This three-volume collection reprints two important 1920s/30s books relating to television, and a collection of short articles covering the social, aesthetic and technical aspects of the medium. Items range from 1870s prophecies, experiments and cartoons, to 1930s accounts of the first public broadcasting systems in Britain, Germany, and the USA. The pieces are from newspapers, specialist journals of the period, and popular magazines. Technical articles included are chosen for their accessibility to non-specialists with limited technical knowledge. The selection comments on the progress of television in many parts of the world.
The set includes a general introduction by the editor, which places each item in context and provides a comprehensive account of the medium to c.1940.