DARWIN, CHARLESBiblio.com
THE ELEMENTS OF DARWINISM: A Primer
1901réf. 52738London: Jarrold & Sons 1901. First printing. Near fine. First edition advance review copy of this scarce turn-of-the-century primer on Darwinism for "every day people." A popular introduction to evolution by means of natural selection for "the young person the person with little education the person who is not studious the masses in short." Influenced by renowned naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace with whom he became acquainted due to their mutual work in land nationalization projects Ogilvy turned his attention to the still widely misunderstood concept of evolution. Wallace who had already provided the introduction for Ogilvy's THE THIRD FACTOR OF PRODUCTION also reviewed the manuscript for this book. Certainly with his connection to Darwin as "a co-discoverer and friend" he was one of the best possible beta readers for such a text. Ogilvy stresses that this book was written to make the principles of Darwinism accessible to all by making the subject "simple clear and interesting" and avoiding "technicalities and dry structural details" - addressing what he felt was a general misunderstanding of Darwin's findings amongst the population he sought to reach. A contemporary review in the science journal NATURE confirms this referring to a "widespread . ignorance and misapprehension of Darwin's teaching among the general public." Another from THE EXPOSITORY TIMES praises the "blessed simplicity in Mr. Ogilvy's way of presenting the subject." Laid into this copy is a typed letter signed by the publisher sending it to a journal editor for review. OCLC locates only a handful of US holdings and only a few more elsewhere. A gorgeous copy. 7.25'' x 4.75''. Original green cloth with dark green stamped Art-Nouveau design lettered in red to front board and in gilt to spine. Pictorial endpapers. 160 pages. Single typed sheet dated 21 March 1901 and signed "Jarrold Sons" laid in. Boards with touch of wear to extremities. Faint offsetting to endpapers light foxing to edges. Crisp and tight. Jarrold & Sons unknown
Type Punch Matrix · États-Unis2 500,00 $US≈ 2 233,54 €
