Beschreibung:

Lyell ( Sir Charles )
THE GEOLOGICAL EVIDENCES OF THE ANTIQUITY OF MAN
With Remarks on Theories of the Origin of the species by variation. Illustrated by woodcuts.
Published: John Murray London, 1863
xii, 520 pages + 32 pages publisher's catalogue, frontispiece, numerous text illustrations, uncut edges with foxing on the page edges and on several pages of text, ,green pebbled grained cloth with a gilt vignette on the upper cover, titled gilt on the spine, the cloth is cracked over the upper cover vignette and there is a dent on the edge of the upper cover, the cloth is crinkled and starting to wear on the spine, almost detached at the front hinge, bookbinders ticket on the back paste-down endpaper, a good copy. The first three editions appeared in February, April, and November 1863, respectively. Bound in after the index are 2 original clippings from the Athenæum of April 11th and April 18th 1863 page 523 - the second one a detailed explanation by Charles Lyell concerning the publication of this book. During 1860 and 1861 Charles Lyell studied evidence of the early existence of man in Europe; and in 1862 he began to write The Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man, which was published in February 1863. In the Antiquity of Man Lyell discussed the state of knowledge concerning the prehistory of man, including the discovery of stone tools, the definition of the Bronze and Stone ages, the shell mounds of Denmark, and the Swiss lake dwellings. Lyell described Darwin's and Wallace's theory of the indefinite modification of species by natural selection and gave a brief abstract of some of Darwin’s arguments in the Origin of Species. He accepted Darwin’s theory as providing a clear explanation of many biological and geological phenomena previously puzzling, but did not make any declaration of his own adherence to the theory. Lyell thus gave Darwin powerful support in the controversy following the publication of the Origin of Species. Darwin, however, expressed disappointment that Lyell did not make a clear statement of his own opinion on the origin of species. In reply Lyell said that he had expressed his opinion fully "so far as my reason goes, and farther than my imagination and sentiment can follow." Lyell seems to have felt a particular revulsion toward the idea that man was descended from animals and to have thought that the origin of the human intellect required a special explanation. At Darwin's urging he amended his statements concerning species in a later edition of the Antiquity of Man but remained hesitant. https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/science-and-technology/geology-and-oceanography-biographies/sir-charles-lyell Overall Condition: A Good Copy Size: 8vo (230 x 150 mm)