Having continued his painstaking research, by the 1920s he had amassed a gallery of more than 5000 snowflake images, some 2400 of which were selected for publication in a book, snow crystals, in 1931. That book is here reproduced, unaltered, and unabridged. Bentley and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. There is a small amount of text at the front of the book, which is moderately interesting. Humphreys wrote the technical introduction and appeared as coauthor. Weather bureau to publish snow crystals, a monograph illustrated with 2,500 photographs. Pictures of snow flakes taken by wilson a bentley go on sale.
The gilt lettering on the spine and the gilt snowflake on the front board remain bright and wellpreserved. Humphreys discusses techniques of photographing snow crystals, science of crystallography, classification, and markings. The university of wisconsins department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences donated their collection to the schwerdtfeger library in 2000. Dec 23, 2017 having continued his painstaking research, by the 1920s he had amassed a gallery of more than 5000 snowflake images, some 2400 of which were selected for publication in a book, snow crystals, in 1931. Bentley prepared boxes of lantern slides of dew, frost, snow crystals, and clouds and sold them primarily to colleges and universities in the united states. Bentley died at the family farmhouse in jericho of pneumonia on december 23, 1931. Weather bureau to publish snow crystals, a monograph illustrated with 2, 500 photographs. In 1931, the american meteorological society gathered together the best of these photomicrographs, plus some slides of frost, glaze, dew on. Vermont snowflakes is the officially authorized makers of snowflake bentley fine prints and collectibles. Longfellow said that genius is infinite painstaking. Originally published in 1931 this unique book contains 202 black and white plates of snow flakes mounted and photographed with painstaking effort under difficult circumstances by w. When wilson bentley died in 1931, his hometown newspaper eulogized him thus.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Details about his life, techniques of photomicrography, and a virtual tour. Keep up to date of the snowflake bentley official site and give input to help us reach other people who may be interested in bentleys work. The first snowflake photographer, wilson bentley old.
Bentley also photographed all forms of ice and natural water formations including clouds. It is likely that the belief that no two snowflakes are alike stems from this passage from a 1925 report by bentley. Page after page of patterns, one more beautiful than the next. But only an occasional enthusiast worked on the snow crystal with this revealing instrument. After furnishing the necessary pictures and being paid for them he got no royalty, that going to the meteorological society, he knew nothing more of the books progress until it was completed in 1931. The book is of great value both to students of ice forms and for textile and other designers who can use the natural designs of these snow crystals in their work. The bentley snow crystal collection of the buffalo museum of science is a. Later that year, bentley died of pneumonia after a sixmilelong walk in a blizzard. T hree years bentleys senior, humphreys was born in 1862, in gap mills, west virginia. There was wilson bentleys classic 1931 reference, and ukichiro nakayas excellent 1954 text, but little else. He did more than 5, 000 images of crystals in his lifetime.
He lived to see snow crystals, a book of his snow crystals images, published in 1931, but died of pneumonia that same year, after walking home through a blizzard. A bentley book 45 editions published between 1931 and 20 in english and undetermined and held by 1,698 worldcat member libraries worldwide. Bentleys proudest moment came in 1931 upon publication of his book snow crystals, which contained 2,453 of his photographs. Wilson alwyn bentley 1865 1931, famous for his photomicrographs of snowflakes, prepared sets of glass lantern slides of dew, frost and ice crystals. Bentley web site, which also describes the bentley museum in jericho, vermont. Snow crystals by bentley w a humphreys w j abebooks. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read snow crystals. This is reference, not sitdownandread, but it is the classic collection of snow crystal photographs. Includes over 2400 plates of snowflakes, frost, and dew. Over 2,000 beautiful snow crystals, photographed by bentley over a period of 50 years ending in 1930 and first published by the american meteorological society, with introductory text covering the technique of photographing snow crystals, classification, fundamentals of crystallography.
Over 2,000 photomicrographs of snowflakes, plus slides of frost, rime, glaze, dew, and hail. And he determined that one day his camera would capture for others the wonder of the tiny crystal. He became sick and died of pneumonia on december 23. His 1931 book snow crystals from which the crystals show here are takencontains more than 2400 snow crystal images from his vast collection. Bentley took the time and had the persistence to photograph so many snow crystals they truly are intricate and gorgeous with so many designs the beautiful, magical, breathtaking artwork of god that fills the soul with wonder and awe. Of all the forms of water the tiny sixpointed crystals of ice called snow are incomparably the most beautiful and varied. About the bentley collection schwerdtfeger library home. Bentley also photographed all forms of ice and natural water formations including clouds and fog. Wilson bentley project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Three centuries later the most extensive catalog of its time was made by the vermont farmer wilson bentley, who published the book snow crystals with william humphreys in 1931. Because of his wonderful work with snow crystals, he became affectionately known as snowflake bentley. In print for more than 65 years, snow crystals has inspired countless artists and crafters offering a large selection of snowflake designs. The publication of this book, entitled snow crystals, introduced the world to the beauty, complexity, and diversity of snow crystals.
