THE SILURIAN SYSTEM founded on Geological Researches in the Counties of Shropshire, Hereford, Radnor, Montgomery, Carmarthen, Brecon, Pembroke, Monmouth, Gloucester, Worcester, and Stafford with descriptions of the coal-fields and overlying formations by Roderick Impey Murchison. First edition WITH THE RARE THREE SECTION MAP 1839

Sir Roderick Impey Murchison

Published by John Murray, 1839

About this Item

Published in London by John Murray in 1839 two volumes, here bound together in one, this is the First Edition of Murchison's landmark work in which he set up the Silurian System based on his studies of the rocks of Wales, Shropshire and the Welsh border counties of England, Murchison included both what were later to be classified as the Ordovician and Devonian periods within in his Silurian System, the work is well illustrated with hand coloured sections, folding and single page plates and a series of plates of the fossil fauna, all plates are present the book was sold on subscription with a list of subscribers at the front of the book, this copy was originally the property of David Davies of Froodvale in Llandovery, who was one of the original subscribers, his name appears in the list of subscribers immediately below Charles Darwin's, and as far as I am aware this is also the first time Darwin's name appeared in print. The rare three section linen backed map is present with this copy, housed in a nice clamshell box, The map is more detailed in the hand colouring than in some issues of the map, also with an original Victorian CDV photo of Murchison loosely inset into the inside cover, along with an original signature of Murchison's underneath. the half leather bindings although reasonably matching, do have different colour brown cloths to each, and both bindings are in very good condition. Internally foxing to the title page and plates, wear and foxing along top edge of one of the folding plates (pictured) and edge wear with small edge tears with no loss to the last of the folding sections, else the book is in very good general condition, the three section map was originally the property of Manchester Public Libraries with their withdrawn and sold stamps to the reverse of each section, also there are blind embossed stamps to every panel on the maps, but as can be seen in the photos these are not very noticeable, there are a few small splits in the maps along the fold lines and browning to the reverse, else the maps are in good general condition. A handsome example of the First Edition with the rare three section hand coloured map. Seller Inventory # 003540

Bibliographic Details

Title: THE SILURIAN SYSTEM founded on Geological ...

Publisher: John Murray

Publication Date: 1839

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Edition: 1st Edition