Thoughts on a Pebble, or, A First Lesson in Geology.

MANTELL Gideon.

Published by London: Reeve, Bantham, and Reeve, King William Street, Strand, 1849

About this Item

The eighth edition. Small octavo (17 x 14.5cm). An expanded edition, now in its fullest & final form, with a portrait (offset to the title) & 4 hand coloured lithograph plates and 27 woodcuts (styled 'lignographs') to the letterpress, published at 5s. 'Prompted by the intelligent questions of his nine year old son, Mantell recounted the life-history of a flint pebble that he had picked up in a stream bed not far from his home in Brighton. Mantell's eloquent review of geological fundamentals, far too sophisticated for most nine year olds, included poetical quotations from Scott, Byron, and Beattie. In its final edition, however, the emphasis of the work as a whole shifted from stimulation to edification, appending facts outweighing initial ideas. It had genuinely become a book in its own right, and was, like all of Mantell's, full of original research and expresssion.'- Dean. pp. xiv,5-102,[4],4,[2], Without the half-title. Sections of adverts at rear including a final one for this work, which may simply be an inserted flyer. The portrait slighty trimmed lower edge, the text toned, however a pleasant tight copy bound in the publisher's embossed gilt cloth, rebacked with label. Vg. [Dean 126; Aggasiz III, 540; Donovan 105].

Seller Inventory # 12162

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Thoughts on a Pebble, or, A First Lesson in Geology.
• Publisher: London: Reeve, Bantham, and Reeve, King William Street, Strand
• Publication Date: 1849