Rare book by world's first computer programmer to go under hammer

A RARE book by the Victorian woman renowned as the world's first computer programmer is to go under the hammer in the Cotswolds during the 175th anniversary of its publication.

One of only seven known copies of 'Sketch of the Analytical Engine' will be offered for sale by auctioneers Moore Allen & Innocent on Friday, July 20 with an estimate of £3,000 to £5,000.

Ada Lovelace was the only legitimate child of Lord Byron. But while he set out to make himself 'mad, bad, and dangerous to know' his daughter took a different path – as one of the world's first computer geeks.

A keen mathematician, Lady Lovelace struck up a friendship with Charles Babbage over his automatic mechanical calculator, the Difference Engine.

She then worked with Babbage on his follow-up, the Analytical Engine. She was the first person to recognise that the machine had applications beyond pure calculation, and published the first algorithm intended to be carried out by such a machine.

As a result, she is regarded as the first person to recognise the full potential of a 'computing machine' and the first 'computer programmer'.

After eight years of work, Charles Babbage unveiled his plans for the Analytical Engine at a seminar at the University of Turin in 1840.

Attending the seminar was Italian military engineer and mathematician L.F. Menabrea, who went on to serve as the country's Prime Minister.

Menabrea reported the presentation the following year in an obscure Swiss publlication, and Babbage urged Lady Lovelace to translate the report into English.

She did so, but added her own explanatory notes, which were substantially longer than Menabrea's original article and included what many consider to be the first computer program — an algorithm designed to be carried out by the machine.

The resulting work was published in 1843 as 'Sketch of the Analytical Engine invented by Charles Babbage Esq by L.F. Menabrea of Turin, officer of the Military Engineers, with notes by the translator'.

At the time of publication, the identity of 'the translator' remained a secret. It was not until 1848 – four years before her untimely death at the age of 36 – that Lady Lovelace was credited.

The copy being auctioned in Cirencester is signed 'Lady Lovelace' on the title page of the book, under the line 'with notes by the translator'.

Additional handwritten notes on the flyleaf are attributed to physician and philanthropist Dr William King, a friend and advisor of Lady Lovelace.

A documentary about Lady Lovelace and her work – Calculating Ada: The Countess of Computing – is currently streaming on the BBC iPlayer.

For a full auction catalogue, visit mooreallen.co.uk