The Origin of Races

Alfred A. Knopf, Publisher, New York. 1962. Hardcover. Stated First Edition. Rebound small town book copy. Book is tight, square, and unmarked but for library stamps on the copyright page, front endpapers, textblock top edge, and a blank in the rear. Book Condition: Very Good; Rebound hardcover; index number on spine; light soiling to boards and textblock edges. No DJ but front and rear flaps are glues to the front pastedown. Beige buckram boards and spine with black lettering on the spine. Clean internals. Inner hinges are sound and not split. 724 pp + [xxi] index in rear 8vo. Coon proposed a polygenist theory stating that our predecessor, Homo erectus, divided into five distinct geographic subspecies. He argued that each of these five subspecies evolved into Homo sapiens independently and at different times, claiming some groups achieved modern human status earlier than others. The book caused massive controversy and marked Coon's split from the scientific mainstream. Modern genetic mapping has completely discredited his theory. Includes 33 plates, 84 drawings, 13 maps and 39 tables. A clean very presentable copy.