The Natural History of Man; comprising Inquiries into the Modifying Influence of Physical and Moral Agencies on the Different Tribes of the Human Family.

James Cowles Prichard, M.D. F.R.S. M.R.I.A.

Published by London: H. Bailliere, 219 Regent St., 1843

About this Item

First edition. Royal 8vo. xvi, 556 pp. With 36 coloured and 4 plain illustrations engraved on steel, and 90 engravings on wood. With the additional Native of New Zealand frontispiece. In buckram-backed temporary boards with paper spine label. A pre-Darwinian text that attempts to categorize the known races of the world in order to create an organized account based on their varying characteristics. Prichard's work emphasizes the universality of man as a single species, thus holding to the biblical notion of Man derived from a single being. He went against the then current trend in anthropology, led by Johann Friedrich Bluemenbach, in that he did not believe that a race's characteristics could simply be defined by mere observational information. Yet in this text, Prichard serves to provide a description of various races, both physical and cultural while simultaneously highlighting the unity of man as a single species. His work begins with a brief scientific overview of anthropological categorization popular during the time and then proceeds to provide numerous "case studies" of different races in which he incorporates various explorer's observations and insights along with his own commentary. Without the series of six folio maps which were published to accompany the work.

Seller Inventory # PS.695

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Natural History of Man; comprising Inquiries into the Modifying Influence of Physical and Moral Agencies on the Different Tribes of the Human Family.
• Publisher: London: H. Bailliere, 219 Regent St.
• Publication Date: 1843
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good