The book has since been republished by dover books. Please wash your hands and practise social distancing. Bentley, popularly known as the snowflake man, was born on the family farm at jericho, vermont, and remained there all his life. Bentley, popularly known as the snowflake man, was born on the family farm at. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. In 1931, the american meteorological society gathered together the best of these photomicrographs. Wilson alwyn bentley 18651931, famous for his photomicrographs of snowflakes, prepared sets of glass lantern slides of dew, frost and ice crystals. A soft cover copy, identical in all respects, can be obtained today from dover publications, inc on december 23, 1931, bentley died at the family farmhouse in jericho. Humphreys and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Snow crystals dover pictorial archive english edition ebook.
A few weeks later, on december 7, he wrote in his weather notebook. Jericho was an ideal place to study snow because it was in the heart of the snowbelt, producing an average annual snowfall of over 120 inches. That component was bentleys one book, titled simply snow crystals and published in 1931 with the help of william jackson humphreys, who received his phd in physics at johns hopkins in 1897. The first snowflake photographer, wilson bentley old farmer. Mar 12, 2017 bentleys proudest moment came in 1931 upon publication of his book snow crystals, which contained 2,453 of his photographs. John ruskin declared that genius is only a superior power of seeing. Presents an unabridged republication of the 1931 text that features over two thousand photomicrographs of snow flakes, frost, glaze, dew, sleet, and soft hail. In 1931, the american meteorological society gathered together the best of these. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Bentley, 9780486202877, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The book is of great value both to students of ice forms and for textile and other.
Wilson bentley was a living example of this type of genius. Humphreys, mcgrawhill, 1931, reprinted in its entirety by dover publications in 1962. As a boy bentley brought to bear his great curiosity and imagination to the task of sharing with the world the beauty he saw in snowflakes. In 1931 his book snow crystals, containing more than 2400 snow crystal images, was published by mcgrawhill but has long been out of print. In 1931, the book snow crystalsfeaturing 2,500 of his photographs and research by william j. Wilson alwyn snowflake bentley 18651931 find a grave. Humphrey was published by mcgrawhill in november 1931. Studies among the snow crystals during the winter of 190102, with additional data collected during previous winters. Wilson bentley 1865 1931 from the time he was a small boy in vermont, wilson bentley saw snowflakes as small miracles. Snow crystals, 1931 wilson bentley snowflakes real.
Many of these sets found their way to colleges and universities around the united states. Was ever a life history written in more dainty or fairylike hiero. His other publications include the entry on snow in the fourteenth edition of encyclop. It contained 2500 selected snow crystal photos plus 100 of frost and dew formation.
In print for more than 65 years, snow crystals has inspired countless artists and crafters offering a large selection of snowflake. Bentley of jericho, vermont, who pursued and still pursues this search with the insistent ardor of the lover and the tireless patience of the scientist. It bore the title snow crystals, and the text was supplied by william j. Buy snow crystals dover photography collections dover pictorial archive 1st edition by bentley, w.
Wilson willie bentley 1865 1931 was born on a farm in jericho, vermont. Bentley published his works in magazines, including national geographic, nature, popular science, and scientific american. Fascinating, uplifting and strangely calming discover snow crystals. The book is of great value both to students of ice forms and for textile and other designers.
Bentleys extraordinarily beautiful photographs of snow crystals and related forms that appeared in the 1931 edition by the mcgrawhill book company. His book, snow crystals, illustrated with 2,500 photographs was still the definitive volume on the subject matter, and he sold many of his slides to colleges and universities. Bentley even sold 200 of his negatives to tiffanys in new york city, which used the snow crystal patterns in its jewelry designs. Wilson alwyn bentley from the earliest days of our childhood, many of us can remember hearing the phrase no two snowflakes are alike. In 1931 his book snow crystals, containing more than 2400 snow crystal images. Even before snow crystals was published in 1931, his work was well known, and so popular that eventually a donor provided the apparently large amount of money needed to assemble this beautiful collection. This discovery was made by a man named wilson bentley, a farmer from vermont, who became affectionately known as snowflake bentley. Snow crystals dover pictorial archive paperback june 1, 1962. By adapting a microscope to a bellows camera, and years of trial and error, he became the first person to photograph a single snow crystal in 1885. Published by mcgrawhill book company in new york in 1931. As a boy bentley brought to bear his great curiosity and imagination to the task of.