Huxley Aldous

1873 · Best.-Nr. 167597 — London: Macmillan and Co. 1873. Presented to one of Huxley's close friends at the Royal Society First edition presentation copy inscribed on the half-title: "John Evans esq from his friend T. H. Huxley". Huxley collaborated with Sir John Evans 1823-1908 the eminent archaeologist in the administration of several learned societies in London most notably the Royal Society. In 1873 Huxley was the society's biological secretary and would later serve as its president while Evans who was elected a fellow in 1864 would serve as its treasurer from 1878 to 1898. The two men were personal friends and corresponded on a wide range of subjects. Alongside his profession as a paper manufacturer Evans is credited with pioneering a more scientific approach to British archaeology. Two years after Huxley's Critiques was published Evans wrote a paper which applied Darwinian natural selection to the archaeological study of ancient British coins. The essays and addresses in this collection attest to Huxley's wide range of interests: education "The School Boards: What they can do and what they may do"; geology "On the Formation of Coal"; and Darwinian evolution "Palaeontology and the Doctrine of Evolution Darwin's Critics" among much else. Evans's attractive bookplate depicting a variety of antiquities and bearing the motto "I desire to deserve" is on the front pastedown. Octavo. Leaf of publisher's advertisements at rear. Original red pebbled cloth spine lettered ruled and with publisher's device in gilt covers with concentric panels in blind dark blue coated endpapers. Light bumping and wear to extremities light finger soiling to covers cosmetic split to front inner hinge moderate foxing to endpapers edges and initial leaves: a very good copy. hardcover