorough, interdisciplinary, and intriguing. . . Meikle] traces the course of plastics from 19th-century celluloid and the fist wholly synthetic bakelite, in 1907, through the proliferation of compounds (vinyls, acrylics, polystyrene, nylon, etc.) and recent ecological concerns. . . .Interested readers of whatever predisposition will likely enjoy this comprehensive and thoughtful treatise."--Publishers Weekly

"A landmark account. . . . He combines a first-rate technological history with a most impressive cultural analysis of how plastics evolved from a material surrounded by utopian expectations to a material epitomizing inferiority and eventually to a part of everyday life. . . . One of the most significant works ever written in the history of American technology and culture."

--Nature

" A] truly outstanding work . . . here is a work of intellectual strength written with great literary style. . . . This significant work is likely to be widely cited in academic circles, defining the field for a generation of readers. Don't let it pass you by An extraordinary contribution, for all levels of readers."--Choice

"This is real interdisciplinary work, roaming in focus, adaptive in method."--Journal of American History

"This scholarly and comprehensive work . . . is nontechnical and emphasizes the social and cultural impact of plastics. . . . Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in understanding contemporary society."--Library Journal

Blue cloth boards. Boards well-rubbed, and rubbed to board in some spots; titles to spine are dull, mostly effaced.

Vienna, 1923. Rebound in black cloth with gilt titles. Clean, tight, unmarked with fading & very minor stain to title page.

Second edition. Sm4to, 570pgs. Book is full-bound in dark blue cloth with a paper title label and black titling on spine. Book is solid and there is a striking, hand colored foldout map facing p.568, map is in excellent condition. Interior is clean though slightly toned. Spine ends and corners are worn with light fraying, slight rubbing to paper label and corners at tail end are lightly bumped. Front pastedown has a previous owner's bookplate.

"1954. Sm 8vo. Green cloth boards are solid, minimal edgwear at tips some edgewear to spine ends. Text is clean throughout. Binding is cracked, although leaves are solidly intact and spine is uncreased.

Second edition, enlarged. 16mo, 508pgs. Full bound in navy blue cloth with gilt stamped image of owl on front board and gilt stamped titling on spine. Slight wear to head and tail of spine, as well as corner tips. Paste-down endpaper cracked but hinge still solidboth front and back. Slight toning to interior pages, else clean throughout.

Some soil to front cover.

This text studies ways to ground and shield electronic equipment and facilities to control interference. The language of power engineers and the National Electrical Code are explained. The author also lays the ground rules for safety and explains how to attack and solve problems in grounding and shielding via a field theoretic approach rather than a circuit approach. Background theory is given and various hardware and equipment, all key areas in grounding and shielding, ESD, screened rooms, and topics in field coupling are provided.

"Clean, bright, tight & completely unmarked.

"Rebound. 12mo, 496 pgs + ads. Quarter bound tan cloth with marbled paper boards. Several fold-out charts and maps, some reinforced with paper tape, black and white illustration cuts throughout. Original passages with some damp stains, especially near the beginning of text block. Previous owner's signature on title page. A thorough volume on the science of astronomy.