A VIEW OF THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF EDUCATION, FOUNDED ON THE STUDY OF THE NATURE OF MAN
Published by Printed for Arch[ibal]d Constable & Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson & Co, Edinburgh, 1821
- First Edition
- Used





Seller: Phillip J. Pirages Rare Books (ABAA), McMinnville, OR, U.S.A.Phillip J. Pirages Rare Books (ABAA)
AbeBooks seller since March 21, 2000
Condition: Used
£ 1,187.91
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
192 x 103 mm. (7 1/2 x 4 1/2"). xv, [1], lvii, [1], 59-360 pp. ORIGINAL PUBLISHER'S PAPER BOARDS, paper label on spine, edges untrimmed. Owner's signature of Robert Chichester, dated 1827, on front pastedown. Text a shade less than bright because of inferior paper stock, slight wear to the binding, but AS FINE A COPY IN THE ORIGINAL BOARDS AS ONE COULD HOPE TO FIND, the covers amazingly clean and smooth, and with only the most minor faults internally. In its original remarkably well-preserved publisher's boards, this work on education captures the spirit of reform abundant in the early 19th century, including its warts. Although Spurzheim (1776-1832) was better known as an exponent of phrenology and an authority on mental illness than as an educational theorist, his "View of the Elementary Principles of Education" is an important work that, for the most part, is sensible and progressive. Especially significant are his assertion that all influences from birth onward contribute to the physical and mental development of the child, and the inference he draws from this that, in addition to the conventional education of the intellect, an optimal upbringing must include attention to such things as clean air, proper diet, and suitable exercise. He favors public education over private instruction because children will benefit by meeting a variety of people with "different manners of feeling and thinking." Spurzheim shows himself to be generally tolerant and forward thinking, as he maintains that good education can improve almost anybody (it would certainly reduce the number of criminals). But he sometimes disappoints, as in his belief that many limitations are hereditary and must be taken into account in designing the most fitting education for an individual. He states, for example, that the poor ought to be prevented from reproducing, as if poverty were in the genes. And, in answering the claims of Mary Wollstonecraft's "Vindication of the Rights of Women," he says, "I cannot perceive any arrangement of nature that can lead me to expect that women will cease to be considered as subordinate to men. Let them endeavor, if they please, to acquire the same degree of talent, but till they have acquired it, let them cherish order and exercise the virtues of their actual condition in society, rather than attempt to rise into a sphere for which they are not at present fitted." Also appended here is a section on the treatment and reform of criminals, in which the author calls for a better understanding of the causes of crime, for the requiring of prisoners to undertake useful work and courses of instruction while in prison, and for the study of the prison system instituted by William Penn at Philadelphia. While the sometimes disheartening contents approach a certain fascination, it's the binding here that competes for--and perhaps wins--our attention. That its fragile construction could hold up so beautifully through two centuries of use is extraordinary.…
Seller Inventory # ST20285
Bibliographic details
- Title
- A VIEW OF THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF EDUCATION, FOUNDED ON THE STUDY OF THE NATURE OF MAN
- Author
- (BINDINGS - PUBLISHER'S BOARDS). (EDUCATION). SPURZHEIM, JOHANN GASPAR
- Publisher
- Printed for Arch[ibal]d Constable & Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson & Co, Edinburgh
- Publication year
- 1821
- Edition
- FIRST EDITION.
- Seller catalogs
- Bindings - 19th century, Education and Etiquette
Phillip J. Pirages Rare Books (ABAA)
McMinnville, OR, U.S.A.
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 2 to 7 business days | 2 to 4 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 7.39 | £ 11.09 |
Payment methods
- Bank Wire Transfer
- Check
- Money Order
Specialty
Early Printing, Bindings, English Literature, Illuminated Manuscripts, Rare Books, Fine Illustrated Books, American Literature, Press Books, IncunablesAssociation member
Members of these associations are committed to maintaining the highest standards. They vouch for the authenticity of all items offered for sale. They provide expert and detailed descriptions, disclose all significant defects and/or restorations, provide clear and accurate pricing, and operate with fairness and honesty during the purchase experience.Seller's business information
Phillip J. Pirages Rare Books (ABAA)
OR, U.S.A.
Terms of sale
Payment: We accept checks, money orders, Visa, Master Card, American Express and wire transfers. If you are a first time customer, we wait for payment to be received before sending out your order.
Shipping: Shipping and insurance are extra. We usually ship USPS Priority, but other options available to the client including FedEx, or UPS.
Returns: Your satisfaction is unconditionally guaranteed. If you buy an item from us and discover that you are not satisfied with it, you may return it within 10 days of receipt for a refund, so long as the item has not been damaged.
Phillip J. Pirages Rare Books
2205 NW Nut Tree Lane
PO Box 504
McMinnville, OR 97128
Email: info@pirages.com
Ph: 800-962-6666 or 503-472-0476
Fax: 503-472-5029
Tax ID No. 93-1163989
Employees: Cokie Anderson, Michal Alkoff, David Clark, Tammy Opheim
Phillip J. Pirages Rare Books is a sole proprietorship.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from 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 withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal 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 last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from 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 withdraw from this 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 Phillip J. Pirages Rare Books (ABAA), McMinnville, Oregon, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal 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 withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content 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 withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.