THE EXTRAORDINARY TALE OF THE FATHER OF MODERN GEOLOGY

Hidden behind velvet curtains above a stairway in a house in London's Piccadilly is an enormous and beautiful hand-coloured map - the first geological map of anywhere in the world. Its maker was a farmer's son named William Smith. Born in 1769 his life was troubled: he was imprisoned for debt, turned out of his home, his work was plagiarised, his wife went insane and the scientific establishment shunned him.

It was not until 1829, when a Yorkshire aristocrat recognised his genius, that he was returned to London in triumph: The Map That Changed the World is his story.

'For a geologist, this is a must read' Amazon Reviewer

'It serves to lift a genius from academic semi-obscurity and to award him the acknowledgement he undoubtedly deserves' Amazon Reviewer

'Never realised how seminal this map was' Amazon Reviewer

About the Author

Simon Winchester has had an award-winning 20 year career as Guardian correspondent. He lives in New York and is the Asia-Pacific Editor for Conde Nast Traveler and contributes to a number of American magazines, as well as the Daily Telegraph, the Spectator and the BBC. He has written numerous books. The River at the Centre of the World (Viking 1997/Penguin 1998) has been shortlisted for the 1998 Thomas Cook/Daily Telegraph Travel Book Award.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

PRIVATE LIBRARY SALES: on-line disposal from home of personal items; specifically books acquired over a lifetime, via collection, gift and inheritance, for my own enjoyment rather than as stock in trade. In furtherance of both domestic downsizing and capital release my library is subject to long term disposal by, firstly, selective on line sale, secondly, donation to charity and, finally, waste recycling. As a merely part-time seller this retired private individual, for additional reasons of age and infirmity, is reluctantly offering for sale, solely on line, books selected individually on the basis of interest, scarcity, condition and potential sale value. These items accumulated for their content through inheritance, private gifts (including former bookshop display stock) and collection and all in my possession for years, are chosen from a still excessively large domestic private library. They are mainly out of print, twentieth century non-fiction editions, both academic and non-academic. PLEASE NOTE : FIRSTLY, neither in the past nor currently have books been acquired with sale in mind. No part of this diminishing library, including that currently subject to listing for sale, will have ever been originally acquired by me from anywhere with any specific intention of selling on. I have never kept separate retail premises. I have never in the past bought and do not now buy books to sell and therefore I have never been a book dealer. Any book listed for sale will already have been in my ownership for at leat two years, though usually for far longer, and will have come from no other source than my own personal library. Though a collector years ago I no longer attend auctions, book fairs, car boot sales etc; books sometimes acquired for my own personal use are not listed, if ever, until at least two years later. I am merely a private, non-employed, non-professional, retired, part-time seller who, out of financial necessity, is running down, as a part-time occupation, their own extensive private library. I am merely selectively selling off personal possessions, specifically books. Since proceeds from the sale of such possessions cannot yield any trading profit I am not trading as such and therefore ABD is not registered as a business. Offers, whether from the public or trade, of books for me to purchase are neither solicited nor accepted. As an amateur, private seller I regret that trade discounts are unavailable. SECONDLY, 'New' books here are not necessarily publisher supplied and are listed regardless of any criteria other than their actual physical condition; that condition overrides. The AbeBooks Advanced Search page All Conditions filter opposes 'New' against 'Used' (despite 'New' referring more usually to recent pre-retail acquisition rather than to a condition). Since 'New' and 'Used' conditions are not defined 'New' is here taken to be the synonym of unused and thus 'Used', requiring physical change from unused, is the antonym of both. Since any 'Condition' can only relate to physical criteria that overriding binary distinction is applied here solely on the basis of the observed absence or presence of physical evidence of use, i.e. from having been opened/read or just obvious handling, regardless of whether in print, age or source, none being conditions as such. Therefore a 'New' book is defined here solely by the absence of such evidence and regardless of any of the above. Variation in any does not necessarily result in change in physical condition and thus, exceptionally, though ex display, long out of print or even retailed a book may still remain unused and therefore 'New'. So regardless, IF they are still obviously unused, such books are listed 'New, that condition overriding; descriptions may qualify that in respect of slight deterioration. The conditions 'As New' and 'Fine' may be used in more borderline cases. New books are listed preferentially over others in inferior condition.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Aynam Book Disposals (ABD)
United Kingdom

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

Books listed on AbeBooks sold via AbeBooks e-commerce intermediary card processing (and there ONLY by Visa /Master card.) RETURN and REFUND PROVISIONS are as required by AbeBooks policies, ( see buyer Help pages). PLEASE NOTE that on my listings all books and their dust jackets/wrappers are graded independently of each other (a 'fine' or even an 'as new' book might, though rarely, have a 'poor' jacket). Jackets may have any tears closed from inside with scotch tape; and if described as "protecte...

More Information

Right of cancellation

If you are a consumer you can cancel the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF CANCELLATION

Statutory Right to cancel

You have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.

The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us, Owen Box Disposals (OBD), 32 Aynam Road, LA9 7DW, Kendal, United Kingdom, 44 01539 724304, of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the attached model cancellation form, but it is not obligatory. You can also electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". If you use this option, we will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a cancellation on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.

Effects of cancellation

If you cancel this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel with contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or Owen Box Disposals (OBD), 32 Aynam Road, LA9 7DW, Kendal, United Kingdom, 44 01539 724304, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of cancellation

The right of cancellation does not apply to:

the delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
the supply of digital content (including ebooks) which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not cancel it once delivery had started.

Model withdrawal form

(complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract)

To: (Owen Box Disposals (OBD), 32 Aynam Road, LA9 7DW, Kendal, United Kingdom, 44 01539 724304)

I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*),

Ordered on (*)/received on (*)

Name of consumer(s)

Address of consumer(s)

Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper)

Date

* Delete as appropriate.

Shipping Terms

Owen Box Disposals aims to PROCESS and DISPATCH all orders ASAP. Orders PROCESSED 7 days a week but DISPATCH mailing days Monday to Friday only; Saturday not guaranteed and only exceptionally, eg for priority service. All STANDARD orders PROCESSED as soon as possible and within FOUR days at the very latest. All PRIORITY orders normally processed on the same day or else the next day at the latest. ALL orders will normally be DISPATCHED as soon as possible thereafter and always within at least TWO mailing days (i.e. Mon - Fri; but only within 4 days if over a weekend) after processing. PRIORITY service guarantees that any order is dispatched the next available day.

Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.

Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Order quantity	14 to 42 business days	5 to 10 business days
First item	� 18.65	� 18.65

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.

Detailed Seller Information