STEINHAUS H. - Mathematical kaleidoscope. 1938. 1st ed.

STEINHAUS H[ugo] - Mathematical kaleidoscope. Lvov-Warsaw 1938, Książnica-Atlas. 4, s. 135, [1]. Binding, common ppg. with preserved booklet cover.
Brochure covers stained, taped tear on back cover, minor stains inside. Appendices missing. Notes on the back cover of the booklet. Owner's signature. S. Detzius (probably related to Eng. Alexander Detzius, with whom Steinhaus worked at the gas office in Niegłowice near Jasło and about whom he wrote in his "Memoirs"). First edition of the famous book by the outstanding mathematician of the Lvov school. It was an attempt to answer the question of what mathematicians do. The author revealed one of the motives for the creation of "Kaleidoscope": "Adults and even adult mathematicians also need to play sometimes." Steinhaus invited his most talented student, Mark Katz, to work with him, and commissioned him to prepare illustrations that were an integral and essential part of the planned work. One of them, shows a photographed army of 500 lead soldiers. It took Katz, according to Steinhaus' account, nearly a week to prepare and take the photo (it can be admired on p. 122). A total of 180 engravings were included in the first edition; in later, postwar editions, the number approached 400. At the same time as the Polish one, an English version ("Mathematical Snapshots") was published by the same publishing house. The circulation of each was 2,000 copies. "'Kaleidoscope' was a great success. It was translated into ten languages [...]. In Poland it had four editions" (M. Urbanek "Genialni", War. 2014, pp. 88-89). In the preface to the last Polish edition of "Kaleidoscope" (1989) J. Lukaszewicz wrote: "'Mathematical Kaleidoscope' was published all over the world in various language versions excluding only our country and the Polish language. The reasons for this discrimination are incomprehensible, and the harm done to generations of young people who could not read 'Mathematical Kaleidoscope' is immeasurable." He concludes his reflections by stating: "I will be glad if, in the age of personal computers and VCRs, the reader finds pleasure in contemplating the unique images provided by the kaleidoscope - a now-forgotten toy from pre-war market stalls and a picture book that allows one to admire the depth, beauty and usefulness of mathematics." M a g n e t o w i d e ?