John Watkinson, Compression in Video and Audio, 1995. Philips Research Labs.

A clear and technically rigorous examination of digital compression written at a defining moment in broadcast engineering, John Watkinson’s Compression in Video and Audio (1995) addresses the mathematical and practical foundations of reducing data rates in professional media systems. Watkinson’s work is known for bridging theoretical signal‑processing concepts with the realities of early digital production and transmission, making this volume one of the key texts of the analogue‑to‑digital transition era.

The book covers the principles of entropy, redundancy, quantisation, transform coding, motion compensation, and psychoacoustic modelling, explaining how compression schemes exploit both signal structure and human perception. Watkinson’s treatment is detailed yet accessible, offering engineers and researchers a coherent framework for understanding how digital video and audio systems achieve efficient storage and transmission.

This copy carries a Philips Research Labs ownership stamp on the front endpaper, indicating institutional provenance from one of Europe’s major centres of broadcast‑engineering innovation. Philips played a significant role in codec development, digital tape systems, and professional video research throughout the late 20th century, making this association both historically and technically meaningful.

A well‑preserved example of late‑20th‑century digital media engineering literature, with strong provenance and clear relevance to collectors of technical documentation and broadcast‑engineering history.

In terms of condition, the book is near fine with clean covers, sharp corners, tight binding, and bright, unmarked text throughout. Front Endpaper: Philips Research Labs ownership stamp present and well‑defined.