GOETHE, Johann Wolfgang von (1749-1832). Zur Naturwissenschaft überhaupt, besonders zur Morphologie. Erfahrung, Betrachtung, Folgerung durch Lebensereignisse verbunden. Stuttgart und Tübingen, Cotta. 1817-1824.

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GOETHE, Johann Wolfgang von (1749-1832). Zur Naturwissenschaft überhaupt, besonders zur Morphologie. Erfahrung, Betrachtung, Folgerung durch Lebensereignisse verbunden. Stuttgart und Tübingen, Cotta. 1817-1824.

Very rare first edition, in unsophicated condition, of Goethe's collected scientific papers. Of great importance is Goethe's work on the discovery of the intermaxillary (premaxillary) bone in humans. Although written in 1784, it was first published here, in 1820, together with a long postscript on the research and history of his controversial discovery. For Goethe, 'to deny man the premaxilla would be to impugn the unity of nature. "Morphology" was his term for tracing out the unity underlying animal and plant diversity... Goethe thought that the biologist, by comparing a large number of plant and animal forms, can obtain a clear idea of underlying archetypes' (DSB). Besides Goethe's own significant scientific writings, there are contributions by Wilhelm Schutz, Friedrich Sigmund Voigt and Alexander von Humboldt. Hagen 504.

2 volumes in 6 parts, octavo (217 x 130mm). Vol.1 comprising parts 1-4 with 3 engraved plates, 2 text-figures, and one letterpress table; Vol. II comprising parts 1-2 with 5 engraved plates, 2 of which folding, and one engraved folding barometric table with partial handcolouring (variable light spotting and browning, affecting the engraved plates slightly more heavily, insignificant marginal ink stain to lower corner of vol. 1 pt 2). Original printed wrappers, uncut, Vol. 1 pt 4 and Vol. 2 pt 2 mainly opened (extremities rubbed, split to spines of Vol. 1 pts 1-2 and 4 and Vol. 2, pt 2, some light dogearing and staining); contained in 2 modern boxes. Provenance: library classmark label on upper left-hand corner of upper wrapper of vol. 1 pt 1, the other parts with these removed with consequent slight losses to printed ornamental borders) – large illegible stamp on first text leaf of Vol. 2 pt 2 – Edwin Redslob (booklabel to Vol. 2 pt 2). Sold with a loosely inserted contemporary letterpress bifolium inviting subscriptions to the fifth edition of Becker's Weltgeschichte in 12 vols (marginally soiled and a little spotted).

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