Hutton James 1726 1797 (3 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. First edition of Hutton's most important work, one of the greatest contributions to the science of geology, notably introducing the concept of deep time, the doctrine of uniformitarianism and the anti-Wernerian formation of igneous rocks. Moreover, the present work contains a radical statement of the geological cycle and is the first attempt at what might be termed systematic geology. This copy is complete with the original two volumes (Edinburgh, 1795) in excellent condition in fine contemporary bindings, as well as with Sir Archibald Geikie's Geological Society edition of the posthumous third part (1899), based on Hutton's unfinished six‑chapter manuscript, in the publisher's original wrappers. The first chapter is a reprint of Hutton's 1788 famous paper originally published in vol. I of Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, but the importance of the 1795 publication is that it presents Hutton's empirical evidence: "Hutton. found three uncomformities in southern Scotland. The first was that in the Isle of Arran (Lower Carboniferous on Dalradian), where an unconformity is obvious but the actual plane deceptive; the second (Old Red Sandstone on Silurian) was in the valley of the Jed. the third was at Siccar Point on the Berwickshire coast, also with Old Red Sandstone resting on Silurian" (Challinor p. 74). "Hutton and Playfair realised that if they could find clear cases of structural unconformable relationship, representing a considerable time gap, between two groups of stratified rocks, this would be the surest evidence they could get to confirm the validity of Hutton's main thesis, what we usually now call the "geological cycle" or "geostrophic cycle"" (Challinor p.74). One of the reasons why Hutton included this field work was to deal effectively with the criticism that Richard Kirwan poured upon Hutton's theories in his paper Examination of the supposed igneous origin of stony substances presented to the Royal Irish Academy in 1793. Indeed, it was this criticism that forced Hutton into expanding his 1788 paper into the present book form so many years later. Hutton spends the entire second chapter rebutting Kirwan's criticisms point by point, tackling issues of degeneration and renewal, theistic world design, composition of granite and the existence of subterranean heat. The book is rare in commerce with only 8 copies appearing at auction in the last 50 years (RBH / ABSA). Dean believes the Edinburgh edition "may have been smaller than two hundred" (p.62). The title page states that the book is "In four parts", but only a third part - present here - was published posthumously in 1899 by Sir Archibald Geikie using Hutton's unfinished manuscript of 6 chapters. 2 volumes, octavo in 4s (210 x 123mm). I: pp. viii (half-title, title, contents), 620, 4 folding engraved plates; II: viii (half-title, title, contents), 567, [1 (blank)], 2 folding engraved plates. Complete with the first edition of the third volume edited by Archibald Geikie and published by the Geological Society in 1899. (Front free endpaper in vol. I just coming loose, occasional faint insignificant scattered spotting and soiling, but nonetheless a superb clean, crisp copy, small tear to 3Z4 just affecting text.) First 2 vols bound in contemporary (Scottish?) tree calf, flat spines, compartments ruled in gilt, red morocco gilt label in second compartments, small circular red morocco gilt volume number labels in fourth compartments, blue speckled edges (very slight creasing to spines, with a very small splits in tail caps of both vols expertly repaired, large natural flaw to leather on lower board of vol. 2 which is not disfiguring); vol. III bound in the original wraps, uncut (fractionally soiled, rear wrapper slightly frayed). Provenance: Contemporary ink classmarks to front pastedowns - Maggs Bros (pencilled stock numbers and cost code on rear pastedown of vol. I) - Geoffrey Walton (bookplates).…

Hardcover. Condition: Good. 1st Edition. One of the most important scientific papers ever published. James Hutton's "Theory of the Earth" in its original journal appearance. A true landmark in the history of science: in 1785 Hutton presented this paper to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, arguing for what we would call "uniformitarianism": "The formation of the surface of the earth is one continuous process which can be studied entirely from terrestrial materials without cosmological or supernatural intervention" (PMM 247). Hutton's fundamental intervention was to propose a mechanism for the formation, alteration and ultimate destruction of vast geological features. In observable formations we see "the ruins of an older world": mountains that have been built up by igneous forces and worn down by weathering and chemical processes. This cyclical view of creation and destruction is summed up in one of the most elegant phrases in the whole history of science: "The result, therefore, of this physical enquiry is, that we find no vestige of a beginning, -no prospect of an end." Ultimately Hutton's work was to be continued by Charles Lyell, and, in its treatment of gradual changes over vast spans of time, forms the philosophical background of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. More proximately, Hutton's work was continued, discussed and augmented within the pages of the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and here we offer not only the first presentation of Hutton's paper, but also his and others' contributions over the subsequent years, including Hutton's "Observations on Granite," Playfair's biographical account of Hutton, and a group of papers by Sir James Hall constituting one of the most significant early defences of Hutton's theory. James Hutton (1726-1797) was a Scottish geologist, physician, and naturalist often referred to as the "father of modern geology." Born in Edinburgh, he initially studied medicine but developed a deep interest in agriculture and natural sciences. After inheriting family land, Hutton applied scientific principles to farming, which led to his fascination with soil formation and rock layers. His observations during this period formed the foundation of his later geological theories. Hutton travelled extensively across Scotland, studying rock formations, soil erosion, and the effects of weathering. He was struck by the evidence of deep time in the Earth's layers, noting that processes such as sedimentation and erosion must have occurred over vast time spans. These observations led him to reject the prevailing view of a young Earth shaped by catastrophic events, instead proposing that the Earth was continuously and gradually shaped by observable natural processes. "The Theory of the Earth" was revised and published in two volumes in 1795, with a third volume being added much later in 1899, edited by Sir Archibald Geikie. Ward & Carozzi 1161; cf. PMM 247. Full volume offered [together with:] Vols 2-8, 1790-1817, bound in 9 volumes, quarto, volumes 2-7 in contemporary calf (265 x 210mm), volume 8 bound in two parts and in original boards (293 x 234mm); numerous engraved plates (not collated), a few joints cracked, volumes 5 and 7 front boards detached, spines scuffed, numbering-pieces and a few title-labels perished. Provenance: From the library of the Murrays of Dollerie, Crieff, Perthshire (bookplate).…

First edition hard back binding in publisher's original terracotta cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered in black. 8vo. 7½'' x 5¼''. Contains 112 pp + ii pp. Frequent underlining by a previous careful reader who gave up on page 34, feint ink name to the front free end paper 'Rolland J. B. Munro, 23 September 1925'. Member of the P.B.F.A. IRAN [Persia]. …