ASTRONOMY AND GEOLOGY COMPARED
London: Published by the author, printed by Spottiswoode & Co, 1871. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Nobleman author's vanity binding of his ant-Darwin treatise with complimentary ALS from Darwin's publisher John Murray, PM Gladstone, Napoleon III, Times publisher John Walter, and 37 others bound-in. 8vo, custom, contemporary binding (likely commissioned by the Baron himself) in polished, grey, full leather, gilt ruled covers, front hinge recently repaired, 137 pages of text followed by 41 ALS bound-in, and, in the rear, 6 pages (one-sided) of a pasted-in newspaper review of the book from an unidentified publication. The review observes that Sir Walsh "found it necessary in drawing a parallel between astronomy and geology to allude to Darwin and Buckle, Lord Ornathwaite makes their theories the subject of severe criticism." The ALS's bound-in are from peers and public figures variously complimenting Sir Walsh on his work, many agreeing with the intellectual aspersions that Sir Walsh heaps on Darwin. Gladstone admits to not being particularly familiar with Darwin's work but posits nevertheless that evolutionary theory tears away at the "fabric of belief". But it is John Murray, Darwin's own publisher, who is shameless in criticizing the most famous author he will have published: "Although I happen to publish the works both of Buckle & Darwin, I do not hesitate to myself a sceptic in the theories of both & I hope one day to see these fallacies exploded & should not be sorry to aid in this result." Most of the letters are on baronial, estate, or residential letterhead, and bound-in chronologically from the end of 1871 through July 1872. Very Good. Item #013873
Price: $6,750.00