Stratigraphical System of Organized Fossils, with reference to the specimens of the original geological collection in the British Museum: explaining their state of preservation and their use in identifying the British strata.

SMITH, William.

Published by London: Printed for E. Williams?, 1817

About this Item

Large 4to, 2 leaves, pp. (iii)?xi, 118, 1 leaf (blank), 2 leaves (?Observations on Echini?), 2 folding tables (one engraved, one letterpress, both partially hand-coloured). Very small tear in fore-edge margin of title repaired, small repair to lower blank corner of D4, engraved folding table with reinforcements to folds on the back, some light foxing and browning throughout. Good modern red half morocco antique, spine gilt in compartments, marbled sides, t.e.g., other edges uncut, with both original printed wrappers (rubbed and soiled, restored and laid down) bound in. SOLE EDITION. ?A description of British fossils arranged by strata, from the London Clay down to the Marlstone of Lias, based on the enormous fossil collection that Smith sold to the British Museum in 1815. A proposed ?Part II? advertised on the contents page, was never published? (Norman). This was one of two major publications proposed by Smith, but a lack of subscribers meant that neither was completed. The other work was his Strata Identified by Organized Fossils, published simultaneously with the present book over four years, in which Smith introduced the concept of geological strata. ?This made palaeontology a fundamental part of geology. It was now beginning to emerge that geological time could no longer tolerate the shackles of biblical chronology. It was in the ?testimony of the rocks? and not in the Book of Genesis that the history of the earth must be sought? (PMM 274, on Smith?s geological map of 1815). Norman catalogue 1960. Ward & Carozzi 2075. Only 250 copies were published, and the book is consequently rare.

Seller Inventory # 4268

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Stratigraphical System of Organized Fossils, with reference to the specimens of the original geological collection in the British Museum: explaining their state of preservation and their use in identifying the British strata.
• Publisher: London: Printed for E. Williams?
• Publication Date: 1817